Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category

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Memorial Day Events

Sunday, May 19th, 2013

I find it amusing when I ask people if they have any plans for Memorial Day weekend, and they reply that they’ll be going to Bratfest. In other words, they have zero plans, but they don’t feel like they’re completely wasting their weekend if they at least go to Bratfest.

Granted, it’s a great event, with the live music, carnival, Friday morning drive-thru and run/walk, but there’s so much more happening in the area, especially if you prefer day trips.

For example, the annual ChocolateFest in Burlington runs Friday-Monday. You can take part in the chocolate eating contest, visit the petting zoo and check out the Nascar exhibit.

While we’re still on the subject of festivals, the New Glarus Music Fest runs Saturday-Monday. Bands include Little Vito and the Torpedoes and The Jimmys.

The Mad City Ski Team starts its season on Sunday. Will it win yet another national championship this year?

On Monday, Monona will have its 58th annual Memorial Day parade, starting at 10 a.m. on Monona Drive. And while you’re in town, Monona’s community pool will be open for the season.

Finally, if you’re looking for overnight trips, here’s my previous post on where to stay and dine.

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Easter at the White House

Sunday, March 31st, 2013

Here’s a look at previous White House Easter menus during the George W. Bush administration, thanks to the former First Lady. (First Lady Michelle Obama doesn’t reveal the White House event menus like her predecessor Laura Bush did, for some reason.)

Looks like the ham changes from year to year, though some of the sides are repeated. And in case you’re wondering, Brazos Valley Cheese is out of Texas.

2008

  • Honey Baked Ham with Maple Mustard Sauce
  • Eggs Benedict
  • Bacon
  • Biscuits
  • Spinach Salad
  • Waffles
  • Sautéed Asparagus
  • Cheese Grits
  • Fresh Fruit Platter
  • Double Coconut Layer Cake
  • Lemon Curd Trifle with Fresh Berries
 2007

  • Texas Grapefruit, Avocado, and Mozzarella Salad
  • Fire-Glazed Ham
  • Green Chili Cheese Grits Souffle
  • Roasted Orange Molasses Sweet Potatoes
  • Roasted Asparagus
  • Brazos Valley Cheeses
  • Fresh Yeast Rolls
  • Coconut Cake and Blue Bell Ice Cream
 2006

  • Honey Baked Easter Ham with Maple Mustard Sauce
  • Tangerine-Glazed Easter Ham
  • Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberry Champagne Vinaigrette
  • Baked Macaroni and Cheese
  • Sautéed Asparagus
  • Deviled Eggs
  • Homemade Biscuits
  • Fresh Fruit Platter
  • Double Coconut Layer Cake
  • Lemon Curd Trifle with Fresh Berries

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Aphrodisiac foods

Sunday, February 10th, 2013

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, let’s take a look at some foods that may kindle your romantic spirit.

Items like almonds, chili peppers, oysters, chocolate, garlic, honey, bananas and champagne are often associated with increasing libido, for reasons including abundance of Vitamin B, abundance of Vitamin E, abundance of zinc or simply being a placebo effect.

Instead of eating these foods straight up, here’s a meal you can make using them:

Aperitf: Sparking white wine with cassis.

Appetizer: Roast almonds with chili powder sprinkled on top.

Entree: Oysters Rockefeller topped with bits of garlic.

Dessert: S’Mores. Lay a piece of chocolate on a graham cracker and put it in the microwave for about 30 sec. Add some slices of banana on top, then drizzle with honey. Top with another graham cracker.

To enhance the atmosphere, dim the lights and play some Barry White, who, according to Wikipedia, is “known for his distinctive bass voice and romantic image” (of course you knew that). Make sure to avoid turkey, wine, greasy foods and too much alcohol (yeah, right).

No time to cook? You can always settle for a heart-shaped pizza. Just don’t forget the garlic.

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Food & Wine Festival shopping list ‘12

Sunday, October 21st, 2012

Whether you’re in search of some good food or need ideas for the holiday shopping season, here’s a list of items I purchased or will purchase from the Isthmus Food & Wine Festival held last weekend:

  • Mrs. Chippy’s Caramel Corn from Chippy’s Kettle Corn. I also enjoyed the Yumchata Oatmeal Cookie flavor and the Buffalo Wine & Bleu Cheese Dressing flavor.
  • Old Fashioned Malted Milk Powder Malt from CTL Foods. If you like Whoppers, you’ll love this. Try adding it to coffee.
  • Strawbanero jam from Blue Collar Cafe & Jams. Excellent combination of sweet and spicy. Loved the Bluebanero, too.
  • The garlic beefsticks and Teriyaki beefsticks from Otter Creek Organic Farm. These make a great snack!
  • The goat salami and Tuscan salami from Underground Meats. Makes me regret not signing up for its meat-CSA last year.
  • Plain 9-12 Gouda from Holland Family Farms. I had always ignored Gouda … until now.
  • Brick spread from Widmer Cheese Cellar. Why waste a cracker? I could eat this straight from the container.
  • Rob Abuelo 12-Year Rum. I doubt I’ve had a better rum. “Smooth” would be underselling it.
  • Dark Amber Organic Maple Syrup from Kickapoo Gold. You’ll never use Aunt Jemima again.

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Where to watch Rhythm & Booms

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

As mentioned in a previous blog post about Rhythm & Booms, I’ve gone several times to see the action at Warner Park, and while Madison’s annual celebration of Independence Day is a fun time for all ages, the traffic nightmares after the event keep me from going more regularly. For example, I’ve sat in traffic for two hours only to move a few hundred yards, and I’ve feared for my safety on a bike as pedestrians and cars continue to block your way.

That’s why I appreciate the alternate locations to watch Rhythm & Booms, and here are some suggestions:

  • Governor Nelson State Park. Beautiful view from across the lake. Read why I like this spot a lot.
  • Nob Hill/WEAC. A surprising amount of people know about this hilly area just off Rimrock Road. The high vantage point lets you see the fireworks despite being so far away.
  • Memorial Union Terrace and Observatory Drive. Can be extra fun if you plan on going out afterward. You’ll have to get to the Terrace somewhat early, though.
  • Lake Mendota. If you’re fortunate enough to have access to a boat, Rhythm & Booms is enjoyable to see from the water. Just remember that if you don’t have a private dock, you may encounter car traffic after you get off the boat.
  • James Madison Park, Tenney Park and Marshall Park. The first two get you a bit closer to the action, though it can be difficult to find parking. Marshall Park is small and worth it if you live right there, but otherwise I would just drive a little further to Governor Nelson.

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Grilled cheese sandwich month

Sunday, April 15th, 2012

Seriously? We need to dedicate a month to celebrating the grilled cheese sandwich? Wikipedia says that Woman’s Day came up with the idea, but the magazine says “someone (somewhere) has proclaimed this popular comfort food worthy of a monthlong celebration.”

In its most ordinary (re: lazy) form, you take two slices of white bread, stick a Kraft single in between and brown both sides in butter. Simple? Yes. Tasty? Sort of.

Admittedly, I had an about-face back in 2006 while watching an episode of “Ham on the Street” on the Food Network. The host had people randomly select bread (e.g. wheat, rye), cheese (e.g. Havarti, brie) and jelly (e.g. apricot, hot pepper) and turn them into a grilled cheese sandwich. Every single person was pleasantly surprised how good their concoction tasted.

I’m in the camp that believes you shouldn’t add things like ham, onions or eggs to a grilled cheese, otherwise it isn’t a grilled cheese. However, I’m willing to let jelly be an ingredient.

Like any dish, grilled cheese sandwiches are better with better ingredients. Since upgrading the individual parts, I’ve come to enjoy the occasional grilled cheese. And of course, I enjoy spicy cheese bread, which is somewhat related.

Hungry? Here are the recipes from “Ham on the Street” as well as the Los Angeles Times’ Test Kitchen.

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St. Patty’s Day in Madison

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

When you think of a city that really celebrate’s St. Patrick’s Day, you think of Madison, right? Even though we’re not at the caliber of a Chicago or a Boston, we have a surprising amount of events. Here are some highlights:

WJJO/Miller Lite .10K Run/Walk: Each year on the Saturday before St. Patty’s Day, 1,200 people “race” from State Street Brats to Brothers Bar. This takes place after they’ve been drinking since 9 a.m. of course. The partying continues throughout the day at Kollege Klub, Wando’s and Whiskey Jack’s.

Shamrock Shuffle: If you want to do a race longer than one block, Saturday’s trot through campus is for you. The 5K/10K run and 2M walk to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County starts at 10 a.m. at the Overture Center and includes a pre-race concert by the Kissers.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade: I actually had class with Katie O’Phelan, the originator of the annual march around the Capitol Square, now in its 15th year. The parade starts at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, and the grand marshal is Patrick Gallagher of 105.5 Triple M.

Bud Light St. Patrick’s Day Regent Crawl: Bagpipers will lead this bar crawl that starts at 6 p.m. at Stadium Bar and heads east to Buckingham’s. There will of course be specials on Bud and some giveaways, too.

Endless live music and performances: Pick a bar, any bar, and you’ll likely find live entertainment. For example, Erin’s Snug has the Rowdy Prairie Dogs, the Majestic has 80s vs. 90s St. Patty’s Day edition, Club Tavern has Mighty Short Bus and the Overture Center has the Trinity Irish Dancers.

Find more details on some of these events on the MADISON page, and don’t forget to use the “St. Patrick’s Day” search box on the DRINK page. For ideas on where some of the big parties are, watch this video:

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Christmas Dinner at the White House

Sunday, December 25th, 2011

Happy Holidays! I enjoyed tender, juicy prime rib for Christmas lunch and succulent ham for Christmas dinner. For some reason, it made me wonder what’s served at the White House on Christmas.

While I couldn’t get this year’s exact menu, I did find previous ones. Did you know in 2009 the White House threw 28 parties/open houses and prepared 120,000 cookies, according to CBS News? Even the President’s Hannukah party has 500-800 guests.

Here’s a menu from 2006, according to Salon.com:

  • Display of Specialty Cheeses and Winter Fruits (Served with a Bountiful Display of Lavish Specialty Crackers and Spiced Pecans).
  • Colossal Shrimp Cocktail and Jonah Crab Claws (Served with Ramseys Cocktail Sauce and Spiced Remoulade).
  • Stuffed Turkey Breasts with Winter Mushrooms, Cheese and Brandied Cranberries.
  • Sugar Cured Virginia Ham with Hot Pepper Mustard (Served with Warm Blue Corn Muffins).
  • Chicken Fried Beef Tenderloin with White Onion Gravy (Served with Tiny Icebox Rolls).
  • Herb Roasted Lollipop Lamb Chops served with Warm Yeast Rolls.
  • Honey Cup Mustard Sauce.
  • Fresh Tamales with Tomatillo Sauce and Black Beans.
  • Baked White Cheddar Farfalle.
  • Sweet Potato Soufflé.
  • Asparagus Tier with Lemon-Garlic Aioli.
  • Golden and Crimson Beet Salad with Orange, Fennel, and Feta.
  • Chocolate Peppermint Cookies with Peppermint Crunch.
  • Pecan Sandie Tree (Mexican Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes) with Layers of Cookies.
  • Holiday Ornamental Cookies: Barney, Miss Beazley, Christmas Trees, Snowflakes, Candy Canes.
  • Red Hat Box Mascarpone Cake.
  • White Pound Cake with Mascarpone Cream Filling, Red Marzipan Frosting and Red Ribbon Bow Decoration.
  • Coconut Cake.
  • Coconut Chiffon Cake, Coconut Pastry Cream Filling and 7 Minute Meringue Frosting.
  • Chocolate Roulade (Christmas Log): Soft Ganache Frosting with a Chocolate Sponge, Meringue Mushrooms, Magnolia Leaves in White Chocolate, Raspberries.
  • Mini Tartlettes.
  • Pecan Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie, Orange Chiffon and Chocolate Boston Cream Pie.
  • Chocolate Truffles.
  • Homemade, Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache.
  • Long Stem Strawberries with Dark Chocolate Dipping Sauce.
  • Warm Macintosh Apple Cobbler With Oatmeal Crumble.
  • Pumpkin Trifle.

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Food & Wine Show purchases

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Just in time for the holiday season, here’s a list of the items I purchased at the Madison Food & Wine Show back in October. They were all so delicious that I’ve already finished most of the items.

  • Asian Spicy Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce from Penny Lane Farm. Try this on chicken or pork.
  • Bee Barf Honey from Hidden Oaks Apiary (608-235-5873). Wow, this stuff is fantastic! Great name, too.
  • Cured meat from Bolzano Meats. Warning, you will need floss or a toothpick after you eat their tasty products.
  • Sea Salt Caramel and Bacon Toffee from Christine’s Gourmet Toffee. It really is gourmet! In fact, these toffees were served in the 2011 Emmy Awards celebrity gift bags.
  • Pomegranate Cranberry Whey from Tera’s Whey. Mix this with milk for a healthy snack or breakfast alternative.
  • Milk Chocolate Truffles from Indulgence Chocolatiers. As they claim, it’s “truly exceptional chocolate.”

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Spicing up a boring Thanksgiving meal

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

I realize it’s un-American to say this, but I think the “traditional” Thanksgiving meal that consists of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn and cranberry sauce, amongst other items, is boring. Have you noticed you hardly ever eat plain turkey, stuffing or cranberry sauce any other day of the year? You can’t even find these items in most restaurants.

I’m looking forward to hosting Thanksgiving some day. When I do, here’s my take on Thanksgiving 2.0:

Appetizers

  • Hot spinach and artichoke dip served with sliced French bread lightly grilled with olive oil
  • Mini pizza bites topped with Gruyere, Canadian Bacon and portabella mushrooms
  • Mimosas or adult punch

The meal

  • Turkey pot pie
  • Pulled turkey sandwiches with either BBQ sauce or dipped in gravy
  • Strawberry spinach salad (my attempt at getting some fruit in the mix)
  • Corn soup
  • Mashed potato pierogi
  • Sourdough stuffing with Italian sausage
  • Jalapeno corn bread
  • Sweet potato gratin
  • Roasted eggplant topped with garlic chili oil, sesame oil and sesame seeds
  • Vodka-cranberry cocktails and Cosmopolitans (gotta use cranberries somewhere)

Dessert

  • Bacon bourbon pecan pie (here’s the recipe)
  • Pumpkin pie tarts or pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
  • Spiced cappuccino (this will be tough since I don’t have an espresso maker)
  • Cigars and scotch

So I’m curious: what non-traditional Thanksgiving items do you enjoy each year? (Happy Thanksgiving, by the way!)

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