Birthday

Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes! I hate to pick a favorite but I received the funniest wishes from a 4 yr old. She very convincingly got her mom to purchase not one but two cupcakes for me as my special treat. She however then spent a good amount of time justifying why I only needed one cupcake. The result: one delivered cupcake and one very happy 4yr old!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Knife Class

I have been enjoying cooking more in the past year than ever before. I enjoy the grocery shopping, spending time in the kitchen and of coarse eating. I lack many skills (and sometimes proper equipment) in the kitchen but always seem to make the best of it. Last week I tried to make spaetzle without a spaetzle maker. Disaster - no, proper technique - of coarse not, edible and even delicious dinner - yes.

A friend of mine wanted to take a class to learn how to utilize her knife set. As any good friend would I got excited and decided to join also. Last night from about 7-10pm we spend cutting everything from apples to onions, carrots and strawberries at Wisconsin Cutlery and Kitchen Supply. It was so much fun. The best part is we learned proper technique and neat tips and tricks to make our food cook more evenly and look aesthetically pleasing.

Nothing Says Love . . .

Valentine's Day is not a holiday that we tend to celebrate. However 2 years ago on Valentine's Day P and I got engaged. I do not believe it was the holiday it was the fact that Marquette Mens Basketball was playing and we had tickets. We were spending the weekend in Milwaukee. This Valentine's day we spend the evening eating delicious German food (brats) and I was surprised with flowers in a growler. It doesn't get anymore romantic than that!

The Tournament

This weekend was the Alice in Winterland Ice Fishing Tournament in Tomahawk, WI. We took a road trip to the waters of Lake Alice. Hundreds of fisher-people on the lake. I have never heard a lake grumble as much as this lake did. With every passing car she let us here the shifting of the ice. The local people oblivious to her constant complaint, but to those of us who have never driven a car on the frozen lake were extremely attentive. This festival was complete with a fishing tournament, raffle prizes, and a beer tent and food. What is not to love? As contributors and active participants of the spirit of Tomahawk our friends bought a raffle ticket. With the shred of a “5 of clubs” raffle ticket deep in their pocket, we toured the city. Finding our way back for the raffle drawing. Much to their surprise the other half of the “5 of clubs” raffle ticket made its way into the hands of the woman drawing for a fishing shanty. After the pictures, we made our way back, fishing shanty precariously balancing in the trunk of the car, to the lake where we spent the rest of the afternoon practicing for the next year’s Alice in Winterland Ice Fishing Tournament.

Ice Fishing

Upon P’s request we went ice fishing this weekend. Friends of ours were gracious enough to let us stay with them and show us the ins and outs of ice fishing. We arrived on Friday afternoon.

First lesson: Where is the bait? We made a quick stop in town to a local bait shop. The woman at the counter asked if we were challenging for the Alice in Winterland Fishing Tournament. Nope – not for first timers. Minnows in tow we head back to the lake for practice.

Second lesson: Where are the fish? We pick up the supplies. Never did I think how much equipment goes into ice fishing. Three of us hands full of gear treaded over the water. Beautiful weather – couldn’t have asked for better. Our fearless leader drilling the holes explaining the location as we went.

Third lesson: How to pass the time? This was the first lesson we did not need much instruction. There is something to be said about relaxing the quiet outdoors and catching up with old friends. The afternoon was not a success for the avid fisher-person, but P and I thought we gained enough knowledge to look like we are competent fishermen.

When the sun went down the tip-ups were in. I retired to a warm house with good company and delicious food. The guys made several trips to and from the house to hunt and gather for us. The bounty -1 walleye. Enough to feed a family, nope, enough to spark enough excitement to entice us into another day, of coarse.

Our fearless leader demonstrated the art of filleting a fish. Step by step he explained how it was done and the importance of each step. This evening I will get to try my hand at the fillet. The guys are still on the ice with at least one Northern Pike in tow. Again I have retired to the warmth of the house and good company. Nothing like a fantastic vacation!

Elizabeth David

I received a cookbook from P this Christmas. The book is from the late Elizabeth David. She was a British food writer and "strongly influenced the revitalization of home cooking" in the mid 20th century. (Wikipedia)

I love reading cookbooks and often read more than I cook. At Elizabeth David's Table is a cookbook that talks you through a recipe - limited ingredient list and limited measurements. Frequently I find myself wondering what temperature a "moderate oven" is or exactly how much is "a good lump of butter." Any french chef will tell you there is never too much butter. This book unlike previous Elizabeth David cookbooks is full of pictures and illustrations. This evening I made Maccheroni Alla Carbonara. This dish is very simple and delicious when well executed. My dish did not look as elegant as the book's pictures, but I was very happy with the results.

This book has opened me up to The Splendid Table. The website is wonderful and has tons of information on everything cooking. If you can get past the "SNL" type commentary, the radio program has wonderful information about how to cook many different types cuisine and how to work with ingredients you may not have worked with before in your kitchen.

The Dog

Those of you who know me also know about my dog. November 2nd he turned 16 yrs old - that is the same age I was when I first brought him home. He was a 3 yr old ridiculously crazy labrador who for his first three years was raised in kennel. When he was turned loose on my parent's 13 acres with a pond he could not control his enthusiasm. He would knock adults over in his excitement, steal food from unsuspecting children, and always be underfoot.

When we left for college big changes were in store for him. We lived in a tiny apartment and since we now lived in town we abided by the leash laws. He was a trooper - content anywhere I was. He has changed a lot over the years but one thing remains the same. He loves the snow. Two nights ago a blizzard went though our area and when I let Kilo outside he was in heaven.

One of his most frustrating qualities when I was in college has become one of his most endearing. During the winter months I hated taking him for walks. No matter how much snow, how cold or icy, during a walk he would always flop his head in the slow and push his body along with his back feet. I would walk very slowly leash in hand and watch passersby gawk or laugh. Very frustrating when you are late for class.

Now that we have both slowed down quite a bit, I look forward to taking him for those walks. As I let him out the other night the first thing he did was stick his head in the snow and push with his back feet. Adorable.