Edible Antics - Having Fun With Food

Gumbo Recipe with a Wisconsin Twist

The quick and easy gumbo recipe had been sitting in my "bookmarks" folder for a long time now and I had almost everything on hand to make it except for the sausage. I was about to head to the grocery store when I decided to hunt in the freezer for my final ingredient. The recipe called for a spciy andouille sausage but when I came across a package of Bavaria Sausage Kitchen bratwurst I decided to try those instead. I enjoy the taste of spice but I am a big whimp so the brats would be a welcome subsitution. The best part about this recipe? You can set it and forget it in the slow cooker. 

 

Wisconsin Cheese Week- The Best of Wisconsin Cheese on the Web

The American Cheese Society has declared this week Wisconsin week, and this month American Cheese Month.  In honor of this cheesy celebration, I'm sharing my favorite cheesy places around the web.

Best Cheese Pairing Tool: Cheese Cupid

Matching Wisconsin cheese with the perfect beverage couldn't be easier thanks to Cheese Cupid.  Just click on the beverage you want to serve and viola, a list of cheeses will appear.  Impress your friends with a wine and Wisconsin cheese party.

Best Wisconsin Cheese Blog: Cheese Underground

Jeanne Carpenter of Madison, WI writes Cheese Underground, which mostly focuses on Wisconsin cheese but she also shares other cheese adventures, like pictures from her recent trip to France that made me want to hop on the next flight to Paris. 

Best of Cheese on Twitter: @culturecheese

The twitter account for Cheese Culture magazine, @culturecheese is always tweeting the latest "word on cheese".  From now until Nov. 4, 2011 the mag is running a contest trying to find blood curdling Dairy Scary stories.

Best Edible Antics Cheese Post: 5 Things to Do With A Cheese Curd

Did you know microwaving curds for 3-5 seconds makes them extra squeaky? Whether you're a curd nerd or a curd newb, there's something to learn on this entertaining blog post.

Best Wisconsin Cheese Gift: Wisconsinmade.com Cheese of the Month Club

What's better than the gift of Wisconsin cheese? A gift of Wisconsin cheese every month for 12 months.  Members of the Wisconsinmade.com Cheese of the Month will receive just that, along with a welcome packet that includes information on each award-winning cheese, cheesemakers, and a comment sheet to write tasting notes and keep track of your favorite cheese varieties. 

Best Wisconsin Cheese Recipes: Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board

Edible Antics has some great Wisconsin cheese recipes, but I can't compete with the WMMB.  In addition to their huge list of cheese recipes, the WMMB also created two obscenely delicious looking websites: The Cheese and Burger Society and The Grilled Cheese Academy. 

Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Jalapeno

If you think mac and cheese from the box is as good as it gets, think again. This mac and cheese with bacon and jalapeno is creamier, cheesier, and all around superior to the blue box.  The one-pot-wonder recipe makes a spicy side dish or a hearty meal.  Don't skimp on the ingredients- use real Wisconsin cheese, applewood smoked bacon, and a high-quality pasta for a real crowd pleasing dish. 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Sweetest Day?

What is Sweetest Day? According to American Greetings, 44% of people surveyed think Sweetest Day is just another made-up holiday to sell more cards and gifts.  I'm surprised that 44% of people even know Sweetest Day exists. I had never heard of the holiday until my brother's girlfriend from Ohio explained it to me- and it makes sense that she introduced me to Sweetest Day, since it originated in Ohio. 

The true origins of Sweetest Day, according to Sandy Mitchell at About.com, are much more, well, sweet than the old "Halmark made it up" story lets on.  Mitchell says the holiday was started by Herbert Birch Kingston of Cleveland during the Great Depression. Kingston wanted to do something thoughtful for the less fortunate, so he gave out thousands of boxes of candy throughout the city.  Residents of Cleveland began to recreate the tradition yearly, and word spread throughout Ohio and later to other areas of the United States. 

This year, Sweetest Day will be celebrated on October 15th. Made up or not, if you are lucky enough to have a sweetie, it's always a good day to celebrate.  Here are a few sweet gift ideas from Wisconsinmade.com:

For a sweetie as lovely as a rose, chocolate roses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a sweetie who Backs the Pack, a Packer Chocolate Gift Box:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For an artistic sweetie, hand-painted Kohler chocolates:

Visit Wisconsinmade.com for more sweet gifts for Sweetest Day!

Bacon Burger

When you serve a bacon burger at your Packer game day party or Badger tailgate, notice as your friends peek under the bun and say "where's the bacon?".  It tastes like applewood smoked bacon, but there are no bacon strips to be found.  The secret is the bacon hidden in the meat.

If you are a fan of the Nueske bacon burger like I am, you will be saddened to know Nueske will no longer be making the bacon burger.  Pork lovers of the world need not despair however, because I, your local Wisconsin food enthusiast, can tell you how to make your own bacon burgers at home. Click "continue reading" to see the shockingly simple recipe.

Basic Dishes for Wisconsin Cooks and a Gift Card Giveaway!

  

 

Contest Rules: Comment on this post between now and noon central time on 9/30/2011 and you will be entered in the drawing.  I will pick a winner at random and send them an electronic gift certificiate via e-mail. By commenting/entering the contest, you agree to receive the Wisconsinmade.com weekly e-mail newsletter.  You can unsubscribe at anytime.  Visit Wisconsinmade.com to view the privacy policy that also applies to all Wisconsinmade.com contests including those hosted here on the Edible Antics blog. Contact info@wisconsinmade.com with questions.

Even if spending time in the kitchen isn't your favorite, it is important to know how to prepare a few basic dishes. Most people know how to cook a burger, an omelet, a roasted chicken, but in Wisconsin, we have some additional favorites that most Wisconsin cooks can whip up on short notice. 

 

Beer Cheese Soup -  Warm up a cold night with this Wisconsin favorite.  Keep it simple with beer and cheese, or add veggies and bratwurst for a more complete meal. My favorite beer cheese soup recipe includes carrots, celery, and potatoes.

Tip: You can skip the beer and use chicken broth instead, but then you'll just have cheese soup!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bratwurst- There are as many ways to cook and serve bratwurst as their are Wisconsin cooks.  Pre-cooked brats can be just as good as fresh brats, but only require a quick sear on the grill.  Fresh brats need to be pre-boiled and Wisconsin cooks usually boil the brats in beer instead of water for some extra flavor. For some bratwurst serving inspiration, visit my blog post to find out how the Wisconsinmade.com staff likes their brats.  Also, be sure to check out the Bratwurst Pages for brat cooking instructions and more.

 

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Grilled Cheese-  The beginner's grilled cheese is two slices of white bread and some american cheese slices. Once a Wisconsin cook masters the basic grilled cheese, she can move on to more creative pursuits.  Test out different cheeses (mozzarella, cheddar, pepper jack), different breads (wheat, sour dough, ciabatta)  and add-ons (bacon, tomato, pesto) to discover the true wonders of the grilled cheese.  Visit this post to see my favorite grilled cheese recipe, or find inspiration at the Grilled Cheese Academy. 

Tip: Use shredded cheese instead of slices, this makes the cheese melt more evenly. 

 

 

 

Mac and Cheese-  This basic dish is another blank canvas for your Wisconsin culinary creativity to shine. Start with a basic recipe, then experiment with different cheeses, pasta shapes, and add-ins.

Tip: If you are baking your mac and cheese, boil your pasta a minute or two less than what the box recommends, it will cook some more in the oven.

 

 

Chewy Brownies: An Accidental Discovery

I accidentally discovered the secret to chewy brownies when I made  "bratwurst on the grill" brownies, an idea from Taste of Home Magazine. 

My coworker Marilyn pointed out to me that she loves chewy brownies, and mine were chewy all the way around.  You've probably heard of those "As Seen on TV", all-corners brownie pans. If you are a chewy brownie lover,  I'm here to tell you, don't buy the over-priced pan! There is a cheaper and easier way to make chewy brownies and you probably have the key piece of equipment in your kitchen right now: the muffin tin.  By putting my brownie batter in a muffin tin, I made chewy brownies without even meaning too.  Not to mention the grill decorations make this the perfect dessert for your next brat cookout. To make your own, just follow these simple steps:

• Take some brownie batter (from a box or from scratch- it's up to you) and fill greased muffin cups most of the way and bake as instructed on the box/in the recipe. 
• After the brownies have baked and cooled, top each brownie with red or orange sugar sprinkles (these are the glowing coals).
• Use black icing to make lines for the grill grate. I used the little tubes of gel you find in the baking section of the grocery store.
• Top each grill with three Hot Tamale candies.
• Make grill marks on your Hot Tamale bratwurst.  I found that using the icing straight out of the tube made the line too thick. Instead, squirt out a bit of icing on to a plate and run a toothpick through it, then run the toothpick over the candy three times to make the grill marks.

For a winter brownie decoration, visit my Snowy Wisconsin Brownies post. 

What brownie do you prefer? The edge, the middle, or the corner?

Military Care Package Ideas

In preparation for the Operation Gratitude fundraiser on Wisconsinmade.com*, I've been researching military care package ideas.  What do soldiers want in a care package?

The short answer to this question: it depends.  Different soldiers are in different situations, some have refrigerators and coffee makers, some don't, and some soldiers want DVDs, but some can get them for cheap so they don't need them. If you don't know a soldier but you still want to contribute to sending a care package, leave it to the professionals at Operation Gratitude. 

Operation Gratitude is a nonprofit, volunteer based organization that ships care packages to deployed soldiers.  The volunteers will pack up gift boxes with the right goodies and your donation will help pay for the shipping costs.  Donate to Operation Gratitude here or visit my last blog post to find other easy ways to support the troops.

If you know the person you are sending your military care package to, find out what their conditions are like and what they need. I browsed some requests from soldiers to see what items were most commonly asked for, and here are a few of those requested gifts that Wisconsinmade.com ships to APO/FPO addresses.

 

1) Cheese-  Regular cheese won't survive the journey so check out Wisconsinmade.com for several cheese spreads and processed cheese options designed specifically for shipment to military recipients.  These do require refrigeration after opening so keep that in mind when choosing to send cheese.

 

2) Coffee-  Some soldiers have access to coffee makers.  Make sure when sending coffee you send grounds instead of whole beans. 

 

3) DVDs -Like I mentioned before this one is mixed, but if a soldier you know is a Badger fan, he/she will get a good laugh from the Being Bucky DVD.

 

4) Blank Note Cards- As an Army brat (the snotty kid kind not the wurst kind), I know that being away from family is tough, so help troops communicate with their loved ones with some blank note cards.

 

5) Proof That America Cares- It may sound a little cheesy, but if you read the responses from the troops on the Operation Gratitude website, all of the package recipients are saying the same thing- it means so much to them to know that complete strangers are showing support.  In the thank you letters, the soldiers don't mention the cool DVDs or yummy candy, they mention the children's drawings and the heartfelt notes from adults.  Of course they love getting packages from family, but getting a package from a stranger lets them know they haven't been forgotten.

Have you sent a care package to a deployed soldier? What gifts do you suggest?

Image from Operation Gratitude.

 

 

*Wisconsinmade.com will be donating 10% of Internet sales to Operation Gratitude from now until 8/10/11. 

Top 5 Spelling Bee Words- Wisconsin Food Style!

Tomorrow is the last day of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which has me thinking about all the difficult words I have to spell when I'm writing my Wisconsin food-fun blog posts.  Here are  a few Wisconsin food spelling bee words that would be a challenge for the super spellers at Scripps! (Note: This is just for fun and these words probably won't be used in any spelling bees).

1. Sheboygan Bratwurst

  

Definition: A yummy sausage originating from the city of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, which is located on the Western shore of Lake Michigan. Sheboygan also refers to a way of serving bratwursts- 2 brats per roll, no boiling in beer, top with ketchup, onion, mustard and dill pickled slices.  Check out the Bratwurst Pages for more detailed instructions.

Sentence: I'm so glad it is warm outside, I can't wait to grill up some Sheboygan Bratwurst.

Language of Origin: Chippewa (Native American) and German

2. Juustoleipa

 

 

 

 

Definition: A cheese variety originating in Finland that is cut into bread-like slices and baked to gooey perfection.  Also known as Juusto or bread cheese.  Find out more about Juusto and what to do with it in previous blog posts.

Sentence:I enjoy Juustoleipa at breakfast- fresh out of the oven and topped with honey.

Language of Origin: Finnish

 

3. Landjager

 

 

 

 

 

Definition: A tender, semi-dried sausage that is a popular snack for hiking and camping since it doesn't require refrigeration.  It usually has a unique square shape and comes in connected pairs.

Sentence: I can't wait to go camping, don't forget to pack the landjager.

Language of Origin: German

 

4. Mocha Machiatto

  
  

 

 

 

Definition: An ice cream variety with coffee flavored ice cream and chocolate pieces. Made by Babcock Hall Dairy at the University of Wisconsin- Madison.

Sentence: Since I graduated from UW I miss Babcock Hall ice cream, good thing Wisconsinmade.com ships Mocha Machiatto to my home state.

Language of Origin: Italian

 

5. Kransekager

 

 

 

 

 

Definition: A cousin of the Kringle, Kransekager is a Scandanavian cake made of rings of almond pastry that is often used in weddings and other celebrations.

Sentence: Wow, that Krasenkager sure looks impressive and tastes fantastic.

Language of Origin: Danish

Smoked Pork Chops

Check out this delicious dinner of smoked pork chops, veggies, and homemade macaroni and cheese.  Can you believe this took me less than 30 minutes including the time to cook the smoked pork chops and make the mac and cheese from scratch? With a few shortcuts a balanced family dinner is only half an hour away. 

Smoked Pork Chops- Pork can be difficult to cook since eating undercooked pork can be dangerous, but overcooking drys it out.  These smoked pork chops are precooked, so all you need to do is warm them up in a skillet or better yet, on the grill for about 5 minutes on each side. Can't get much easier than that. If you can't find them in your grocery store or just want to share the gift of delicious smoked meat, these smoked pork chops ship nationwide from Wisconsinmade.com.

Vegetables- Wondering what to serve with smoked pork chops? I am a big fan of frozen vegetables, in fact, I prefer them over fresh.  Usually when it comes to food fresh is best, but frozen vegetables are picked at their peak and frozen right away to lock in freshness.  Fresh grocery store vegetables have probably taken a long journey and lost some of their nutrients and tastiness.  Stick with frozen and you'll be surprised how tasty and easy adding a side of vegetables can be.

Mac and Cheese- You could always make this from the blue box, but I suggest trying this Stove Top Mac and Cheese recipe.  It only takes a tiny bit more effort than the boxed stuff, but the results are amazing! Besides, if you are from Wisconsin, don't you feel a little guilty using that mystery powder when you have so much real Wisconsin cheese available? 

Looking for more easy family friendly meals? Check out these blog posts:

Easy Barbeque Biscuit Cups

Curry Wurst

Pasta Carbonara

Beer Cheese Soup With Veggies