Madris Gras traditions aren't just limited to the state of Louisiana. You can enjoy them no matter where you live with these fun and easy ideas for Madri Gras traditions. I even added my own Wisconsin twist!
Gumbo with Bratwurst- This gumbo recipe is the perfect party food because it's easy to put together and serves a crowd. You can even assemble it the night before, then have it cook all day in the crockpot, which gives the added bonus of that satisfying smell of food cooking while you're setting up your green, purple and gold Mardi Gras decorations. The original recipe called for the traditional Louisanna andouille sausage but I used bratwrust instead to keep it Wisconsin.
Kringle King Cake - The King Cake is a popular Mardi Gras tradition because it combines a colorful and delicious dessert with a fun party game. The host of the party hides a plastic baby in the cake, and whoever gets the baby inside their piece of cake is the king or queen for the day. Just be aware that royalty also comes with responsibilities. In this case, the king or queen must buy the king cake next year. I would put the king cake kringle by O&H bakery up against any king cake in the country in both the flavor and the looks category. It has flakey layers of pastry, a cream cheese filling and purple, gold and green sugar sprinkles.
Mardi Gras is going on now until Fat Tuesday, February 21st 2012, so get your crock pot ready and order your king cake today and have a fabulous Wisconsin Mardi Gras celebration.
Wisconsin meat processors can now earn the title of Master Meat Crafter thanks to a new program at the University of Wisconsin. Participants of the program often already have their own meat business, and join the program in order to learn the science behind meat processing. The first class of Master Meat Crafters graduated last week. If you've ever tasted Wisconsin summer sausage or an artisan bratwurst, you know Wisconsin meat matches the quality of Wisconsin cheese.
Why Master Meat Crafters in Wisconsin?
Earning the title of Master Meat Crafter is a perk of completing the two year program that involves homework assignments, workshops and mentoring. Wisconsin already boasts a Master Cheesemaker program, the only program of it's kind in the country. With over 289 meat processing plants, the highest number of any state, it makes sense for Wisconsin to provide education and a special distinction for meat producers as well.
Ben Barcel of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says “These meat processors are breaking ground as the very first class of Master Meat Crafters,” said DATCP Secretary Ben Brancel. “The graduates have taken the next step, moving their interest into action, to create high-quality products that will increase consumer interest in specialty meats.”
Wisconsin Meats from Master Meat Crafter Ship Nationwide
One of those ground breaking meat processors is Master Meat Crafter Jeff Roberts, an artisan on Wisconsinmade.com. He creates a variety of bratwurst, from the traditional Sheboygan bratwurst to the wild flavors like pizza and cherry bratwurst. My personal favorite is the mushroom and swiss bratwurst. If you're outside of Wisconsin while you're reading this, don't cry, since Glenn's bratwurst (made by Master Meat Crafter Jeff Roberts) are available for shipment nationwide at Wisconsinmade.com, along with a wide variety of gourmet Wisconsin meats including summer sausage, snack sticks and more.
Top Chef contestant Grayson Schmitz is the latest Wisconsinite to make an appearance on a reality cooking show. You might remember my posts about Food Network Star contestant Jyll Everman. Like Jyll, Grayson moved away from America's Dairyland to study culinary arts and pursue a cooking career. In her casting video, Grayson says that if she makes it on the show, "everyone in New Holstien will freak out!". The residents of New Holstien must be having a cow right now because not only did Grayson make it on the show, but she's one of only six remaining contestants. Could the next Top Chef be from Wisconsin? Tune in to Top Chef on Bravo on Wednesdays at 10/9c to find out.
A cheesemaker, like most artists, can take inspiration from anywhere. In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Master Cheesemaker and Wisconsinmade.com artisan Sid Cook reveals the inspiration behind two of his award winning varieties- Cranberry Chipotle and Cocoa Cardona.
Cranberry Chipotle
A grocery shopper told Sid she would love some cranberry chipotle flavored cheese. Sid was skeptical that the flavors work, but since the shopper was willing to buy a large quantity he decided to give it a try. The key in perfecting this strange combo was allowing the sweet flavor on the cranberries to come out first, followed by the smokiness of the chipotle peppers. A grocery store suggestion turned into an award winning cheese when Cranberry Chipotle Cheddar took 3rd Place at the 2007 U.S. Championship Cheese Contest and 3rd Place at the 2007 American Cheese Society.*
Cocoa Cardona
If you think getting cheese flavor ideas from random grocery store shoppers is odd, the story behind Coca Cardona is even weirder. Sid says that during a busy day of cheesemaking, he would put a chocolate bar on his Swiss cheese sandwich. The busy day sandwich inspired Cocoa Cardona Cheese took 1st Place at the 2004 and 2nd in 2006 American Cheese Society Competition and Best of Class & Overall Second Runner-Up out of 1,000 entries in the 2005 U.S. Championship Cheese Contest.*
Find these Carr Valley cheeses and more creations from Master Cheesemaker Sid Cook on Wisconsinmade.com.
Time for another Wisconsin Rose Bowl! On January 2nd the Badgers will head to Pasadena, California to take on the Oregon Ducks. For those of us who can't make it to the game in person, it's time to start planning our Wisconsin Rose Bowl parties. I've come up with a flavorful and fun party spread that will make the 2012 Rose Bowl one to remember.
Cheese and Sausage Spread - It's not a Wisconsin party without cheese! This is one of several Bucky snack assortments that ships nationwide at Wisconsinmade.com, so even if Bucky doesn't grace the snack food packages in your town like he does here in Madison, you can still enjoy your favorite Bucky snacks no matter where in the USA you live. This one includes cheddar, horseradish, port wine and garlic cheese spread, plus two summer sausages, beef sticks and red Wisconsin plastic cheese spreaders.
Wisconsin Rose Bowl Veggie Tray- Do you think making tomato roses for a veggie tray is only for Martha Stewart? It's actually easier than you think. Visit my Wisconsin Rose Bowl blog post from last year to see step-by-step photo instructions about how to make lovely tomato roses.
Bratwurst - I recently went to a football game in my home state of Virginia, and when hunger struck I went over to the concession stand. My heart sank when I realized that the stand did not serve bratwurst! Wisconsin sports fans should take a lesson from my sad story and appreciate the fact that bratwurst are always available in Wisconsin! Enjoy State Street's famous bratwurst no matter where you live when you order from Wisconsinmade.com.
Smoked Duck- The Oregon Ducks are about to get smoked by the Wisconsin Badgers, so serve a smoked duck at your Wisconsin Rose Bowl Party. This delectable pre-cooked bird can be warmed in the oven or sliced and served with crackers (quackers?!). I wonder if the Oregon fans will be snacking on Badger during the game? I doubt it!
Babcock Hall Ice Cream No Badger celebration is complete without the sweet finish of some Babcock Hall Ice Cream. Select from classic flavors from your college days like Union Utopia (vanilla with fudge swirl), Peanut Butter Cup and Orange Custard Chocolate Chip.
In the ABC World News Made in America Christmas series, Diane Sawyer reported that if every American spent $64 on made in America gifts this holiday, businesses could create 200,000 jobs in the United States. Watch the video here:
At Wisconsinmade.com we've always been advocates of supporting local businesses. Not only do 250 Wisconsin businesses sell their gifts on Wisconsinmade.com, but the website is a small business in itself. The site was started in 1999 by Linda Remeschatis, and 12 years later, she employs eight people here in Wisconsin. Wisconsinmade.com is proof that buying American-made gifts can create local jobs.
Every gift on Wisconsinmade.com is made in Wisconsin, so as long as you shop with us, you know you're keeping dollars in America. Here are a few food gift ideas that will meet the $64 mark. Also, all of our customer service representatives are based in our Wisconsin office, so no calling overseas for order assistance.
Wisconsin-made Gift Ideas That Cost Around $64
Bacon Gift Assortment- My fellow bacon lovers, if you have not tried Nueske bacon, what are you waiting for? Applewood smoked by experts in Wittenberg, Wisconsin, this bacon puts the grocery store varieties to shame. I prefer the super thick cut, but my coworker Marilyn prefers the thin sliced. Try all five varieties to find your favorite and as a bonus, enjoy some bacon scones and bacon cheese spread for $64.95 + shipping.
Cheesehead Gift Basket- The Pack is undefeated so show your green and gold pride with this cheesehead gift basket. The famous foam cheesehead is filled with game day snacks like pretzels, peanuts, crackers and of course, three kinds of Wisconsin cheese. $67.50 + shipping.
Christmas Gift Box- A rustic wooden Christmas box filled with cranberries, pretzels, mustard, gingerbread cookies and more. A popular gift to send to friends, family members and business associates. $68.50 + shipping.
Mad Grad Medley Ice Cream and Cherry Pie Combo- Wisconsin's best dairy experts train at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Babcock Hall. Taste the fruit of their labors (literally) with Babock Hall Ice Cream. Mad Grad Medley is a flavor creation of a UW-Madison grad that combines vanilla, chocolate shavings and Door County cherries. Add a Wisconsin-made cherry pie and you have a cherry lover's delight. $64.90 with shipping included.
$64 Wisconsinmade.com Gift Card- In honor of the Made in America Christmas special, we created a $64 gift card so your gift recipient can select their favorite Wisconsin-made treats. The gift card is available via e-mail (great for last minute gifts!) or in the traditional plastic version.
It may not be Chicago or New York City, but the Madison dining scene is pretty impressive considering the size of our city between the lakes. From late night munchies like Ian's mac and cheese pizza to a cozy dinner for two in the mansion at Quivey's Grove, there's something for everyone here in Madison, Wisconsin. Whether you're new to Madison dining or you've been here for years and love a good deal on dinner, check out CityTins- a retro tin filled with discounts to your favorite Madison restaurants.
Retro Style. The artsy tin is filled with gift cards that should probably be called "gift coasters". Use them to protect your coffee table while you enjoy some pre-dinner drinks.
The Dinner Spinner. Can't decide which Madison dining establishment to visit? Give the Dinner Spinner a whirl and it will point you in the the right direction.
$200 in savings. $200 worthy of savings for only $25? That's a no brainer!
Keep It Local. All of the restaurants included in the CityTin are local eateries- no chain restaurants.
Also available in a Milwaukee version. Same idea, different city.
Visit Wisconsinmade.com to stock up on CityTins for holiday gifts, but don't forget to get one for yourself.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Each month I attend the Social Media Breakfast here in Madison. I look forward to it because sometimes I feel like I'm in the Wizard of Oz- "Pay no attention to that girl behind the blog!" For one glorious morning a month I get to rest my weary computer eyes and talk to people face to
face about Edible Antics and my job as the Social Media and Public Relations Specialist at Wisconsinmade.com. This month was especially exciting because Wisconsinmade.com sponsored the breakfast, so not only did I get to talk to people, I got to use a microphone! It's no secret I love to hear myself talk (it runs in the family, hi Dad!) especially when my voice is amplified. As part of our sponsorship, Wisconsinmade.com owner Linda and I gave the event's speakers, Allison and Rich from Google, some hand-decorated Thank You cookies. If you're thinking of getting involved with the Social Media Breakfast, either attending or sponsoring, you absolutely should and here's why.
The Social Media Breakfast is a great oppurtunity to get the word out about your business. I've become a regular customer at some of the places I've learned about through the Social Media Breakfast. I can't go to the grocery store without a CupCakes-A-Go-Go's Tootski's Toffee Crunch cupcake or two miraculously ending up in my cart. I have been teased for paying $7.00 for two cupcakes, but I have no shame- the enjoyment I get from these sinfully decadent cupcakes are worth every penny. I would have never become a regular cupcake buyer if it weren't for learning about CupCakes-A-Go-Go at the Social Media Breakfast.
Another reason to sponsor the SMB? Influencial people will talk about your business! The people who attend the Social Media Breakfast have thousands of Twitter followers, popular blogs, and active Facebook communities. The attendees appreciate your sponsorship, so they will make it a point to mention you on Twitter and Facebook, and if you win them over with your baking skills, they might even give you a shout out and a link on their food blog- like I just did for CupCakes-A-Go-Go.
Social Media Breakfast groups gather in cities all over the country, but Madison is one of the best cities to attend a breakfast because there are some amazing learning oppurtunities here. Madison residents have a passion for local businesses and enterprenuership, and small businesses love Social Media because it is a relatively affordable way to get the word out. The little guys engaging in Social Media here in Madison attracted the big guy- Google. Google sent represenatives to the area to help small businesses set up Google Places pages and learn to use Google tools better. At September's Social Media Breakfast, Rich and Allison from Google told us about some tools we had heard of: Google Places, Google Analytics, and some new ones that we can't wait to use: Google Search Stories, and Google Trends. Google has even set up a special website for Madison at Google.com/Madison. It's kind of a big deal, so if you aren't involved with the Social Media Breakfast- what are you waiting for?
Check out the Madison Social Media Breakfast on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to find out when the next event will take place.
Here's the Search Story I made! You can make yours here.
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.
