I Rant I Rave

Factory food need not apply.  Oh the lovely feeling of making a scrumptious meal from your own soil.

Leave it to my three year old to teach me a lesson on living simply. What makes Vee happiest are the most insignificantly significant things, like pink kitty puddle jumpers, fake pearl necklaces, lipstick, dresses, and mud. I have a lot to learn.

Thought I would share one of my newest favorite meals to make. I serve these as a rich and satisfying main course with a side salad and am usually significantly stuffed. This recipe is inspired by a similar dish enjoyed by many of us at my brother’s wedding reception at Joseph’s Table in Taos, New Mexico.

Polenta Fries with Gorgonzola Marsala Mushroom Sauce. It’s worth the work, trust me.

For the polenta: Bring 6 cups of salted water to a boil, add 2 cups of corn grits aka polenta and stir frequently (more or less all the time) with a wooden spoon. Watch out, polenta bubbles and spatters whilst it cooks. Cook about 30 minutes, or until your wooden spoon stands upright. Mix in a generous Tablespoon or so of butter, 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan Cheese, and 1/4 cup grated good aged Gouda (like Rembrandt). Spread evenly in a buttered 9 x 13 inch pan. Let polenta cool and “firm up.” Cut firm polenta into rectangular strips, and coat with flour. Eventually, after you make the Mushroom sauce, you will pan fry the “fries” over medium heat, using an oil that can resist high temperature without smoking. I like to use grapeseed oil, it is rather expensive, but works like a dream and doesn’t add an “oily” taste to the crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside polenta fries.

For the sauce: Heat & reduce 1 1/3 cups sweet Marsala cooking wine in a sauce pan, you can find this next to the vinegar in the grocery store, if you’re wondering…Meanwhile, bring 1 cup of heavy cream to a boil. At the same time, saute about 2 cups of mushrooms (I like a mixture of shitake & portobello) in olive oil, and set aside for later. Next heat up 1/4 cup of gorgonzola cheese, 1 Tablespoon sugar, 1 clove of minced fresh garlic, a little pepper, a bit of salt, and some chopped up fresh basil leaves. Heat this mixture until the cheese melts, add the marsala wine, cream, mushrooms, and about 1 1/2 Tablespoons of cornstarch. Mix these ingredients well.

Pour some sauce on a plate, stack the polenta fries, and top with a bit more sauce and crumbled gorgonzola cheese.

Stuff yourself silly.

FYI, these are also great salted and dunked in good ole Heinz ketchup-which is how Violet prefers to eat them.

So, I’m currently reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (I almost typed Gilmer…) and am in Italy with Liz at the moment. Obviously, I need to be sitting outside with the tiki torches lit, drinking a fine glass of vino whilst I read about Rome.

Meanwhile, I’m always scoping out reasonably priced good bottles of wine. Last night I noticed, fortunately before my designated “reading time” that we were without wine in the house. I ran into Annandale, assuming I would not find much of a selection. I was pleasantly surprised at the selection, and cleanliness, of the new booze buying headquarters-”O Brothers Liquor Store.” Not quite sure what the “O” stands for. However, I heard a rumor that the store is co-owned by Annandale’s resident gravel pit, trailer park owning, king pin-Dub Ferrell. FYI, I would love to do some sort of Biography/Documentary on this man someday.

So, back to the wine…I chose a bottle of Estancia Pinot Noir for $15.99, and it was a really nice wine.

The texture was smooth on the tongue, no razor blades cutting the inside of your month (you know what I mean?), and it had hints of sweet blueberry mixed with something that I would assume would be chocolate, or at least in the family of, because I had a hankering to search the houses for anything chocolate after the first few sips of the Pinot. Fortunately, we still have at least half a bowl full of the kid’s Easter candy and I scrounged up a pretty crappy tasting chocolate kiss. American chocolate=crappy chocolate. At least, this is what I had thought before I met Green & Black’s caramel chocolate bar…Okay, I just found out that Green & Black’s is a British company, so yeah, America=crappy chocolate still stands. Those Brits sure no their choccy bars.

Speaking of Green & Black’s they have come out with their own line of sinfully delicious organic ICE CREAM!!

Of course they would do this, when I’ve vowed to take a break from cheese and ice cream a.k.a. two of the top reasons I can’t fit into my “skinny jeans.” Meanwhile, I’m still in Italy getting fatter and happier with Ms. Gilbert (I just typed Gilmer again).

This past Saturday I headed to St. Cloud planning to stop at a couple of my favorite food and “bevie” stores sans family. Tis a luxurious thing to me gathering good groceries ala Han Solo.

I was saving the best stop for last, Good Earth Food Co-op. I walked in the familiar front doors, and braced myself for the lovely site of loaves upon loaves of fresh baked, dense, hard on the outside, soft on the inside Fred’s Bread. Truly the best bread I have ever tasted in this country. So close to what I had experienced in Europe at every breakfast. Fred’s Bread barely made it the half hour trek home usually, and was always the first thing eaten when I got home- a slice of Mega Grain or Flaxseed Oatmeal with a big slab of butter, or hummus, or pesto. I’d fry up some Smart Bacon for dinner, just to incorporate it into the evening meal through a BLT sandwich. I had once sent it off to Northfield to impress D & C from Goodbye Blue Monday Coffeehouse (they aren’t easily impressed by amateur baked goods-Fred’s was oh so not an amateur). Fred had traveled all through Europe learning the style, recipes, bringing back ovens from Italy, he was a rock star living in my back yard. His bread had a cult following.

So I walk into the co-op and there is a great big note on the Fred’s Bread display case, which was custom made by Fred. This article taken from the St. Cloud Times basically sums up the letter-

Fred’s Bread closes because of injury
By Amy Trang, atrang@stcloudtimes.com

July 11, 2007
CLEARWATER TOWNSHIP — A longtime area baker has closed up shop.

Fred’s Bread closed Friday after owner Fred Mische said an injury has sidelined him from operating the business.

Mische said he injured his ankle in an accident late last month that has prevented him from baking.

As a one-person business, Mische said it would be difficult to bake and deliver his goods.

Mische’s breads were delivered daily to area businesses including the Good Earth Food Co-Op and Jules’ Bistro in St. Cloud and Manea’s Meats in Sauk Rapids.

But Mische’s bread won’t be gone for good. Mische said he plans on pursuing other ventures in the future that would involve his baked goods.

Mische’s wholesale business also shipped bread and pastries as far as Alaska and Florida.

Fred’s Bread was established in January 1999.

A former educator, Mische built a commercial kitchen for Fred’s Bread, including importing an Italian bread oven for his business.

Okay, folks, I only wish I could have anticipated this…I would have bought 12 loaves, crammed them into my freezer and savored each crumb.  Come to think of it, I may have a heel (maybe a bit on the stale side) hidden behind some frozen peas.  Yes!!!!

 I wish Fred the best, his bread will be so missed by so many.  I just might have to learn to bake my own bread now, and I’m still trying to decode his Napolean Pull Apart Cookie-buttercream frosting sandwiched by two chocolate oatmeal almond delights.  Heaven.  Get your own, ’cause I’m a bad sharer.

This summer I’ve challenged myself to read one book purely for my own pleasure. This was once an easy task, back in the time before children, houses, self-employment, cooking, cleaning, gardening, and the ever present need to cross some sort of project off my “to do” list.

Consequently, I found myself in Buffalo Books and Coffee last week, searching for my perfect summer read.

After picking a few books by their cover art, which I know one should not do, and reading the first few sentences, I opened Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love.

So far, so damn good. I don’t think I’ve connected with a book so quickly with an author’s voice since my first introduction to Margaret Atwood while reading A Handmaid’s Tale (If you’ve never read this you should. I read it one sleepless day). Although, these two writers really cannot be compared, as they are extremely different.

Here is a synopsis taken from the back of the book-

In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want-husband, country home, successful career-but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion. this wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and of what she found in their place. Following a divorce and a crushing depression, Gilbert set out to examine three different aspects of her nature, set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence.

 

 

 

 

Last week I ran into Target to pick up fancy French lemonade for a get together we were having after the Heart of the Lakes Triathlon. I walked back by the patio and garden section and noticed they had everything on clearance to make room for “Back to School” crap. What ever happened to just slowing down and enjoying the ninety days free from pencil sharpening and school buses?

I mentioned to one of the guys stocking the school merchandise, that I thought it was pretty damn early for all this. His reply, “It’s really scary when you’re putting up Christmas trees and the Halloween stuff is still on the racks…and that will be here in a couple of months.”

Anyway, like many of my fellow consuming Americans I took the bait and hook of CLEARANCE must go by SATURDAY. I called Adam up, had him meet me at the store, and a few hours later we were strategically placing this great patio set, scored for $130 (retails for over $500) into our two compact cars. Yeah, the kids were with too. The people sitting in the Starbucks got a nice laugh out of our clown car.

So, this new patio set is my most recent Rave. The Sparks family is enjoying the “Great Outdoors” like no time before.

I’ll start this post with a Rant, because sometimes the “dirt” really gets under our fingernails.

A few weeks ago, Adam and I worked a wedding gig in Chaska. It was a really great day-the people were amazing. However, it was a really hot day and we had spent it in the sun (outside ceremony) working our little tootsies off. After working a twelve hour day, I could only think about sitting back and relaxing somewhere nice.

I suggested to Adam that we venture off the beaten track to discover Excelsior, MN. I have recently found myself working with some members of my community to focus a downtown revitalization group, and Excelsior just so happens to be a role model of sorts.

We found the main artery of the beautiful and quaint downtown, parked our car, and began a leisurely stroll down the sidewalk looking for somewhere “nice.” Maybe a block into our little treasure hunt we came upon a very nice store front with elegant people sitting in cafe chairs sipping wines and looking like they were having a marvelously lovely summer evening. The cafe in question? Biella.

Doesn’t it look just lovely?

We thought it did too. So we went in. Immediately, we were “attacked” by the hostess/server. Like that opening scene in Jaws she came and pulled us under the water with an abrupt tug “Two for dinner?”

It was more like an accusation versus a question.

I’m going to back up and let you know, that although I’m not technically an “expert service critic,” I am somewhat validated by the fact that I owned and operated a coffee house for four years, and before that worked in food service for 8 years.

“Well, we’re really just interested in a couple of drinks,” Adam says honestly to our shark-ess. I cringe, knowing that this has sealed our doom. She’s thinking-I’m not going to let these people spend a measly 30 dollars! Oh no.

She placates us somewhat politely now with, “The bar might be opening up soon as I seat guests, and you can sit there.”

“Okay,”Adam says cheerfully.

About 1 minute passes.

“You know, I’m sorry, we can’t serve you.”

Whoa!

Again let me paint the picture more clearly. Adam and I have been working a wedding. Therefore, we are dressed professionally and quite nicely, all in black of course, but looking smart. We’re not talking a simple case of “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service.”

She was totally rude. And, what made the experience even worse, was the fact that she wasn’t a “kid” working some job they didn’t care about for the summer. Rant Number One-Biella Restaurant.

So we left. We got into our car and we drove away. Almost out of the “main drag” were we, when a small neon sign caught my eye.

“Stop!” I declared.

318 Music Cafe. I had heard from an acquaintance that a this guy I had once met had started up a cool wine/beer/coffeehouse. It was serendipity. Meant to be, that whole nasty business earlier. 318 was exactly the type of place we were looking for (Rave Number 12). Small and cozy with good beer and good treats, the best treat being the intimate concert we were given by the blues/folk/singer/guitar player, Jason Shannon (Rave Number 13). Adam and I thoroughly enjoyed our Summit Scandia (Rave Number 14) whilst clapping along to Shannon’s catchy tunes. I think his mom and sister were in the audience, at least it seemed to be family…Also, some hip ladies in their 70’s that made me pleasantly optimistic about my own aging, my own hip lady future. My only complaint? The tables and chairs look like they were scored and salvaged from an out of business Denny’s Restaurant chain. They were so uncool. These not even uncooly cool tables were lined up and crammed together so that the servers’ butts were constantly in some patron’s face. I don’t know. Good if you’re into that kind of thing. I personally, don’t want any ass with my Summit.

Yesterday I celebrated my 31st year on the planet, Earth. Yee-Haw! My birthday is actually the ninth of July…but it was a Monday and everybody knows Tuesday is a much nicer day to party.

So, instead of buying me some “thing” my lovely husband Adam arranged an amazing birthday “getaway.” Yeah, I’m gloating…he’s Rave Number One on this post.  And, yes, this is a terribly stupid picture of me to include with a Rave Review.  It just happened to be one of Adam that I have on my desktop!

Adam and I dropped off the kids with Granny One & Granny Two and headed down the highway bound for Minneapolis. I knit the whole way.

I’m knitting a nice chevron cotton sweater from the book Glamour Knits (Rave Number Two).

I’m using some beautiful blue and brown Schaefer yarn which I purchased whilst visiting Sharon and Andy last year in Mississippi at the best yarn shop in the world. Yeah, you read right, I said Mississippi!!! Okay, my knitting world is not yet vast enough to really declare this. However, if you ever for some odd reason find yourself in downtown Columbus, Mississippi please visit Christy at Yarns Downtown. Here is a photo I stole off their website:

Her cyber appeal is lacking-the pictures of her shop don’t do it justice. It’s got such a good yarn vibe, lots of juicy creative energy. Added bonuses of the shop besides the great selection of fiber and notions are it’s housed in a historical downtown building with 14 foot high ceiling, there are beautiful custom made black cabinetry, flat screen televisions, comfy chairs, bright cheery yellow walls, and way too cool/expensive knitting “purses.” I did a lot of coveting here (Rave Number Three).

Back to the sweater. I’ve knit up the back and am almost finished working the front. I didn’t use the color/yarn suggested in the pattern because that would be conforming to the masses, and those of you who know me well know that this would be out of character. Instead I am using primarily this nice blue cotton/silk blend from Schaefer Yarns it’s called Empress Wu.

Much to Adam’s chagrin, I’ve also included anice band of the more brown-ish Elizabeth Blackwell around me middle love handle area (I’m jumping rope to cure My Mother of Two Muffin Top).

The colors were named after great women in history. Isn’t that cool (Rave Number Four)?!

Adam and I decided to spend the first couple hours of our “honeymoon” at the Walker Art Gallery. We were both curious to see the new exhibit Picasso and America Art.

While I’m not drawn personally to works by Picasso, the breadth and depth of his works and influences are at the least awe inspiring. So many great artists were challenged and directly influenced by Picasso. To make the subject manageable, the exhibition concentrates on Picasso’s impact on ten Americans (Max Weber, Stuart Davis, John Graham, Arshile Gorky, Willem de Kooning, David Smith, Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Jasper Johns). Weber was the first American to respond powerfully to Picasso. I was most drawn to Weber’s rich, dark, secretive piece entitled Trees. Adam and I had a quick bite to eat before viewing the artwork in the cafeteria style lunchroom on the eighth floor. We shared a nice pungent ceasar salad sure to make our breath comparitable to that of a dragon, and each had a delightfully yummy grilled vegetable panini. Which, they had strangely enough under the “Cold” sandwich category. Those silly artists. We moved eventually outside to enjoy the beautiful 7o plus something degree day in the Sculpture Garden. No, we did not hang with the art cliche’ otherwise known as the spoon on the cherry. Instead, we walked around a square of granite benches. Each bench had something to say etched across it. My favorite was something about how alarming it is to see one person’s breath, and how really strange it is to see a crowd of people’s breath, to see how far it reaches. I’m paraphrasing. Our afternoon at the Walker Art Museum, Rave Number Five!

At three o’clock, just in time to have our car parked and check into our hotel room we arrived at the Chambers Hotel! Prepare yourself for some insane raving, a raving lunatic I am about to become!

Adam had reserved the Hanky Panky Package, and boy was he about to get some…I’ll spare you the details. Included in this package are white strewn rose petals, which I actually think are a bit cheesy- but they gave me a good chuckle, dinner for two in the Chambers Kitchen, champagne, valet parking, and a late three p.m. checkout

.

I am seriously still to enamored from my stay, and possibly a bit tired, to go into detail about this place. It was f!@##$%%^^&&* awesome! The highlight was our dinner downstairs in the hotel restaurant. Possibly the best vegetarian meal of our lives. Our waitress was kick-ass, and a fellow vegetarian so she really knew her way around the menu and we of course bonded with her right away! I wasn’t sure what our veggie options would be, I knew from reading reviews that the restaurant was killer, but I was pretty sure the menu was definitely carnivore friendly. You can download a menu here. We started our meal with our server’s recommendation-King Oyster Mushroom and Avocado Carapaccio, in addition to a fancy version of the beloved tomato soup and grilled cheese, and a warm asparagus salad with enoki shrooms. Our main course, was two filets of deep fried tofu. The tofu was lightly battered and floated on my tongue. I can only guess they are deep frying the tofu in an oil that can take a lot of heat, maybe grapeseed oil? It was just so beautiful. Sheer perfection, like eating my grandpa’s fresh caught beer battered crappie fish, only way better. I guess you could say the cooking is like Asian/French/did I mention it was f!@@##$$%%^^&&* awesome?! For dessert they brought out warm chocolate cake, with fudge around the rim of the plate wishing me a “Happy Birthday.” The service, as I said was impeccable, never snooty and the manager was constantly made available, as he went around the dining room speaking with the customers. Rave! Rave! Rave! Rave 6 and Rave 7!

After dinner, one bottle of champagne, one bottle of wine, good food, and swell conversation later, Adam and I changed into our rocking clothes and got ready to dance down to the Fine Line Music Cafe. I can’t believe I’ve never been there before, it was a great little music venue (Are we up to Rave 8?) We had tickets to a favorite group of mine, The Polyphonic Spree. You may have heard one of their songs on the movie soundtrack to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. We got to the Fine Line early enough to catch the opening act, which I was totally going to skip, and I’m so glad serendipity stepped in. Jesca Hoop opened for the Spree, and she is haunting. Adam and I haven’t recovered. Her voice is so different, refreshing, there are some many clones out there. Jesca Hoop is Rave 9.

It took the Spree a while to set up, I guess that’s what happens when you have over 20 musicians taking the stage! I have three words for you- harp, moshing, and confetti. The 2 and 1/2 hour concert was incredible. I have a bruise and ringing ears and I’m too old for this shit, but it was incredible. Please check out their music, buy it, and attend a concert. You will not be sorry. Polyphonic Spree=Rave 10.

After the two of us “old farts” wound down with a game of pool at the Lone Tree, we headed back to crash on our feather bed at the Chambers. We woke up early enough today to take a walk over to Hell’s Kitchen for a yummy breakfast. I think I had about ten pieces of bread slathered with their famous homemade peanut butter (Rave 11).

What a way to end a truly memorable birthday present.

Adam? I’ll keep him around for a couple more years…

I am going to try and attempt some sort of good things/bad things in the world blog.  Wish me luck!