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Mad Good Music (and Food)
Reason #1,467 why I love Madison is that it has free festivals all summer long. Coming up on June 12-13 is the Marquette Waterfront Festival right in my neighborhood at Yahara Place Park. I am super excited that Great Lake Swimmers will be playing on June 13 at 4:30 p.m. I love me some Canadian indie bands! And, since I think about food all the time, it’s worth noting that local restaurants Lao Laan-Xang, Glass Nickel Pizza, Plaka Taverna, The Chocolate Shoppe, Café Costa Rica, and Jamerica will have stands there, and Capital Brewery will have beers on tap. Come on down with your kids, bikes, and blankets for some…
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When in Rome
I am not a fan of broccoli unless it is rendered into near-unrecognizable form. That’s why I like this classic Italian recipe, Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa. I first learned about the wonders of Italy from my uncle, who lived there for several years with his wife when I was a kid. They came back speaking exotic words like bella and mangia. I, too, wanted to speak Romance languages, travel to far-away places, and eat new foods. This week, my uncle passed away, but his traveler’s spirit lives on. This recipe is in honor of him. 1 pound broccoli rabe (or regular broccoli, if you can’t find it) 1 pound orecchiette…
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Pink Wine: Thinking Outside the Box
For years, any mention of rosé wine conjured images of Sunset Blush from a box which, in turn, led to dry heaving. Then my friend Katie, ever adventurous, offered me a glass of Sofia Blanc de Blancs at my bridal shower. I only accepted it because I loved The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation, so I reasoned that a wine named after their director would be good, too. On my honeymoon in Argentina, I tried more pink wines, and even bought some Crios de Susana de Balbo Rosé when I got back to the US. Now that warmer weather is upon us and my bias is almost gone (though…
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Bloody Marys, Sconnie Style
If you want to get a taste for the food culture of a place, order a Bloody Mary. It will tell you a lot. On a recent trip to St. Thomas, my Bloody Mary contained habanero hot sauce. Here in Wisconsin, we also have our own way of doing things. Here’s how to make a Bloody Mary, Sconnie Style. You’ll need a big pint glass and some long toothpicks or cocktail spears, as well as the following ingredients: Vodka Tomato juice Worcestershire sauce Horseradish Tabasco sauce Green olives Brine from olive jar Celery stalk (keep the fronds on top if you want it to look fancy) cheese curds Mini sausage…
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make Beer Can Chicken like a rapper
Last night, we had beer can chicken and biscuits for dinner while listening to Dolly Parton. I am not kidding. We needed a hearty meal after a day spent rock climbing at Devils Lake with my awesome friend and climbing guide, Nick. While digging into the juicy chicken, Nick asked my husband: “Where did you get this recipe idea?” My husband’s reply? “Ludacris.” You don’t have to be a rapper to make beer can chicken, though. All you need is a whole roasting chicken (not frozen), a can of beer, olive oil, salt, and pepper. And other spices, if you’d like. Rub the…
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Candy Colors to Beat the Spring Blahs
When the dreaded “May Gray” sets in, a girl’s gotta turn to her wardrobe for some artificial sunshine. I am loving these candy-colored picks from local Etsy seller WorkingGirlVintage:
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Fashion Highs and Lows
I thought that by unsubscribing from sample sale websites like Gilt Groupe and RueLaLa, I could remove all fashion temptations from my inbox. But, alas, there is just too much designer love out there, and not all of it requires a second mortgage (not that you could get one, anyway, in this lending environment). Zac Posen and Jean Paul Gaultier currently have lines at Target. Macy’s carries Rachel Roy’s more affordable line, Rachel. Charlotte Ronson has a line at JC Penney (yes, that other anchor store at your local mall). Her line is called I Heart Ronson. And I am loving the clean and classic jewelry in Dana Buchman’s line…
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Motherlode of Talent
Yesterday I attended “Listen to Your Mother” at the Barrymore, directed and produced by Madison blogger Ann Imig of Ann’s Rants. The show featured Madison writers reading their own pieces on the ever-complicated topic of modern motherhood. Many of the pieces were funny, some were poetic, others were sad, but all of them were heartfelt and inspiring. I’m not a mom to anyone other than my dog, but the show reminded me how important it is to have a community: whether it is fellow women, fellow moms, fellow writers, or all of the above.
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Not-So-Fake Bake
There’s nothing better on a Sunday morning than baked goods fresh from the oven. But who wants to get up early enough to bake monkey bread or scones? Luckily, there’s Batch Bakehouse just around the corner from me at 1511 Williamson Street. There’s nothing fake about these baked-from-scratch goodies, but you can decide whether or not you want to tell your friends and family you didn’t make them. Grab some croissants and pain au chocolate for breakfast and, while you’re there, get a loaf of their artisanal bread to serve with your Sunday dinner. They’ve got dog treats, too, in case you want to pick something up for the four-legged…
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Garage Sale Goodness
RUN, do not walk, to the corner of Spaight St. and Dickenson. My neighbor, Miriam, is selling boxes and boxes full of vintage goodness. And for all you fabric collectors and seamstresses, she’s got lots of textiles. Here are just a few of the treasures she’s parting with at garage sale prices:
a blog on fiction, fashion, food + family