Wisconsin became the 30th state of the union in 1848. Being shortly before the Civil War, people met in Ripon, Wisconsin to discuss stopping the spread of slavery, resulting in the creation of the Republican Party. The state then became an important part of the Underground Railroad, helping escaped slaves reach freedom in Canada.
Wisconsin’s prairie soil is very fertile, boosting corn, the state’s #1 crop. The Sun Prairie’s sweet corn festival is one of the largest of its kind in the nation.
The Badger State is so famous for its cheese that it has a cheese museum. In truth, the Swiss Cheese Capitol of the World is in Wisconsin, rather than in Switzerland. The term “cheesehead” started as a term used by German soldiers to insult the Dutch during World War II, long before Green Bay Packers’ fans adopted it. Famous for its dairy products, Wisconsin banned the sale and use of margarine from 1895 to 1967. It remains illegal for a restaurant to serve margarine as a butter substitute unless a customer requests it.
The name Wisconsin hails from a Native American word “meskonsing,” meaning “this stream meanders through something red,” likely referring to the state’s reddish sandstone. Eleven Native American tribes still live in Wisconsin today.
With a current population nearing 6 million people, the state is noted for its forests and fertile farmland.
Neighboring Minnesota is called the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but Wisconsin has more than 15,000, all created during the last Ice Age some 12,000 years ago when glaciers scraped across the land.
Glaciers carved a sandstone gorge called the Dells of the Wisconsin River, along with flattop hills called buttes and mesas.
Wisconsin is also home to a major archaeological find: 14,500-year-old mammoth bones with human-made tool marks.
Here are a few more fun facts.
Nearly 21 million gallons of ice cream are consumed by Wisconsinites each year.
Green Bay, the oldest city in Wisconsin, is known as the “Toilet Paper Capital” of the world.
Sheboygan, which freshwater surfers know as the “Malibu of the Midwest” is also known as the “Bratwurst Capital” of the world.
The Fox River is one of the few rivers in the nation that flows north.
More than 800,000 deer roam Wisconsin woods.
With 250 miles of lake front shoreline, Door County has more shoreline than any other U.S. county.
A long list of famous folks hail from Wisconsin, including magician Harry Houdini, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, actor Orson Wells, and performer Liberace.
Wisconsin contains 60,570 acres of State parks and 471,329 acres of State forests.
Its highest elevation is Timms Hill at 1,951.5 feet.
The town of Warrens has 400 residents but draws 100,000 visitors each September for the world’s largest cranberry festival. Wisconsin produces 60% of the nation’s cranberries.
We have also enjoyed pizza Margherita at Campiello’s on 3rd Avenue in Naples, FL. They cut the basil in strips and add shredded Parmesan. But, ahhhhh, it’s a treat to enjoy with a glass of wine at an outside table on National Italian Food Day or any other!
“A good friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.”
Whisk all ingredients except the pretzels together in a bowl. Pour over pretzels in a very large, heavy-duty, zip-top plastic bag, turning to coat the pretzels thoroughly. Turn the bag again and again, several times for 5 hours. (During this time, you may add more dry ranch dressing and dill as desired.) Store airtight at room temperature, but do not expect them to last long. (I can’t figure it out; they seem to simply evaporate.)
KISS Tips: Marti told me that she often uses a big 2.5-gallon-sized bag and makes 2 lbs of pretzels at a time. You can also let them marinate 1 hour, turning occasionally; then spread on baking sheets and bake at 250°F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Let them cool completely before serving.
And in my usual, “I-Can’t-Help-Myself Style,” here are some fun twists: Add ¼ tsp lemon pepper and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Or turn them into Buffalo-Style Pretzels by replacing dill weed with 1-2 tsp celery seed; use ¼ c oil, ¼ c melted butter, and ½ c Frank’s Red-Hot Sauce. (These are great baked; and served with ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping.) Or try Onion Pretzels by replacing the dry ranch, dill, lemon, and cayenne with dry onion soup mix.
“Practice hope. As hopefulness becomes a habit, you can achieve a permanently happy spirit.”
I do not know who comes up with some of these crazy days of celebration. However, I do presume they are sitting around drinking some adult beverages… or eating ice cream for breakfast. So… when should we gather next to eat some ice cream for breakfast? Er, uh… I mean develop some MORE crazy days to celebrate our human silliness?
Spinach Mushroom Omelet
Preheat griddle or skillet over med heat. Add 2 T butter and/or oil or combo. Pour in half the egg mixture (if using single skillet) or all of it in two sections (if making both omelets at the same time). Lift edges to allow extra liquid to run under the omelet. Sprinkle the cheese over the entire top surface; divide spinach leaves over the cheese, followed by sprinkle the onions, peppers, and mushrooms. When the eggs are just about set (2-3 min), fold both outer edges of the egg toward the center, forming your omelet. Transfer to warmed plates and serve with your choice of meats, toasts, breakfast potatoes, and fresh berries or fruit.
“Do not condemn the judgment of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.”
“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.”
The Sunshine State became a US Territory in 1921, after falling under colonial rule by France, Spain, and Great Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries. Florida became our nation’s 27th state in 1845. Of course, Native Americans were living there for at least 12,000 years prior being named “La Florida” (meaning “land of flowers”) by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. Florida is home to the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the country, since St. Augustine was settled by Spaniards in 1565.
Averaging 300 days of sunshine each year, Florida is famous for warm, sunny weather and beautiful landscapes, average temperatures range from 65-70°F in the northern region and 74-77°F in the southern region. With its 825 miles of publicly accessible beaches, Florida also has the longest coastline in the continental US and is the only state bordering the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. When you are in Florida, you are never more than 60 miles from the ocean, and there are more than 7,700 lakes.
Funky Florida facts:
Florida hosts more golf courses than anywhere else in the US… more than 1300.
Among the peculiar laws you will find that it is illegal to skateboard in Florida without a license, illegal to sing while wearing a swimsuit in public, and illegal for an unmarried woman to skydive on Sundays. Of course, oral sex is also illegal in Florida, and it’s illegal in Miami Beach to bring a pig with them to the beach. You can also face up to 30 days in jail for selling oranges on the sidewalk.
And last, but not least… The famed honky-tonk Flora-Bama Beach Bar, which sits on the state line between Florida and Alabama, hosts thousands of Floridians once a year for its annual Mullet Toss, during which thousands of Floridians stand at the state line and toss dead fish into Alabama. (Hmmm… I am sure there is no beer drinking involved.)
Thanks to Mom teaching me to cook and bake when I was a child, I have been making pies for decades. Rhubarb is a favorite, since I enjoy tart flavors, such as cranberries. But most folks prefer pies to be a little (or a lot) sweeter. So, I now always add strawberries. They sweeten the rhubarb.
In large bowl, combine sugars, cornstarch, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, zest & salt. Toss with rhubarb, berries (& almond extract, if using), till coated. Pour into prepared pastry shell. Dot with butter. Cut 2nd pastry into ½ – ¾” strips and weave a lattice top for pie. Fold ends under at edges; press to seal; crimp edges. Brush lattice with milk; sprinkle with sugar OR brush with egg yolk wash. Bake at 400°F for 20 min. Reduce heat to 350°F and bake additional 25-35 min till crust is golden and filling is thickened & bubbly. Cool on wire rack to desired temperature. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
Whether you think squirrels are pests or fascinations, they are playful and agile rodents. Indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, they are indeed rodents, in the same family as chipmunks, woodchucks, prairie dogs, rats, mice, and beavers. However, they also play an important role in the environment. In one season, a single squirrel can bury up to 10,000 nuts, but a good 25% of those never get dug up again by that squirrel or any other. Thus, squirrels are powerhouses in forest regeneration.
We all have likely seen their antics as they fashion ways to access even the trickiest bird feeders. They can also be annoying, as when they gnaw on our home’s wooden siding. I get it. Their front teeth never stop growing, so they must gnaw. But I fear they’ll be in the house one day. We’ve tried a variety of scents they allegedly do not like… from peppermint oil, coffee grounds, and white vinegar to cinnamon, garlic, and rosemary.
Here are a couple of nutty facts about squirrels. A male squirrel is called a boar. The female is a sow. She selects her mates, and mates with several males. She will give birth to an average of 2 to 8 offspring, all of which are born blind. At just 1” long, a baby squirrel is called a kitten.
For National Cheese Lover’s Day, I’ll share my updated 1990s recipe for stuffed zucchini boats. They are Super Simple and fast to make. They’re moist and cheesy.
I like to reflect on people who grace the world with qualities that make it a better place. That said, I note that “classy” needs a touch of refinement, as we could be high or low class, just as the word “quality” does not specify good or bad quality. Classy to me means rich in spirit, not in money.
“Ultimately, America’s answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired.”
In the days of the 13 colonies, the faith of Britain’s appointed governor in each colony determined that colony’s official religion. Only white males of that governor’s religion could vote in that colony. In our fledgling nation, Jefferson fought against any such mandatory establishments of religion. Separation of Church and State was very clear. Leaders were expected to practice their religion, but not force it on their states. Everyone was to be able to practice their religion without discrimination or coercion.
In 1954, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add “under God” to our Pledge of Allegiance. “In God We Trust” was added to all US currency in 1955 and became our national motto the next year.
I can think of no better way to celebrate National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day than sinking my teeth into the crunchy, savory, succulent, perfectly grilled sandwich! Pastrami on rye was introduced to Americans in 1888 by Romanian immigrant Sussman Volk. His deli was New York’s first, and the first pastrami on rye was made with goose meat. Much has changed, and the variations are endless. You can even swap coleslaw for the sauerkraut and thousand island dressing for the mustard, but then you are making a Pastrami Reuben. Today, we’ll focus on the Hot Pastrami Sandwich. You can grill it, toast it, or serve it simply on the bread. Your way is the right way.
We’re celebrating National Baking Month with a recipe from yesterday’s look at National Arkansas Day. Arkansas Possum Pie does not contain opossum… or any other meat. It’s a creamy layered pie with chocolate and cream cheese in a melt-in-your-mouth pecan shortbread crust. Okay, you could opt for Super Simple and use a prepared, store-bought 9” graham or shortbread crust, but the crust is the only thing we’re truly baking in this recipe. The pie’s name came from its deceptive appearance. Topped with thick whipped cream, you can’t see the flavorful layers beneath, so the pie is “playing possum,” so to speak. ‘Tis yummy!
Arkansas Possum Pie
Joining the Union in 1836, Arkansas became the 35th State. The name Arkansas came from the Quapaw Indians, whom the French called the “Arkansaw.” In truth, the first people to live there arrived around 11,650 BC.
One of my most memorable moments came as stood in my own backyard in New Hampshire. With our land abutting a wetland, I had been able to watch an annual eagle nest. Just once I happened outside in time to observe an eagle teaching its eaglet to ride a thermal updraft. The little one would catch it and go up and around, but then, whoops… out it slipped, drifted back down and caught it again. On its third attempt, the eaglet “got it.” Then I watched as they both gracefully drifted up, up, up and away out of sight. It was glorious.
“Of all the forces that make for a better world, none is so indispensable, none so powerful, as hope. Without hope men are only half alive. With hope they dream and think and work.”
Many music icons were gone too young, and Elvis Presley was one of them. He was born into a poor family in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. His twin was delivered 35 minutes before him, stillborn. In 1946 for his 11th birthday, his parents gave Elvis his first guitar. At age 13, his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he received a “C” in music class in high school. His teacher told Elvis that he just didn’t have an aptitude for singing. So, he brought in his guitar and sang a song that had just been released by Fairly Holden and His Six Cold Papas… “Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Me.” The teacher agreed that Elvis was right. She didn’t appreciate his kind of singing.
Elvis Presley could not read music, but he played and sang by ear. If he heard a song that he liked, he could make it his own. In 1954, at the age of 19, Elvis and his group performed their first live show and he signed his first contract with RCA records at age 20. In Nashville, Tennessee, in 1956, Elvis recorded his first album, which included the hit single “Heartbreak Hotel.” His stardom grew rapidly, even while he served in the U.S. Army from 1958 – 1960. Elvis continued recording music and making movies until his sudden passing in 1977 at his home in Graceland in Memphis at just 42 years of age.
The singer and actor still reigns as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. He holds many records to this day, including the most certified gold and platinum albums, the most albums charted on the Billboard 200, the most number-one albums by a solo artist on the UK Albums Chart, and the most number one singles by ANY act on the UK Singles Chart. In 1971 the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences recognized Elvis Presley with its Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
January is National Soup Month. Soup makes a marvelous mouth-watering way to warm up on a chilly winter’s day. A favorite of mine is Chinese Hot and Sour Soup, which I have been making and enjoying since the mid-1970s. Here’s my only slightly updated 1975 recipe.