Wild Raspberries and Venison Stew

A profusion of ripe wild raspberries in my patch. I thought last yr was great - this year's crop may be better, and it's only the beginning of the blooming. You've got to pick mid day to diminish the impact of mosquitos, and preferably in the sun w/ a breeze.

Venison stew and the raspberries for dinner last night with a Pinot Noir. A perfect marriage or should I say menage a trois. I added the wine to the stew, as well as brandy, bay leaves, Herbs de Provence, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, mushrooms, plus an au jus base for meat( beef) flavor. And plenty of garlic, of course. ( I will post the marinade recipe for the venison, tomorrow).

Ask your favorite restaurant if you can buy a bag of au jus base from them because a good restaurant will have a better quality base then you can get in a store. I was always glad to sell stuff like that to customers when I had the restaurant.If you are a good regular customer, they will be glad to do it for you - that extends to, for example, prime rib, whole beef tenderloins( filet mignon), Alaskan King Crab, etc... . Probably would have to be an independent restaurant.

Midsommarsdag on Upper Lake St Croix

Midsommarsdag at Tim and Beth's on Upper Lake St Croix Lake in NW Wisconsin was a Memorable Feast and more. It included of course many traditional Scandinavian foods like Swedish meatballs, gravlax - wild caught salmon quickly marinated in salt, brown sugar, dill, black pepper, elderberry juice and cider vinegar, as well as salt( important) - ready to eat in 20 minutes. Exceptional and melt in your mouth.

Cold Swedish meatballs were served w/ lingonberry sauce, but my preference was to eat them w/ a slice of pickled beets; the lingonberry sauce with the cold boiled red potatoes. A personal favorite.

Cloud like rice pudding and almond cookies;a layered strawberry and whipped cream cake that was pure heaven.

We drank Swedish ales, Aquavit, and danced around the "stang" ( pole garlanded w/ birch leaves and daisies) as we sang songs of loss and regret for the homeland in the native tongue., accompanied by Tim and Beth on the guitar and violin.

We played "Kub," a Swedish cross version of horseshoes and Bocce Ball and it is better than either. Sport, drama, strategy and you can win if you are 9 or 90.

All part of an ancient fertility rite and celebration of summer that continues to this day in Scandinavia and certain locations in America. It was great.

Once in a Blue Moon

Reality trumps Canadian Fishing Trip fantasy in this entry because I just returned from cousin Tim and Beth's on Upper St Croix Lake in NW Wisconsin - the headwaters of the St Croix River and of the mighty Brule, which flows N into Lake Superior. Two major rivers flowing opposite directions from the same lake and the lake does not get empty in the middle.

Located at Solon Springs, Wisconsin, which is also the home of an eccentric shop/cafe/ named Once In A Blue Moon - antiquities, collectibles,edibles , owned and hosted by a gracious, charming worldly woman from elsewhere. Her good friend owns Far Niente winery in Napa Valley, which produces arguably the best one or two Cabernet Sauvignon's in America . The '06 goes for about a hundred bucks a bottle. Tim and I had a glass a piece, gratis. What a treat. Plus free tomato basil soup and food for the kids(3) from the casual buffet that she had set up for Father's Day. It had required reservations, which we didn't have so she let us eat free from what was left of the buffet. Great spinach quiche. We were generous in the tip bucket.

You've got to check the place out. You will leave truly incredulous.

Lucky me

It is not better not being there but you can imagine what you've done, as if you were there. I let the 38" northern ( jack) go, released him, unharmed. I am the leader on the big board. 10 bucks to get in. A hundred or so if you win, which 38" will not do, historically.

I won at poker last night, which means I came out ahead. Needed some assistance from Pat because I am not accustommed to playing poker esp all the fancy games they play these days. It was dumb luck. Then I almost climbed into bed w/ Vern, who is about 78 yrs old. Glad he didn't wake up. Right spot, wrong cabin. Just the right am't of scotch and poker.

A little woozy for breakfast, but cooking brought me around. Did the hash as in my previous post. It was great.

Got stuck in big wind getting home ( cabin) with Ira today- feared for our lives - 4 foot waves and 30 plus wind. Ira is 133 soaking wet, which he was, me 155. I drove the boat, he on bow. We needed more weight - some of the guys go 250 plus. We could have used one in the bow. Was terrified that we would flip over. We made it, drank beer in celebration of life, and cooked walleye the French way - seasoned and floured filets sauteed in oil 2 or 3 min per side, remove fillets, add white wine, tarragon, parsley, garlic, reduce, add butter. Swirl. Pour over fillets. Equisite.

Canadian Fishig Trip, continued

So. I am not there. On the ACFT. See previous post. I will participate as if I was.

Beans and weenies first night, traditional.

First breakfast will be a hot dog scramble.It will include the leftover sliced weenies plus onions and peppers and potatoes like a hash. Cook them all in your black cast iron pan.

Remember to cook your hash slow; get up early if you are the cook. In order to cook it slow and carmelize your onions( put them in the pan first) you will have to think of your first girlfriend and how her mouth tasted like sweet corn when you kissed( I have said this before); this will take a while. Also you could think about Marissa Tomei in " Before The Devil Knows Your Dead" - point being that the onions need some time to get sweet.

When the hash is done and you have added plenty of garlic and cracked red pepper, crack eggs on top of the hash and place in your oven and get them soft cooked like poached or over easy and then get your pan out of the oven. Don't over cook. Have plenty of toast ready.

After you eat it is time to fish., You will fish all day. You will catch a 38" northern pike( "jack" in Canadian) on a little Shad Rap. It will be sport. It will be a great day w/ a lifelong friend, your boat partner for the day. Plus plenty of adequate walleyes.

Salud!

Annual Canadian Fishing Trip

I am missing the Annual Canadian Fishing Trip( ACFT) this year. There are usually about 10-12 of us, half of those nearly lifelong friends. We share 3 rustic cabins, which include wood cookstoves, a propane fridge, propane lights, etc... . An outhouse a piece( per cabin) with a lakeview if you prop the door open.

First evening meal at our ACFT is traditionally beans and weenies. When chopped onions are nearly carmelized, add jalapeno peppers to the pan( black cast iron) till soft, then add beans from a can. This is way better than just beans - the sweet and hot of the baked beans is deliriously good along w/ a meat market dog w/ natural casings.

You can also start w/ bacon in the pan and add onions when it is half done, then the peppers, etc... .

Accompany this of course w/ a cold beer or two of your choice.