So I went to the new Reed's Family Outdoor Outfitters store today on Mille Lacs, and since they have everything you would ever need to do anything outdoors, especially fish, I could not resist a parting question regarding fly rods. " Do you have any?" I asked. "Nope." I got em on that one.
I know it's not trout country around here, but it sure is a great and efficient way to catch panfish in any of our area lakes. Bass too. You get right in there w/ the fish and you don't have to keep baiting your hook. Dock, boat, or shore. If you haven't done it, it's a whole new way of fishing and it will really get you thinking.
Fly fishing is really a primitive cave man style of fishing. A stick and a line with an imitation bug on the end. You cast the line rather than the lure or the bait. A real bug works, too.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Re-invented Shore Lunch
Insead of the usual shore lunch of fried fish and fried potatoes and Campbells pork and beans, try it w/ beans and rice. First saute' onions and bell peppers in oil w/ lots of garlic and cilantro and either a jalapeno pepper or cayenne pepper( half tspoon for a can of beans), simmer till the onions are caramelized and peppers are soft, then add red or pinto beans( chili beans in sauce) and get hot.
Do rice in a separate pan - if you can find it, use Basmati rice - aged rice from India. It looks like regular white rice until you cook it, and then it transforms into long curly rice that has full rice flavor with a little tang to it. The beans will be quite spicy - serve them on the side so your guests can add appropriate amounts to the rice. Spoon the bean sauce onto the fried fish,too, and by God you know you are eating when you are eating this. Good for you too the garlic and peppers and beans.
It was a good idea to reserve some frozen fish from last fall, so we could feast accordingly on opener.
Do rice in a separate pan - if you can find it, use Basmati rice - aged rice from India. It looks like regular white rice until you cook it, and then it transforms into long curly rice that has full rice flavor with a little tang to it. The beans will be quite spicy - serve them on the side so your guests can add appropriate amounts to the rice. Spoon the bean sauce onto the fried fish,too, and by God you know you are eating when you are eating this. Good for you too the garlic and peppers and beans.
It was a good idea to reserve some frozen fish from last fall, so we could feast accordingly on opener.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Fishing Opener
When the poet Charles Simic was asked what advice he would give to people who wanted to be happy, he said," for starters, learn how to cook." Well said.
On this "day before the day"( Fishing Openers Eve), learning how to fish would not be a bad idea, either.
(Have you ever attempted to teach an adult who has never fished how to fish? Have you ever seen such awkward handling of a rod and reel? All the more reason to teach them as kids.)
" With a buddy in his rain rain gear and me in my boat, we'd just settled in for a long day's float..."
On this "day before the day"( Fishing Openers Eve), learning how to fish would not be a bad idea, either.
(Have you ever attempted to teach an adult who has never fished how to fish? Have you ever seen such awkward handling of a rod and reel? All the more reason to teach them as kids.)
" With a buddy in his rain rain gear and me in my boat, we'd just settled in for a long day's float..."
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The Family Cookbook
Lois' daughter, Marilyn Hayes put together a 566 page archival family cookbook not so long ago and I have a copy. It also includes a family history/tree, tho' 426 pages are of food and recipes, and often the story that goes along w/ the recipe.
Beatrice Ojakangas, the James Beard cookbook award winning Mn cookbook writer( The Great Scandinavian Baking Book; The Cooking of Finland, and 23 or more others), recommends that we all compile a family cookbook. It of course should include all the food recipes, but also the family histories and stories that accompany our daily bread.And photos. A great legacy and treasure for any family and future generations.
A three ring binder is sufficient. Copies can be made for all family members. The recipes do not have to be your own - but ones the family and friends have used.
It does not have to be 566 pages long, either.
Beatrice Ojakangas, the James Beard cookbook award winning Mn cookbook writer( The Great Scandinavian Baking Book; The Cooking of Finland, and 23 or more others), recommends that we all compile a family cookbook. It of course should include all the food recipes, but also the family histories and stories that accompany our daily bread.And photos. A great legacy and treasure for any family and future generations.
A three ring binder is sufficient. Copies can be made for all family members. The recipes do not have to be your own - but ones the family and friends have used.
It does not have to be 566 pages long, either.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
"Well Done Good and Faithful Servant"
Good hard work and great faith and a very big heart - a lover and a giver in Jesus' name - Lois Hayes died yesterday after a lifetime of service in His name. Service to family,to friends, and to church.
She was so angry with me once during tough times( not so long ago, either) when we had no food, and we had not told her. " Don't you ever do that again " she said, angry, and pointing her finger in my face. " If you are hungry you tell me. I want you to promise that," she said, and then she filled our cupboards to overflowing, the fridge and freezer too, and it was enough food for a month.
She did not do anything halfway, and she did it all. Courage, strength, faith, and the will to live life to it's fullest and to encourage others to as well. Full with life and joy.
Words from scripture come to mind - "Well done good and faithful servant." She is now at the greatest reunion of all - with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her husband Rex, those in her family who died in faith, and the rest of the great family of believers.
She was so angry with me once during tough times( not so long ago, either) when we had no food, and we had not told her. " Don't you ever do that again " she said, angry, and pointing her finger in my face. " If you are hungry you tell me. I want you to promise that," she said, and then she filled our cupboards to overflowing, the fridge and freezer too, and it was enough food for a month.
She did not do anything halfway, and she did it all. Courage, strength, faith, and the will to live life to it's fullest and to encourage others to as well. Full with life and joy.
Words from scripture come to mind - "Well done good and faithful servant." She is now at the greatest reunion of all - with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her husband Rex, those in her family who died in faith, and the rest of the great family of believers.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
I have stumbled upon an ethnological field study by anthropologist Ruth Landes entitled The Ojibwe Woman, published by The Norton Library in 1971. The narrative of the book is comprised of and from"life stories" from the early 1930's of a Cree/Ojibwe woman in southern Ontario.
On page #132, the narrative continues ".... In Minnesota, men fish with nets during July and August, as women do also.Undoubtedly fishing with nets was stimulated by the market which the United States government has created for fish, for a greater haul can be made by net than by lance. The requirements of the Minnesota market have also caused these Ojibwa to cease extensive fishing during fall, winter and spring to permit replenishment of the lakes by summer." It says also that the... "characteristic style... was to fish with the lance."
Interesting.
Seems like a lot of folks were just waiting to pounce on tribal netters.
What of the winter and summer trash introduced to the Lake by fisherman and recreationalists? Gas and oil too from boat motors, a lot of it.
Lake shore environmental degradation too, with manicured fertilized suburban lawns.
Fishing launches that for years years dumped their toilets into the lake.
And, yes, rampant and abusive catch and kill( release).
Walleyes historically used in spiritual ceremony by Native Americans? Probably not unlike many of us saying grace, a prayer of gratitude, before a meal.
These things are never simple.
With the late cold spring, I do know that there are a lot of cold wet walleyes out there. Hopefully, enough for all of us.
Prepare them accordingly. Bon appetit'.
On page #132, the narrative continues ".... In Minnesota, men fish with nets during July and August, as women do also.Undoubtedly fishing with nets was stimulated by the market which the United States government has created for fish, for a greater haul can be made by net than by lance. The requirements of the Minnesota market have also caused these Ojibwa to cease extensive fishing during fall, winter and spring to permit replenishment of the lakes by summer." It says also that the... "characteristic style... was to fish with the lance."
Interesting.
Seems like a lot of folks were just waiting to pounce on tribal netters.
What of the winter and summer trash introduced to the Lake by fisherman and recreationalists? Gas and oil too from boat motors, a lot of it.
Lake shore environmental degradation too, with manicured fertilized suburban lawns.
Fishing launches that for years years dumped their toilets into the lake.
And, yes, rampant and abusive catch and kill( release).
Walleyes historically used in spiritual ceremony by Native Americans? Probably not unlike many of us saying grace, a prayer of gratitude, before a meal.
These things are never simple.
With the late cold spring, I do know that there are a lot of cold wet walleyes out there. Hopefully, enough for all of us.
Prepare them accordingly. Bon appetit'.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
All the World's a Stage
Odets with one t. Sorry( previous post). Son Johnny was amazing according to his Dad and others. A nicely economized script transformed a historically unsuccessful play into a taut, well paced tragic tale of a famous Hollywood star w/ personal and professional problems. Classic noir genre' lines like " easy now, life is not a Russian novel."
Pre-performance we ate at D B Searles Bar and Restaurant in downtown St Cloud and had some pretty good chicken and shrimp and pasta. It is in a great old historic bldg on 5th ave. It appears to cater to college age kids, has a nice selection of beers and promotions and all that stuff, but has 3rd floor white table cloth dining. The burgers( handmade) and steaks are their strong point, I think.
Next door at Pioneer Place is a theater and a wine and Scotch bar. The Veranda. Lots of wines. Lots of single malts, if that is your cup of tea.
Pre-performance we ate at D B Searles Bar and Restaurant in downtown St Cloud and had some pretty good chicken and shrimp and pasta. It is in a great old historic bldg on 5th ave. It appears to cater to college age kids, has a nice selection of beers and promotions and all that stuff, but has 3rd floor white table cloth dining. The burgers( handmade) and steaks are their strong point, I think.
Next door at Pioneer Place is a theater and a wine and Scotch bar. The Veranda. Lots of wines. Lots of single malts, if that is your cup of tea.
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