A.K.A. I didn't make it- dinner

First thing's first: ALL CANNED PIZZA SAUCE SHOULD BE SEXED UP!

Crack open canned pizza sauce, add 1 TBSP Oregano, 1/2 Tbsp Sage, 1 tsp Worcestershire, 1 tsp Sriracha hot chili sauce. Add 3 TBSP Parmesan -shredded, warm on low heat, stirring occasionally.

Tonight: handful of baby carrots, 4 leftover dolmas, leftover deli pasta dish, old and dried up mozzarella sticks (yes, they dry out, like all frozen products), and the last of the sour cream, with the last of the french onion dip, in a cup on it's last leg with a crack on the side.

Who's living the high life now?! I am enjoying posting this, admittedly more than I liked the food. I guess it comes down to satisfaction after all. The satisfaction is,that I will attempt to eat most of this platter, and the remainder will go off to that heavenly compost bucket.

Thank you for tuning in to tonight's episode of "toss together leftovers".

And...now I confess... I didn't get very far. I ate the carrots and half the mozz. sticks, the pasta salad was never right in the first place--- undercooked noodles. The dolmas, I ate one, the second was mushy, and then I was turned off on it. I really enjoyed the two things I craved-- the stix, and the sauce,and the carrots. The sour cream french onion will be a tomorrow afternoon thing, and the sauce will be reserved for future cuisine adventures.
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Wisconsin Native's Beer Cheese Soup

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/wisconsin-natives-beer-cheese-soup/Detail.aspx


I borrowed this recipe, and I loved it a great deal!

I used 2% milk, and five cups of mild cheddar, as well as one cup of 6 year white cheddar, and 90,000 heat unit Cayenne Pepper. I also added "cock sauce" a.k.a. Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce.  I added a generous helping of garlic. At first, it was too hot, and it was thin. I let it sit one day, and it thickened nicely!

I topped this with Parsley, and added toasted Italian Peasant bread with butter. I heard that it was a delicious recipe!

Residency Requirement

I'm feeling like the biggest jerk in the Great Lakes region tonight. My fried fish dinner was a flop. I've got a plate of undercooked Pollock filets, and some freezer burnt mixed vegetables. I don't know where I went wrong, but I think I suck at frying foods, especially fish.

I know the batter was good-- 1/2 cup wheat flour, 1/2 cup milk (or less), 1/4 cup (or so) beer, 2 Tsp Baking Powder, pinch of Garlic Salt, dash or two of Lawry's seasoned salt, and some italian seasoning, and a little cinnamon. I derived this from reading a few websites.

I fried it in High Heat Safflower oil, and I let it go for a long time in the pan. The batter was a great consistency and taste. I just think I need more practice. I think I'll be more patient with it in the future, and probably, I'll bake it. I'm accustomed to fish that's more flaky when done, versus flaked batter and soft fish. I'll have to plow through the rest of this plate,with my "ghetto" tartar sauce. It's mayo and mustard, although I did use Vegenaise (grapeseed style) and Sierra Nevada Porter Mustard.

I hope I can practice more so that someday you'll be drooling over my fish fry. For now, I'll enjoy the half cooked fish and 'tasty' mixed vegetables.

Now I know the ultimate requirement for living in Wisconsin.... delicious fish fry.

What Menomonie Needs

I have continuously posted on my blog some fuzzy food photos, raved about Balsamic Vinegar and Steak and potatoes. I can do all that. I can make my breakfast, I can, but sometimes, I am tired of turning on the stove and mixing up pancake batter. What is really needed here, is a breakfast spot. Breakfast, wake up, go down the street and eat a well balanced breakfast. I know such a thing was available at one time. It was really, only four blocks away from where I live on Main Street, though it has been about a decade ago since it was open.

I speak on behalf of the hungover students, the old men who like to gab about the weather, the farmer who wants to sell his/her eggs to be featured at such a place. I speak on behalf of the writers (me) who want to get out of their house, get a couple eggs and put molasses and almond butter on their toast with a side of fresh fruit, and listen to inspiring talks among the old ladies who want to get their garden planted in the ground soon.

I am entitled to my opinion. I know Menomonie has coffee shops. I am not talking about having another coffee shop, but of course coffee is the way to go. I'm talking about having that greasy spoon of gravy and sausage biscuits, delicious hot cereal, and the company of strangers in an intimate setting where there's an airy type feel to the place, situated over the lake, (fingers crossed) close to downtown, and clean and new, and well loved and maintained. I want a place that has that hippie feel, but is run by professionals.

I want to hear live piano, and I want the place to close at one thirty, and I want to reopen at four to catch the happy hour crowd for some craft brews and live jazz. Maybe that's a big city dream, but anyone can hack at the tunes, or they can flip on the ipod, or their ipod. It's all about bringing out the essence of this community.

There are some cafes, there are places that have come and gone. It may not be the right time to start a new business, but it could be worth considering.