Wheee-kend!

Though it was (still is) a rainy weekend it was also fun and productive. So what if my first attempt at ice cream was a total fail? I am giving it one more try today in the hopes that the third time really is the charm. If not, I wasted cups upon cups of heavy cream and about 45 eggs. Ok, that's a slight exaggeration with the eggs. But I sure did crack a lot of 'em this weekend.

This is what my Candied Bacon ice cream should have looked like. Instead it looks like soup.

(Source)

I consider the weekend to start on Thursday because, well, since I'm back in school I can still be considered a college kid. Right? And college kids start their weekend on Thursday. Right? That's what I thought. I checked out Underground Kitchen now that it FINALLY opened. I only had drinks and the cheese board but it was tasty. The space is amazing and I have a feeling it will be a place I'll go back to over and over and over again. And again.

(Source)

Next up in the weekend of good food was the second annual pumpkin carving party on Friday night along with a chili cook-off. It was like chili heaven. So many good pots full of beans, tomatoes, pork, mango, squash, corn and just about anything else you can think of. My friends don't mess around.

After a very rainy Saturday spent indoors totally conquering my to-do list (AKA kicking it's ass and taking names in the process), my friends and I headed to Spring Green for Furthermore Beer's Shitty Barn Party. Good beer and good times were had by all. Those Furthermore guys really know how to throw a party...

 

To Market, To Market

No, 'tis not a fat pig I'm going to buy. Though that would be awesome. I don't think the Dane County Farmers' Market (DCFM) sells whole animals...except rabbits!

The Farmers Market started this morning in Madison! It is one of the most beautiful farmers markets in the country. The DCFM takes place on the Capitol Square and it is the perfect setting for a farmers' market.

This picture, although the best one I could find that had the Capitol building in it, does not do the market justice. Maybe I'll have to amp up my photog skills so I can post some of my own!

With all the veggies and other goodness that I'll be buying, I think it's high time I expanded my culinary skills. There are a few cookbooks out there that would be perfect for all of my farmers' market fare.

(Image via Chronicle Books)

(Image via Varnes & Noble) 

Definitely this cookbook from the Madison Area CSA Coalition 

 (Image via amazon.com)

 This Eat Seasonably calendar is pretty sweet, too.

 (Image via Eat Seasonably)

What I Love: Iconi Interiors

My friends warned me. Don't go there, they said. You'll want to buy everything. They were right. Everything at Iconi Interiors is pure perfection. I could move right into the store.

Iconi Interiors has a mix of new and refurbished home furnishings that I would call "mid-century modern with a touch of glam." Throughout the store you can find one of a kind pieces of furniture, some great lamps and a pretty sweet assortment of bar ware. I wanted to buy it all and throw a party. I restrained myself. But don't worry, I'll go back.

 (All images via Iconi's flickr stream)

Slooow Fooood

Underground Food Collective and Hapa Kitchen teamed up in Madison last night for an event for Slow Food UW and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to eat a great meal made by these great local food enthusiasts.

For those of you unfamiliar with Slow Food UW, they are a group of students interested in "good, clean, and fair food." Every Monday they host Family Dinner Night, where a different chef joins the group and cooks an amazing meal. All for only $5! It's no frills but that's what is great about it. People show up strictly because they love good food grown and produced in their community.

The dinner last night was attended by over 150 people eager to see what UFC and Hapa would cook up and to hear Cathy Erway talk about her recently published book The Art of Eating In.

 (Image via theartofeatingin.com)

We were not disappointed. Every event I have ever attended that involves Underground Food Collective is amazing and last night was no exception. The added influence of Erway made it even better. But enough about them. Let's talk about the food!

Here's what we ate: 

Korean Pancakes with scallions and shredded winter veggies

A simple take on the classic Korean pancake, with fresh vegetables of any kind. 

"Dirty fried rice"

This is an East-West twist on two classics: Chinese fried rice with scrambled eggs and bits of meat like Chinese sausages, and Cajun/Southern dirty rice with giblets and bacon. 

Hoisin-chipotle baked beans

Sweet baked beans with a spicy, smoky kick and plenty of ginger.  

Three-cup chicken with roasted turnip mash.

The most famous Taiwanese dish, three-cup chicken, is also an easy one to make at home: a braise with equal parts rice wine, soy sauce and sesame oil, and loads of fresh ginger, garlic and Thai basil.

Good, good stuff.  

And In January They Got Married

This past weekend was the big wedding weekend! Umm, not my wedding ;) My friends Gina and Aaron got married and I'm not sure if it could have been any better. Ok, maybe the weather could have been warmer than 2 degrees or whatever it was. It was pretty cold running around State Street wearing this.

The ceremony, normally the part that I never pay attention to, was actually entertaining. Good ol' Father Jim kept us laughing throughout. At one point there were some major tears shed when he read letters the couple had written to each other prior to their wedding day. It is so great to really hear how two people love each other that much.

The reception was held at the Orpheum Theatre on State Street and it was a perfect setting. Alas, my amateur photographer skills meant that my pics inside didn't turn out too well. But this gives you a pretty good idea of how great the space is.

 

 

(Images via orpheumtheatre.net)

We were entertained by a mariachi band during cocktail hour and then after eating the best meal ever we got to stomp our feet and clap our hands to a great bluegrass band. Of course, there was a lil Lady Gaga & Michael Jackson on the ipod to change things up a bit throughout the night! All in all it was an amazing wedding that they planned in just THREE MONTHS! That, my friends, is how it is done.

 

 

Nicola Lopez: Urban Transformations

The Nicola Lopez exhibition at the Chazen closed Sunday and, like always, I waited until the last day to go.

If you ever have a chance to see her work, GO. Words can't describe it and these pictures don't do justice. Absolutely unbelievable.

(All images from nicolalopez.com)

Geology Rocks!

Who knew the Geology Museum at the University was such a rockin' place?  Ok, the rock jokes are old, I know.

Yesterday my coworker and I meandered on over (in the freezing cold, might I add) to the Geology Museum for their Holiday Sale. It was quite the crowd of rock and gem fanatics.

I bought two pieces of Pyrite, aka Fool's Gold, and two pieces of Leopard Skin Jasper and then headed off to wander through the museum.

This place is such a hidden gem (oooh, nice joke). Seriously, it is. The first room has so many rocks and minerals in the most amazing colors. It is hard to believe that these stunning colors can be found in nature. Oh, and the shapes of many of the minerals. Unbelievable.

I'll definitely be making another trip when I have more time. And when the weather gets warmer!


(Pyrite photo from pitt.edu. Leopard Skin Jasper photo from nstargems.com)

Mad for Madison

I moved back to Madison about 6 months ago and it's like I never left. And also like I moved to a brand new city that requires serious exploration.

During my first stint in Madison I was a student. I spent 4 1/2 years trying to enjoy as much of the city as I could. Or at least as much of the Plaza as I could...

Back then I knew there was so much to do but I never got around to doing it all. Damn P-L-A-Z-A.

This time around I am determined to explore every nook and cranny (or kranny?) of the city. Don't worry, dear friends, I will chronicle every adventure so you feel like you were there. I'm big on details. Maybe a little overboard.

Mocha and MMoCA

It was a gorgeous fall day in Madison today. And a busy one! I woke up and finished a home project that has been in the works for a very long time. My house projects will be another (few) post(s). They are never ending.

After that I went with a friend to Burnie's Rock Shop. Burnie's is the mecca of rocks and gems. It's not a huge store but it has every type of metal, rock, stone, bead, etc. that you would need to make jewelry. If you want instant gratification Burnie's also sells jewelry - the selection of amber jewelry is out of this world.

I bought some stuff to make a new ring and then we were on our way to Michelangelos for coffee and a lil treat. Croissants and coffee make for a good day. Before making our way to the Holiday Art Fair we made a pit stop at Anthology and Little Luxuries, two great (probably the best) boutique/gift/craft shops on State St. More about them another time, though!

And then it was off to the Madison Museum of Modern Art aka MMoCA. I have yet to spend quality time in MMoCA. Don't worry, though. It's on my list of things to do.

The Holiday Art Fair was very similar, albeit smaller, than the summer Art Fair on the Square. For the most part it is not art I like. Jewelry and odd wall decor that is too whimsical and looks like it' made for crazy ladies with cats. And do people really wear fun fur scarves? Blech.

Yet, there were a few gems. Nick Wroblewski is a woodcut
printmaker and he had some pretty amazing pieces. I loved the color.

Another artist, Dylan Punke, had some interesting photography that I loved because it reminded me of home. Old farmhouses and lonely paths through the woods. Now, before you start to think "ugh, not more of THAT" hear me out. It was freakin' cool even if his web site does not do his art justice.


There were also a few artists selling some unique jewelry....but I can't seem to find their cards. We'll keep them for another post since this is reaching novel length ;)

All around it was a fun day. But, the real fun has yet to start. Dinner party!