Hey everyone, Stacey and I are really going to be trying to make our blog a cooler place to come and visit. We are hoping to bring a little more of who we are as people not just our images to the forefront. In this attempt, we are rolling out some new features including (drum-roll please) - Monday's Bits and Bites. You may be asking what the heck are bits and bites. Who knows, we will see where it takes us. However, what we envision is random tid-bits about our weekend, current events, scattered thoughts, and anything else our crazed heads may come up with. Now for bites, we are going to be dedicating this to the lovely world of food and drink! Stacey and I both love good food and the accompanying experience that goes with it. It may be a tasty burger fresh off the grill, or a restaurant that we really enjoyed! With that said, here we go:
1) WEEKEND RANDOMNESS - This weekend was one of those fun, who knows what's going to happen type of weekends. We left for a destination wedding weekend in the Minocqua area of Wisconsin. Our first stop was the Big Bear Hideaway in Boulder Junction for the rehearsal dinner. Despite a long day of travel, we originally planned on heading to Stacey's parents in Wausau, but the drive didn't sound enticing. We had a great conversation with the owners of the Big Bear after the dinner was over. We talked about all kinds of things including ways that they could improve the place for weddings (photographically speaking). Long story short, we ended up staying at their accompanying place to the Big Bear. Another gorgeous location with a view that knocks your socks off! Here is the sight we were treated to in the morning.
This lake has to have as clear of water as I have ever seen. Unreal! Needless to say, we kicked off a great wedding weekend in style, met some awesome new friends, and are looking forward to heading back sometime soon!
2) FAVRE'S VIKING DEBUT - As a Minnesota Viking season ticket holder, the weekend fun continued to roll on. While making our way back home on Sunday, I was avoiding any source that may give away the Vikings score, due to the game waiting for me on DVR (which simply has to be one of the best technological inventions). We got home, caught up with the kids, and then I nestled in for the game. I have to say, it was weird seeing the old gray bearded QB in a purple 4 jersey for a game that actually counted. Despite a slow and poor first half, I was impressed with the second half. It was great to see a QB who knew how to read a defense and put his team in an appropriate set more than once! I can't wait for the October 4th MN game against the Pack!
3) KANYE WEST IS AN IDIOT - I shouldn't even bother because he's already gotten too much publicity for his recent rant, but despite being gifted musically, the guy is bankrupt in the class department!
4) THE TASTY BITE: Spinach and Artichoke Aloutte Stuffed Pork - I love to cook and recently concocted a new recipe that should please your guests! This is not an exact recipe, but after all, cooking is just as much art as science, right?
Take some pork chops (no bone) and cut a slit into each one to create a pocket for for the Aloutte cheese. Take a spoon and stuff the pork with the cheese (be careful to sccop out the amount you want to use ahead of time, you don't want the spoon to bring raw pork jive into the unused cheese). Take a bag and fill with your favorite snack cracker (I think I used a wheat and buttercrisp mix). Smash the crackers into crumbs, and then pour your crumbs onto a plate and season with your favorite seasoning (I used kosher salt, pepper, garlic and thyme). Take another plate and cover with flour. Crack and whisk up an egg in a bowl. Dredge the pork in the flour, dip into the egg wash, and then roll in the breadcrumbs. At this point you should have a pan with some oil ready on the stove. Brown your pork for about four minutes or so on each side and then turn to a lower heat, cover, and let cook for about 4 more minutes. Serve with your favorite accompanying sides. This dish will go well with a nice Chardonnay. With the pork, I personally prefer more of your standard California Chardonnay than French.
We hope you enjoyed the first installment of Bits and Bites. Bon Appetite and Enjoy!
1) WEEKEND RANDOMNESS - This weekend was one of those fun, who knows what's going to happen type of weekends. We left for a destination wedding weekend in the Minocqua area of Wisconsin. Our first stop was the Big Bear Hideaway in Boulder Junction for the rehearsal dinner. Despite a long day of travel, we originally planned on heading to Stacey's parents in Wausau, but the drive didn't sound enticing. We had a great conversation with the owners of the Big Bear after the dinner was over. We talked about all kinds of things including ways that they could improve the place for weddings (photographically speaking). Long story short, we ended up staying at their accompanying place to the Big Bear. Another gorgeous location with a view that knocks your socks off! Here is the sight we were treated to in the morning.
This lake has to have as clear of water as I have ever seen. Unreal! Needless to say, we kicked off a great wedding weekend in style, met some awesome new friends, and are looking forward to heading back sometime soon!
2) FAVRE'S VIKING DEBUT - As a Minnesota Viking season ticket holder, the weekend fun continued to roll on. While making our way back home on Sunday, I was avoiding any source that may give away the Vikings score, due to the game waiting for me on DVR (which simply has to be one of the best technological inventions). We got home, caught up with the kids, and then I nestled in for the game. I have to say, it was weird seeing the old gray bearded QB in a purple 4 jersey for a game that actually counted. Despite a slow and poor first half, I was impressed with the second half. It was great to see a QB who knew how to read a defense and put his team in an appropriate set more than once! I can't wait for the October 4th MN game against the Pack!
3) KANYE WEST IS AN IDIOT - I shouldn't even bother because he's already gotten too much publicity for his recent rant, but despite being gifted musically, the guy is bankrupt in the class department!
4) THE TASTY BITE: Spinach and Artichoke Aloutte Stuffed Pork - I love to cook and recently concocted a new recipe that should please your guests! This is not an exact recipe, but after all, cooking is just as much art as science, right?
Take some pork chops (no bone) and cut a slit into each one to create a pocket for for the Aloutte cheese. Take a spoon and stuff the pork with the cheese (be careful to sccop out the amount you want to use ahead of time, you don't want the spoon to bring raw pork jive into the unused cheese). Take a bag and fill with your favorite snack cracker (I think I used a wheat and buttercrisp mix). Smash the crackers into crumbs, and then pour your crumbs onto a plate and season with your favorite seasoning (I used kosher salt, pepper, garlic and thyme). Take another plate and cover with flour. Crack and whisk up an egg in a bowl. Dredge the pork in the flour, dip into the egg wash, and then roll in the breadcrumbs. At this point you should have a pan with some oil ready on the stove. Brown your pork for about four minutes or so on each side and then turn to a lower heat, cover, and let cook for about 4 more minutes. Serve with your favorite accompanying sides. This dish will go well with a nice Chardonnay. With the pork, I personally prefer more of your standard California Chardonnay than French.
We hope you enjoyed the first installment of Bits and Bites. Bon Appetite and Enjoy!
0 comments so far
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Monday's Bits and Bites
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://stajastudiosblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/33