What to Eat at the Minnesota State Fair I like to stick with tradition when it comes to the State Fair, never passing up an opportunity for cheese curds, a foot-long hot dog, an ice cold 1919 root beer and a bucket of Sweet Martha’s cookies. Fair food doesn’t need to be, and probably shouldn’t… Read More →
Minnesota State Fair Eating Strategy There are a few simple rules when it comes to a successful day of eating at the fair. First, don’t overload on your deep-fried fantasies in the first hour. Go with friends so you can indulge in your favorite fair classics along with a couple new food items. Do a… Read More →
Tips for Grilling with Fruitwood & Charcoal We received a lot of questions about using charcoal, wood chips and wood chunks. I prefer to use natural hardwood charcoal, lit in a charcoal chimney without lighter fluid. I use fruitwood, such as cherry or apple, when grilling or smoking chicken, fish or fruit. Soak wood chips… Read More →
Partners. Be aware of what you cook tomatoes with. The high acid content of the tomato slows down the cooking process of some other foods. Dried beans cooked with tomatoes can take up to twenty percent more cooking time than beans without tomatoes. If you have some unusually highly acidic tomatoes and you want a… Read More →
Minnesota summers may be short, but we never take a sunny day for granted. We jam-pack June-September with events celebrating the food, drink, art and music that make Minnesota an amazing place to live. You probably already know that my favorite food festival on earth is the Minnesota State Fair. But there are several other… Read More →
Don’t Forget the Oil Spray oil is really handy for both cleaning your grill and for applying a thin coat of oil to the grill grates before you put a piece of fish or chicken down. I use PAM Cooking Spray or canola oil all of the time when I’m grilling. I usually give a… Read More →
Savor the Last Days of Summer This end-of-August heat wave has me digging through the archives for refreshing, light recipes for my Labor Day get-together. Here are a few ideas for appetizers and sides that’ll cool you down, from citrusy tomatillo salsa and pistachio-studded guacamole to tuna and cherry ceviche. If you’re looking for an… Read More →
Summertime Recipe Round-up The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. There’s no better way to celebrate America’s independence (and my birthday) than sitting around with the family, swimming, grilling up my favorite meat, noshing on fresh summer eats and indulging my inner pyro. Here are a few of my top picks, from… Read More →
