Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from 2012

Recipe Review: Sirloin Tip Roast

 From time to time, people have said I'm a good cook.  But I think of it more as finding good recipes.  Recipes that don't have super complex ingredients and deliver good flavor.  I enjoy the search.   For the last few years, we typically will get a bulk order of beef from a friend that raises steers.  We are going to eat beef and it's our modest effort to buy local and lessen the impact.  When you buy in bulk, you end up with some cuts of beef that can be a bit tougher to turn into something yummy that the family will enjoy.  So I'm often searching for new recipes for those cuts and a thick and lean Sirloin Tip Roast can be in that category.  We are approaching that bulk purchase time of year again so I'm trying to empty out the freezer and decided I'd pull said roast from the freezer and look up a recipe.  It was a rainy weekend so it seemed like a good chance to fill up the house with that classic pot roast aroma.  This recipe from Sunday Supp Movement reall

Trip to Little Farmer Orchard - Fond Du Lac WI

With two young boys our house can feel awfully small and time flies by week to week and there you sit w/ another week gone by without finding too many activities for the little guys. Upon the advice of my wife's co-worker, we ventured towards Fond Du Lac to visit Little Farmer Orchard . It was a nice fall day travelling southbound from Appleton on HWY 55 enjoying the fall colors and view of Lake Winnebago. That alone was just about worth the 45 minute trip enjoying the fantastic foliage Wisconsin has to offer this time of year. The first thing that impresses about Little Farmer is the size of the operation. While I was expecting to visit a basic Wisconsin farm open to the public, this place had parking attendants directing traffic and hayride tractors going by. Suddenly I knew this was a big operation. I continued to be impressed by observing there was no admission fee to enter the farm. With all the parking attendants and restrooms I just simply assumed we'd have a modes

Kensington Grille Satisfies

With young children, opportunties to have a nice dinner out with your spouse can be few and far between.  Therefore, I am typically reluctant to try a new restaurant at the risk of having a less than satisfactory meal during one of these precious evenings.  That's why I am pleased to share our positive experience while dining at the Kensington Grille in Appleton recently.  I had the grilled ahi tuna over wasabi risotta and it was absolutely delicious.  The waitress was very helpful and knowledgeable about the entrees.  We also sampled the clam chowder which was delicious as well.  Overall, my wife and I were very pleased and definitely look forward to going there again.  It provided an atmosphere of fine dining while having reasonable prices and what I considered bigger portions than your typical fine dining experience.  Here is their website and it happens to be convienently located near a wine bar as well.  http://www.thekensingtongrille.com/

Found Some Really Good Hot Dogs

Today I tried this angus beef Oscar Mayer hot dogs.  And let me tell you they were delicious.  If you are looking for a hot dog that is pretty close to those awesome "Lambeau Dogs" at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, then you should try these.  Here is a link to the product page. http://www.kraftbrands.com/oscarmayer/hot-dogs/angus-selects.html So good I had to write about it. TGIF

Hot Stuff At The Appleton YMCA

Today I took my son to the downtown YMCA in Appleton for his sunfish swimming lessons. My wife and I decided to register with this particular YMCA because they have a pool for kids that is heated.  They aren't messing around with the heat either.  At first it seemed nice to step into such a warm pool but it didn't take long for my son and I to overheat.  He is a 2-year old that loves water and ultimately wanted to leave the pool and go home.  As I looked at his beet-red face, I could only conclude that the temperature had gotten to him.  Then finally as we made our way through a standard Wisconsin snow storm to our car, I started to feel a bit light-headed and my rear view mirror indicated my face was beet-red also.  Hopefully the YMCA turns it down a notch on the small pool.  I think we'll give it another shot next week but then would have to consider taking our business elsewhere.  Everyone there was very nice, my first trip to this YMCA, but the temperature was s

Fox Valley Blogger Day 1

Welcome to Day 1 of the Fox Valley Blogger.  I'm just a middle aged man looking to post some thoughts.  I live in an area referred to as the Fox Valley named for the Fox River in Northeast Wisconsin.  Hence the name. I thought perhaps it may be wise to refer to something more local in the title in the chance I may use this blog to write about things local to my area in addition to other topics. Who knows how much or little this may get used.  But at any rate, it now exists. Regards, Fox Valley Blogger