Good things coming down the pike! — Let’s Blog Off

Posted on January 3, 2012 by

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In my last post, my 100th on BackyardLifeBlog.com, I reminisced about how far I’ve come since I started blogging last May.  I’ve met new people, been to new places, and tried new things.

Looking back, I’m surprised at the effect this blog has had on my life.  It only seems fitting to look forward and see where it and I am going.

I’m sure I’ll meet new people, but I also want to focus on building relationships with those I’ve already met.

There will be many new outdoor cooking recipes and tutorials like this one.  I never knew it would be so much fun to put together video tutorials.

The Hard Work Network has helped me get things done.  I’m going to stick with it and I hope you consider joining us.  It always amazes me how much I can get done when I write it down.  You can waste so much time by not having a plan.  The Hard Work Network gives me that plan and plenty of accountability.

At this point I don’t know where I’ll be going, but I’m sure some traveling is in the cards.  There is so much to see in this country, especially when you stay off the freeway.  I hope to explore some parts of Minnesota I’ve never seen and maybe revisit some other places.

Let’s Blog Off has been an important part of my development as a writer, so you can be sure that I’ll continue contributing as often as I can.

2011 started off horribly, but it ended up being a pretty good year.  I have no reason to think 2012 won’t be fantastic!



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100 posts and not looking back!

Posted on January 1, 2012 by

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This is the one-hundredth post I’ve written for BackyardLifeBlog.com and it’s also New Years Day.  It seems to be the perfect time to reflect back on where this blog and I have come since Memorial Day when I started it.

Fireworks

New Faces

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a bunch of new people, some face to face.  Here are just a few…

New Places

I also went to new places.  I had no idea how great Willow River State Park is.  Not to mention it’s only a half hour from home.  Actually, I was completely oblivious to its very existence.

We traveled around the Midwest.  We took the back roads through the north woods of Wisconsin.  We ate at the original Famous Dave’s BBQ and spotted a giant muskie in Hayward.  We spent a leisurely weekend in Bayfield, WI.

After taking the ferry to Madeline Island, we visited Big Bay State Park for the first time.  If you ever visit, be sure to spend some time exploring the lagoon and then soak up some rays on the sandy beach.

We also visited family in Missouri.  It was my first trip to the Show-me state and I know I’ll be back!

We’ve made 3 trips along the Mississippi River to Stockholm, WI.  We ate plenty of pie, drank some wine, wassailed the apple trees, and feasted!

New Experiences

I joined the Hard Work Network to help me get things done and hold me accountable.  I’ve crossed many to-dos off my list and have consistently worked on others.  It has been really helpful to publicly list my plans.

I also started participating in Let’s Blog Off to help me write better and about a wider range of topics.  The Let’s Blog Off community has allowed me in and embraced me in ways I never expected.

I’ve cooked plenty of new foods, like Turkey Pastrami, Homemade Butterfingers, Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp, and Puff Pastry and Mission Cherry Jam Turnovers.

Reflection

Going into it, I had no idea I’d experience the vast majority of what I experienced or write what I wrote.  I didn’t know I’d take thousands of pictures or post a couple dozen videos on YouTube.  I can tell you I’m not going back to life as it was before BackyardLifeBlog.com

As you can see, 2011 has been the year of New.  I plan to continue that into 2012.  We’ll see where we go.  Come along for the ride!

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There’s nothing like Saint Paul in Wintertime…I guess

Posted on December 30, 2011 by

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So far, the cold 8 months of the year we call Winter has been very unusual.  We didn’t get our first hard freeze until October.  We didn’t see any snow until December.  I’m not sure the temperature has dropped below zero yet.

Last year at this time, we’d had snow for almost 2 months and it was two feet deep.  One end of our alley was snowed in until mid-April, and it was really cold.

The other day, we found out that my brother and sister-in-law are in town, so we went out to dinner at Ngon Vietnamese Bistro, which was fantastic.  Two things to try when you go there:  Braised Pork Belly appetizer and Ribeye Pho.  Both were really good.

My sister-in-law, Marit, is a photographer (http://www.maritclphotography.com) and she offered to do a photo shoot with Liz and me.  We went down by the Mississippi River at Harriet Island in Saint Paul.

Marit behind the camera

Maybe I’ll add some pictures from that photo shoot later on.  We’ll see… :)

We walked along the riverfront and were struck by how smooth the river was.  It was like glass. I’ve never seen it like this before.  It’s notable that there was no snow, the river wasn’t iced over (anymore), and it wasn’t blisteringly cold.

Here’s a video of what we saw down by the river:


If you want to check out Marit’s photos, visit her website — http://www.maritclphotography.com or follow her on Twitter @MaritCLphoto.

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7 reasons to cook in a cast iron dutch oven

Posted on December 28, 2011 by

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I received a pair of Lodge Logic 6-Quart Pre-Seasoned Dutch Ovens for Christmas this year and to celebrate, here’s a list of features that make cast iron dutch ovens an important part of my outdoor cooking arsenal.

Lodge Logic 6 quart preseasoned cast iron dutch oven

Lodge Logic 6 quart pre-seasoned cast iron dutch oven

 

  • Cast iron heats evenly — The thick gauge of cast iron minimizes hot spots, which helps prevent burning.  It also retains heat well.  Once a dutch oven is hot, it stays that way.
  • Versatility — A dutch oven can be used to bake, stew, braise, sear, and fry.  Just about anything normally cooked in the oven or on the stove can be cooked in a dutch oven.
  • Heat from the top down and bottom up — The legs on the bottom raise the dutch oven off the ground to make room for charcoal briquettes.  The lip on the lid keeps coals from rolling off the top.
  • Need a grill? — You can use your dutch oven as a grill for kebobs or skewers.  Simply load it up with lit charcoal and place skewers.
  • The lid is its own reward — Flip the lid over and you have a nonstick griddle for pancakes, bacon, eggs, and other foods.
  • It carries its own weight — The heavy gauge wire bail makes a dutch oven easy to carry.  You can also hang it over a fire using a tripod to slow cook a roast or stew.
  • Well-seasoned — A properly seasoned dutch oven creates a durable non-stick surface that makes cooking enjoyable and also reduces cleanup time.

I hope this list convinces you of the benefits of cast iron cooking.  Give it a try.  You won’t be disappointed!

 

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Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2011 by

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Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

 

 

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