A Day To Remember

2013 Presidential Inaugural Parade

Emily is pretty excited to be marching in the Inaugural Parade on Monday!

The band sent an audition tape and were selected for the second Inauguration in a row!

If you are watching the parade, look for the only band from Minnesota to be given this honor....

they will be performing Yankee Doodle Dandy!

Minnesota Wild Rice Soup

Wild rice is not rice.

It is actually a long-grain marsh grass native to the Great Lakes region of the United States.

Many local Native Americans earn their living harvesting wild rice.

Sometimes it is known as Indian rice.

Yesterday I tried a new wild rice soup recipe.

It was much easier than my previous recipe because you do not have to precook the wild rice ahead of time. 

 Some days I am all about saving time....

shoot...

I am all about it every day!!

Clean wild rice before cooking by placing it in a bowl with plenty of cold water.

Give the rice a stir, then set the bowl aside for a few minutes to let any debris float to the surface.

Pour off the water and proceed with the recipe.

Minnesota Wild Rice Soup

2 Tablespoons butter

3 carrots, finely diced

2 leeks, white and light green parts, finely diced

(I used onions)

2 celery stalks, diced

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 quarts chicken broth

3/4 cup wild rice

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup heavy cream, hot

(I used 1 cup....might use more next time)

3 Tablespoons dry sherry

(I omitted, because I didn't have any)

1/4 cup minced chives

3 Tablespoons chopped parsley

Heat the butter in a soup pot over medium heat.

Add the veggies and cook until softened....about 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to low and add the flour....stir well.

Cook gently for about 3 minutes stirring constantly.

Add the broth slowing...whisking well to eliminate flour lumps.

Bring to a simmer.

Add the wild rice and salt.

Simmer until the rice is tender, but still a little chewy....about 45 minutes.

Stir in the heated cream and sherry.  Season with salt.  Garnish with chives and parsley.

Next time I plan on adding mushrooms....possibly some slivered almonds..and chicken, ham or bacon if we are eating meat that day.  :)

This was especially tasty served with fresh Dill Bread.

Slacker

If you are waiting for my photos from Christmas....

I am sorry.

I don't have any.

I have been a total slacker in that department.

This is all I found on my camera card:

I bought these old snowshoes off of a local buying/selling/swap site.

I think I will leave them up on the fireplace mantel a while longer....

but the fresh pine garland needs to go soon.

I had planned on doing a Christmas baking post,

But all I baked were Spritz cookies!

Because of a dental issue with one of our guests,

 I ended up making Tapioca instead of the planned cranberry cake.

The Tapioca was probably more popular than the cake!

After a very full week, I am slowly getting back into my normal routine....

which won't be normal for long!

My new normal is just around the corner....

I will save that for another post.  :)