Better or worse than the offerings at the Iowa State Fair?
click here
Also...next round of Fair fotos is coming up I promise
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Cooking While Listening to Really Loud Jazz Music is Very Therapeutic.
...Especially when it has been raining for two days straight (SIX inches in two days!) and last night I made something as comforting as:
Broccoli Cheese Casserole Surprise
Also:
My Stuff Came! I can finally move in...
Also Also: This morning I was delighted to discover that there is a CHIPMUNK living behind our house. Stay tuned for photo documentation of the lil' critter...
Broccoli Cheese Casserole Surprise
Also:
My Stuff Came! I can finally move in...
Also Also: This morning I was delighted to discover that there is a CHIPMUNK living behind our house. Stay tuned for photo documentation of the lil' critter...
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Fair Flog, Episode 1
Yes, the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines WAS amazing. Eye opening. Indescribable. Basically, there are no words. So here's some pictures. This first episode is about the food, since of course that's what y'all coast dwellers are most curious to see. Let me tell you: it was deep fried, and it was even better than you are imagining it to be. To be honest, we (myself and my 4 comrades) spent most of our money on food, and I think between the five of us we ingested an excellent survey of the Midwest Midway's finest. And a big ol' stomach ache. So, without further ado, here's my top ten picks should you ever find yourself trying to decide which grease ball on a stick to try at the fair...
...Also if you can't handle this first picture, don't read any further. I didn't see this till we were on our way out, thankfully.
1. Fried Cheese Curds
...simply the best, there's no topping them in snackability and straight up bad-for-you tastiness
A foto of Michael REALLY getting into some piping hot cheese
2. Fried Pineapple
...WAY better than I thought it would be. juicy and savory with frosting drizzled on top
3. Fried Macaroni and Cheese
...how do you make good ol' mac & cheese even better? DEEP FRY IT.
4. Fried Vegetarian Everything (soy corn dog, cheese balls, ravioli, green beans, jalapeño poppers, sweet potato fries)
...This stand appealed to both the vegetarians in our group and those looking to eat something besides fried cheese. Plus, there are just SO many foods you can deep fry!
Here's Sam double fisting some fine fried veggie products: soy corn dog and cheese balls oh my
5. Tater Ribbon Fries
...winner for best texture. basically a ball of super-thin fried chips you can stuff in your mouth. also come smothered in cheese.
6. Fried Cajun Cheese on a Stick
...literally bigger around than the corn dog, but all cheese baby
7. Fried pickle spears
...everyone knows the best fried pickles come from South Carolina, but these were still very easy to eat.
8. Pickle Dawg
...no one had enough room to try one, but who can argue with a pickle spear, sour cream and pastrami meat stuffed into a hot dog bun?
9. Fried snickers
...go get one.
10. Pork chop on a stick
...for those who aren't afraid to admit just how hungry for pork they are.
11. And, just because it's crazy: Indian Taco.
...Also if you can't handle this first picture, don't read any further. I didn't see this till we were on our way out, thankfully.
1. Fried Cheese Curds
...simply the best, there's no topping them in snackability and straight up bad-for-you tastiness
A foto of Michael REALLY getting into some piping hot cheese
2. Fried Pineapple
...WAY better than I thought it would be. juicy and savory with frosting drizzled on top
3. Fried Macaroni and Cheese
...how do you make good ol' mac & cheese even better? DEEP FRY IT.
4. Fried Vegetarian Everything (soy corn dog, cheese balls, ravioli, green beans, jalapeño poppers, sweet potato fries)
...This stand appealed to both the vegetarians in our group and those looking to eat something besides fried cheese. Plus, there are just SO many foods you can deep fry!
Here's Sam double fisting some fine fried veggie products: soy corn dog and cheese balls oh my
5. Tater Ribbon Fries
...winner for best texture. basically a ball of super-thin fried chips you can stuff in your mouth. also come smothered in cheese.
6. Fried Cajun Cheese on a Stick
...literally bigger around than the corn dog, but all cheese baby
7. Fried pickle spears
...everyone knows the best fried pickles come from South Carolina, but these were still very easy to eat.
8. Pickle Dawg
...no one had enough room to try one, but who can argue with a pickle spear, sour cream and pastrami meat stuffed into a hot dog bun?
9. Fried snickers
...go get one.
10. Pork chop on a stick
...for those who aren't afraid to admit just how hungry for pork they are.
11. And, just because it's crazy: Indian Taco.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Yep, we made it! 2 weeks into the Iowa Adventure
Flog:
1) A web page resembling a blog except with mainly photos rather than words for content
2) foto + blog = flog
3) My way of keeping all of my internet-savvy loved ones and friends updated on how I’m making my way out in Iowa, and sharing via photos and blurbs all of the wondrous and strange realities of the Heartland.
So the photographic documentation of Iowa-ness has been quite spotty during the initial moving-across-the-country-and-packing phase, and I hope to be more dedicated to my mission in the future. Nevertheless, my beloved comrade (Michael) and I have managed to have a few adventures meanwhile moving into our lovely house on College Street. This first batch of fotos and blurbs is in mostly chronological order, from the big move brought to you by Penske through when I took pictures of our mostly unpacked house last night. Today I’m headed back to Cali to get all MY stuff ready to be shipped over to Central Time, so stay tuned for better-organized and decorated pictures of our digs – like after the his-and-hers Carnaval diablada masks are installed.
Also comments are of course always welcome, most especially feedback on what kinds of Midwestern phenomena and hijinks y’all would like to see documented on this flog. And stay tuned for a debrief after the IOWA STATE FAIR, August 22! I have a lot of questions about combines and cheese curds I want answered.
Headed West...just like the Oregon Trail game. Except in a big yellow moving truck...
This giant sign glowing in the night let us know we had finally made it to Iowa - and so of course we stopped at "the World's Largest Truck Stop" and got food. And it really is quite large - there's even a dentist's office inside.
Yes.We.Are. Lou Henri's is conveniently located 2 blocks from the house, and their breakfast is just the right amount of greasy and filling.
At the mall - we didn't need any supersized handfuls of candy but we got all the new house stuff we needed and some we didn't...
Plenty of gentle, scenic bike riding out here. This trail went by a field, or dare I say a bit of prarie? (I'm still not clear on what officially constitutes a prarie but I promise I'll get to the bottom of it) Anyway I'm totally content cruising Iowa City on my bike, and venturing out of the city limits a bit with M on his hot red Miyata.
See that? That's a hill. Now stop trying to tell me the Midwest (or at least eastern Iowa) is flat as a pancake.
This is Michael and Steve, our first visitor down from Madison, on our evening stroll to get snacks. The park is College Green Park, and it's wonderful because it's right across the street and, while a bit slanted, great for a game of Bocce.
And of course when you need a late-night snack or beverage, you go to the Kum and Go.
Stay tuned for more extensive reporting on this, but IC has GREAT beer. These are some thick and tasty imports, but the local Iowa/Wisconsin 'Micro Brews' have been rocking my socks too.
Here the house. We occupy the left half of the top floor, and it is a fabulous old house with plenty of space and quirky old doorknobs.
The porch could fit several rocking chairs, and beyond across the street you can see the aforementioned College Green Park.
The bedroom
The front room, with glorious tall windows
The study, where all brilliant writings on American Studies will come from
The hall back toward the kitchen
The empty kitchen, waiting for my kitchen table to arrive
1) A web page resembling a blog except with mainly photos rather than words for content
2) foto + blog = flog
3) My way of keeping all of my internet-savvy loved ones and friends updated on how I’m making my way out in Iowa, and sharing via photos and blurbs all of the wondrous and strange realities of the Heartland.
So the photographic documentation of Iowa-ness has been quite spotty during the initial moving-across-the-country-and-packing phase, and I hope to be more dedicated to my mission in the future. Nevertheless, my beloved comrade (Michael) and I have managed to have a few adventures meanwhile moving into our lovely house on College Street. This first batch of fotos and blurbs is in mostly chronological order, from the big move brought to you by Penske through when I took pictures of our mostly unpacked house last night. Today I’m headed back to Cali to get all MY stuff ready to be shipped over to Central Time, so stay tuned for better-organized and decorated pictures of our digs – like after the his-and-hers Carnaval diablada masks are installed.
Also comments are of course always welcome, most especially feedback on what kinds of Midwestern phenomena and hijinks y’all would like to see documented on this flog. And stay tuned for a debrief after the IOWA STATE FAIR, August 22! I have a lot of questions about combines and cheese curds I want answered.
Headed West...just like the Oregon Trail game. Except in a big yellow moving truck...
This giant sign glowing in the night let us know we had finally made it to Iowa - and so of course we stopped at "the World's Largest Truck Stop" and got food. And it really is quite large - there's even a dentist's office inside.
Yes.We.Are. Lou Henri's is conveniently located 2 blocks from the house, and their breakfast is just the right amount of greasy and filling.
At the mall - we didn't need any supersized handfuls of candy but we got all the new house stuff we needed and some we didn't...
Plenty of gentle, scenic bike riding out here. This trail went by a field, or dare I say a bit of prarie? (I'm still not clear on what officially constitutes a prarie but I promise I'll get to the bottom of it) Anyway I'm totally content cruising Iowa City on my bike, and venturing out of the city limits a bit with M on his hot red Miyata.
See that? That's a hill. Now stop trying to tell me the Midwest (or at least eastern Iowa) is flat as a pancake.
This is Michael and Steve, our first visitor down from Madison, on our evening stroll to get snacks. The park is College Green Park, and it's wonderful because it's right across the street and, while a bit slanted, great for a game of Bocce.
And of course when you need a late-night snack or beverage, you go to the Kum and Go.
Stay tuned for more extensive reporting on this, but IC has GREAT beer. These are some thick and tasty imports, but the local Iowa/Wisconsin 'Micro Brews' have been rocking my socks too.
Here the house. We occupy the left half of the top floor, and it is a fabulous old house with plenty of space and quirky old doorknobs.
The porch could fit several rocking chairs, and beyond across the street you can see the aforementioned College Green Park.
The bedroom
The front room, with glorious tall windows
The study, where all brilliant writings on American Studies will come from
The hall back toward the kitchen
The empty kitchen, waiting for my kitchen table to arrive
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