The state of Wisconsin is known for Beer and Cheese. Come people call Wisconsinites, Cheeseheads. It makes a perfect combination. Beer and Cheese. So why not… Beer Cheese Soup? Coincidentally, I am on my way to Wisconsin so this is going out a bit early this week. Enjoy!
Kettle Moraine State Forest in eastern Wisconsin covers 30,000 acres.
A long time ago, the area was covered in glaciers. A moraine is an accumulation of glacial debris, such as rocks and silt. Kettles are landforms molded by melting glaciers.
Lapham Peak was formed about 10,000 yrs ago by a glacier which made it the highest point in Waukesha County with a elevation of 1,233 ft above sea level. At the top is an observation tower (45 ft tall). In the late 1800’s the Federal Signal Service Division of Telegrams and Reports established a signal station on the peak to receive meteorological observations from Pike’s Peak, Colorado. Increase A. Lapham collected the data and relayed it to all the Great Lakes ports to warn them about approaching storms.
Lapham Peak now encompasses over 1,000 acres of cross country ski trails and other recreational activities.
As we entered the area we came upon a deer standing stock still looking right at us as if we had lost our mind. It was beautiful.
It’s that time of year again when time slips away and you don’t know if you are coming or going. On top of that we had to deal with the end of the world. But I think we can all breath a collective sigh of relief since as far as I can tell, the world hasn’t ended. Thankfully the all knowing all seeing Vlad Putin has been kind enough to enlighten us:
“I know when the end of the world will come,” Putin said with his usual confidence during a press conference on Thursday. “When?” asked a nervous journalist. “In about 4.5bn years,” he replied. Sighs of relief were breathed across Russia.
That good news plus a tall cold vodka tonic made me feel much better about the world in general. Then I realized it was Food Friday! Yay.
All I could muster this week were some traditional Christmas cookies which I baked for my son to take over to his father. It was my good deed for the week. Luckily it comes with benefits as I can showcase them here. For you. Lucky you!
These are basic Christmas cookies. If you don’t have cute cookie cutters, use a glass and make round ones.
Sugar Cookies
2.5 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 large egg yolks
2 tsps vanilla
colored sugar for decoration
Combine dry ingredients.
Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Blend in dry ingredients.
Cover and chill 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Lightly oil 2 baking sheets.
Roll out dough on a floured surface to about one-quarter inch thickness.
Cut out cookies and place on the baking sheet.
Sprinkle with colored sugar.
Bake 9-11 minutes.
Let cool. I threw in a State of Minnesota cookie cutter just for kicks. Can you find it??
Eat!!
They aren’t fancy but they are functional and taste pretty good.
I’m heading out for the wilds of Wisconsin pretty soon here. I’m hoping to see lots of snow!
