You probably don't want to know this, but it's seriously easy to make fried cheese curds at home. In fact, in the time you spend in line at the Minnesota State Fair, sweating your brains out while standing on a smushed-curd covered floor, you could have whipped up a batch at home and EATEN it. Kablam!
So in case you couldn't hack the line, or your kids got too cranky before the cheese-curd portion of the day, I offer this fast tempura version for your kitchen. A combination of rice flour and corn starch yields a shatteringly crisp exterior (that just happens to be naturally gluten-free).
Assuage fried-food guilt by dipping a few sliced vegetables in the batter too. I had fried mushrooms for breakfast just this morning, in fact, as a quick test to make sure that I could recommend the batter for vegetables...all good. I suspect strips of bell pepper, zucchini, onions (of course), dill pickles, or asparagus would all work beautifully. I guarantee that little balls of leftover risotto and mashed potatoes are crispy-gooey fabulous. (Breakfast of champions for me today, oy...)
Recipe for Fried Cheese Curds at TC Taste/Minnesota Monthly Magazine.
Hey there. Ready for back-to-school? I think we are, it's certainly a process, but one that's near completion. I'm ready for Labor Day weekend, which is looking to be three sunny, gorgeous days here in Minnesota. NICE!
My brother David arrives tonight to hang with us and Stace and Cooper-Doo over the weekend. We'll definitely be relaxing at the pool and cooking up some tasties, maybe fitting in a bike ride, hitting the State Fair, perhaps a movie...who knows? No matter what, relaxing...
Which this week wasn't, therefore the need for unspeed over the weekend. Nathan and I hit the fair on Tuesday - perfect day, cool-yet-sunny, not a big crowd, we pretty much cruised around and plucked the experiences we pleased. Pronto Pups, roasted corn, skytram, giant slide, newborn animals (so cute), and a successful run on the Midway. Great fun, I love the fair. You
know, about once about every 4 years...
Last night I enjoyed dinner with Kathie Radcliffe and Mary Pappas, my former office-mates who I don't see nearly enough anymore, boo.
Speaking of good friends...Happy Birthday Susie Silpada Sunshine! I hope Suz sang Happy Birthday to herself, she's got the prettiest voice of anyone I know (except for her daughter, Vivian; OK, duh, I'm sure Viv sang Happy Birthday to her mom and of course Suz loved it). I reminded Suz this morning that she shares a birthday with John McCain, but that she has much nicer... jowls.
Rest in Peace Steve Foley.
Moderate it: my son was a bit horrified by my moderation tactics at the fair - take a couple of bites of something you love, toss the rest, move on to the next fave.
