Weather/Moon ~ Picture of the Day ~ Wisconsin ~ German Potato Salad ~ Dude & Bruiser ~ National Oyster Day

Good 58º clear sunny the moon is out morning. 

Yesterday we topped at 97º.

Picture of the Day

Interesting about Wisconsin....

1. The first kindergarten classes in the U.S. were held in Watertown in 1856 at the home of a German couple. Plan your visit and step back in time to an early class still in session.
2. The first ever ice cream sundae was served in Two Rivers, Wisconsin in 1881. Stop in for a sweet treat at the birthplace itself at The Washington House.
3. During the summer, the population of Door County reaches ten times the number of year-round residents. (28,000 vs. 250,000)
4. The term “cheesehead” actually started as a term the German soldiers used to insult the Dutch during World War II. These days, the term is used in a bit more endearing way to describe cheese-lovin’ Wisconsites. The first cheesehead was worn at a Brewers game, not a Packers game, and was a couch cushion with holes burned in the foam and painted yellow.
5. Celebrities rumored to be Packers fans include: Lil Wayne, Harry Styles, Larry the Cable Guy, Erin Andrews, Ryan Reynolds, David Ortiz, Shawn Johnson, Ellen DeGeneres and Justin Timberlake. Maybe you’ll spot one of them moseying around Lambeau!
6. Marathon County produces nearly all of the ginseng grown in the U.S. and about 10 percent of the world’s supply. There’s even an international festival in September to give you an up-close look at the process and a chance to taste foods and drinks incorporating the product.
7. Barbie hails from the fictional town of Willows, Wis. For the collector and doll aficionado, a day at the Fennimore Doll & Toy Museum may be in order.
8. Soviet satellite Sputnik IV fell out of orbit in 1962 and while most of it burned up on re-entry, a 20-pound piece of debris crashed to the ground in Manitowoc. The original piece of Sputnik was returned to the Soviets but the Rahr-West Art Museum has a replica of it on display and Manitowoc celebrates Sputnikfest each September.
9. Although Warrens only has 400 residents, it draws 100,000 visitors each September for the world’s largest cranberry festival (and Wisconsin produces 60 percent of the nation’s cranberries!).
10. Wisconsin’s state symbol, the badger, doesn’t refer to the animal but instead to the 1820s lead miners who traveled for work and dug tunnels to sleep in and keep warm, much like a badger. Celebrate the name on gameday with the UW-Madison Wisconsin Badgers!
11. Famous names that hail from Wisconsin include Kurtwood Smith, Harry Houdini (visit The History Museum at the Castle), Frank Lloyd Wright, Chris Farley, Georgia O’Keeffe, Orson Welles, Laura Ingalls Wilder (there’s a museum devoted to her life here!), Liberace, Mark Ruffalo, Les Paul and Frank Caliendo.
12. Wisconsin banned the sale and use of margarine from 1895 to 1967, and while the ban was lifted, some restrictions on margarine remain today. It’s still illegal for a restaurant to serve margarine as a butter substitute unless the customer specifically requests it.
13. Wisconsin’s name comes from the Wisconsin River, which was called Meskousing by the Algonquian-speaking tribes. The name was recorded in 1673 by French explorer Jacques Marquette. Over time, the word was Anglicized into Ouisconsin, Wiskonsan and finally into its current spelling and pronunciation. Linguists think the original name must have been borrowed from the Miami word “meskonsing” which translates to “it lies red” or “this stream meanders through something red”, likely referring to the sandstone formations in the Wisconsin River.
14. The Onion, arguably the most famous news satire organization, was humbly started by two University of Wisconsin-Madison students, Tim Keck and Christopher Johnson, in 1988.
15. Thirty percent of the state’s population lives in the five-county metropolitan area around Milwaukee.
16. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Wisconsin is -55 degrees Fahrenheit in Sawyer County in 1996. (That’s without wind chill, folks.)
17. The largest wooly mammoth ever excavated was found in Kenosha, and a replica can be viewed at the Milwaukee Public Museum.
18. Freshwater surfers know Sheboygan as the “Malibu of the Midwest”. Peak surf season, however, takes place between September and March…brrr!
19. The first ever Flag Day was celebrated in Ozaukee County.
20. “On, Wisconsin” was first said by Arthur MacArthur, Jr. in the Battle of Chattanooga at Missionary Ridge during the Civil War.

From Mr. Food

German Potato Salad isn't creamy like some of the traditional American potato salads you may be used to, but that doesn't mean it isn't as delicious! Our German Potato Salad has a sweet vinegary base and includes tasty ingredients like bacon, onion and fresh parsley. 

 

• 4 pounds potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
• 8 slices bacon
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

 

1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook potatoes 10 to 15 minutes, or until fork-tender. Drain, place in a large bowl, and set aside.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until browned and crisp, turning as needed. Remove from pan, crumble, and set aside.
3. Add oil and onion to bacon grease and cook 4 to 5 minutes, or until onion is soft. Stir in vinegar, water, sugar and salt; bring to a boil. Gently stir in potatoes and parsley.
4. Add half of bacon to potato mixture and heat until warmed through, stirring occasionally. Remove to a serving dish, sprinkle remaining bacon over top, and serve warm.

****The potatoes in German Potato Salad are usually sliced, rather than cubed, but you're the boss...make whatever shape your gang prefers.

Historically this date......

1884 – The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty is laid on Bedloe's Island (now Liberty Island) in New York Harbor.

1914 – In Cleveland, Ohio, the first electric traffic light is installed.

1949 – In Ecuador, an earthquake destroys 50 towns and kills more than 6,000.

1957 – American Bandstand, a show dedicated to the teenage "baby-boomers" by playing the songs and showing popular dances of the time, debuts on the ABC television network.

1981 – Ronald Reagan fires 11,359 striking air-traffic controllers who ignored his order for them to return to work.

And births this date include....

1911 – Robert Taylor, American actor (d. 1969)

1930 – Neil Armstrong, American astronaut (d.2012)

1935 – John Saxon, American actor (d.2020)

1946 – Loni Anderson, American actress

 This is how we spend our afternoons.....

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Hump Day. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Get slurping on August 5th with National Oyster Day! Oysters are enjoyed as a seafood in many parts of the world.

Did you know there are over 100 different species of oysters?  Interestingly, oysters tend to take on the characteristics of the water in which they live. Because of this, they’re typically named after the body of water in which they’re grown.

While many people enjoy fresh oysters raw, the shellfish can be savored in multiple ways. As a side dish, oysters add immense flavor to Thanksgiving dressing. They also make flavorful stews, soups, and chowders. Other recipes will bake, grill or broil the oysters with or without the shell.

These mollusks provide valuable nutrients whether eaten cooked or raw. Since oysters supply a high amount of vitamins B12 and A, they may benefit heart, skin, and brain health. These vitamins also support lung and kidney function. Additionally, oysters benefit the environment since their valves are capable of cleansing an ecosystem of pollutants.

Here are some other exciting oyster facts:

• The Chesapeake Bay produces more oysters in the world than any other body of water. 
• The world loves oysters! We consume almost two billion pounds of oysters each year around the world.
• Illustrating how the body of water influences the flavor of the oysters, the east and west coast U.S. oysters taste very different from each other. On the east coast, oysters tend to be smaller, milder and saltier. However, west coast oysters take on a creamy texture and a sweet flavor.  
• Only one out of every 10,000 oysters will produce a pearl.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL OYSTER DAY

Make or order a dish that uses oyster as one of its main ingredients. Try this Grilled Oyster recipe.