Posts tagged holiday

Duck Confit (recipe)Duck Confit

Confit was originally a method of preserving salted meat in fat; today we use the technique more for flavor than preservation, and indeed, there’s little more appetizing than a succulent leg of duck that’s been spiced, salted, and then simmered slowly in duck fat to maximum tenderness.

Making confit is not difficult, but it can be a little messy. The first thing you need is a pot of duck fat.

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Fowl for Christmas:

Turkey is a traditional holiday meal choice. But writer Brett Laidlaw wonders if perhaps we should consider another kind of holiday fowl.

Commentator Brett Laidlaw is the author of the book and the blog Trout Caviar.

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Bad Santa:

Gift giving often inspires noble intentions if less successful results. Writer David McGlynn tells us about his family’s gift giving history and how sometimes the best gift is the one you didn’t expect.

David McGlynn is the author of A Door in the Ocean and The End of the Straight and Narrow. He teaches at Lawrence University.

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Aluminum Christmas:

Manitowoc’s Aluminum Specialty Company became famous for its sparkling aluminum Christmas trees in the 1960s. Jerry Waak sold millions of trees during its heyday when he ran the company’s sales force. He tells us what made them so popular.

Thanks to the Wisconsin Historical Society for the photo.

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Lutefisk:

Thanksgiving isn’t the only traditional fall feast. For those of Scandinavian descent, fall also means lutefisk suppers. Writer Eric Dregni tells us the story behind this famously pungent fish.

Eric Dregni is the author of several books, including Vikings in the Attic: In Search of Nordic America and In Cod We Trust.

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Thanksgiving Cobbler:

A lot of people will be in the kitchen today, getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner. In Madison, Carlotta Calmese is baking one of her family’s traditional desserts — peach cobbler. Producer Cynthia Woodland brought us her story.

Photo by hthrd.

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FIBS:

Memorial Day signals the start of the summer travel season. Among those taking to the Wisconsin roads will be visitors from Illinois — people Wisconsinites love to hate. Writer Patrick Somerville reflects on both Wisconsin’s and his own conflicted relationship with Illinois.

Patrick Somerville is the author of several books, including his latest novel This Bright River.

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Old Stone Face:

The holiday season is a time for seeing family and catching up with old friends. Today, commentator David Rhodes introduces us to one of his very oldest friends.

David Rhodes is the author of the award-winning novel, Driftless. He lives on 35 acres of land in the Driftless region.