Mark loves the smoked Prime Rib sandwich or the ribs, I am partial to the wings.  It’s all good.  The little ones had mac and cheese (homemade of course).  The girls had quesadillas, the boys had “Ruby Specials” and we all shared haystack onions… yum, yum, yum.

Our Bartender/Waitress Rhonda in Casey's back yard

Shelly (the owner of The Mill Supper Club) and I had lunch at Shipwrecked last week and ate outside as well… we both had my usual… seafood chowder.  Our friend Joe who is the manager and one of the reasons we like to go there, brought us out a complimentary dessert…

Thanks Joe, it was delicious!

The Carrington Pub at the Landmark Resort is another place for an outdoor dining experience in Egg Harbor.  They have an outdoor seating area with a really nice view of the water.  I plan on checking that out Thursday or Friday…

Mojo Rosa’s, The Bistro at Liberty Square and John Henry’s all have outdoor dining serving everything from Mexican and gourmet to burgers and pasta.

But the best place of all to eat outdoors?  On your balcony or our terrace  at Egg Harbor Lodge of course.  Grab a bottle of wine from Main Street Market’s HUGE wine selection and some Sartori Bellavitano cheese, and/or some of their home made dips and crackers, add a beautiful sunset and an voila’… a perfect outdoor dining experience.  Hors d’oeuvres not your thing?  How about a thick cut rib eye , some fresh asparagus and a twice baked potato?  Throw it on the Egg Harbor Lodge grill… yeah, now we’re talkin’.    Can’t beat that, baby…

So if you are looking to dine outdoors, look no further… the possibilities are endless here in Egg Harbor,  in beautiful Door County Wisconsin!

I Heart Egg Harbor!

2010 WINTER FESTIVAL EVENT SCHEDULE

LARGE HEATED TENT WILL BE BACK AT CLARK PARK AT WATERFRONT IN FISH CREEK

FRIDAY, FEB. 5TH

CARVING OF ICE SCULPTURES AT FISH CREEK BUSINESSES: ORCHARD COUNTRY WINERY& MARKET, BAYLAKE BANK, WHITE GULL INN, FOUNDERS SQUARE, ON DECK CLOTHING CO.,BLUE HORSE BISTRO, FRED & CO., HOMESTEAD SUITES, APPLECREEK RESORT, TOP OF THE HILL SHOPS, MAIN TENT
6:30PM – 10PM “ROCK & ROLL ART NIGHT” AT HANDS ON ART STUDIO – 21 OR OLDER – BIG MOUTH TRIO.

SATURDAY, FEB. 6TH

7AM – 11AM “GREAT AMERICAN PANCAKE SHOW” GIBRALTAR FIRE STATION
9AM – 10AM “KIDS KITE MAKING” AT YMCA
10AM – 4PM “KITES OVER THE BAY” ON THE ICE IN THE HARBOR
10AM – 5PM “WINTER WINE & CHERRY FEST” ORCHARD COUNTY WINERY
10:30AM “WINTER FESTIVAL PARADE“ – MAIN STREET
11AM – 3PM “SOUP!” HOMEMADE SOUP & BOWLS AT PENINSULA ART SCHOOL
11AM – 5PM ALL DAY FOOD – BRATS, HOT DOGS, PORK SANDWICHS, CHILI, BEER, WINE, SODA, HOT CHOCLATE
11AM – 5PM ALL DAY GAMES – MINNOW RACES, ICE BOWLING, TOILET SEAT TOSS, BIKE TOSS, CRAZY GOLF, SNOW SHOE DANCE, FISH POND, FOOTBALL TOSS, VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT, RAFFLES, MUSIC.
11:30AM “KIDS TREASURE HUNT” TOP OF THE HILL SHOPS
11:30AM – 3:30PM– FREE DOOR COUNTY TROLLEY RIDES WITH STOPS AT ORCHARD COUNTRY WINERY & MARKET, FOUNDERS SQUARE, MAIN TENT, BEACH, TOP OF THE HILL SHOPS, PENINSULA ART SCHOOL.
3PM -5PM “CHILI COOK-OFF” IN MAIN TENT
5:30PM – 8PM “ CANDLELIGHT SKI” IN PENINSULA STATE PARK
7PM – 9PM “DOOR COUNTY IDOL” AT DOOR COMMUNITY AUDITORIUM
9PM “ROCK & ROLL SNOW DANCE” WITH” BIG MOUTH” AT ALEXANDERS

SUNDAY, FEB. 7TH

Businesses open for shopping and dinning
10:10 AM – FISH CREEK’S 1ST ANNUAL FRUIT LOOP – 1/2 MILE COSTUMED WINTER FUN RUN – STARTS AT MAIN TENT – FRUIT LOOP BREAKFAST
2010 SUPER BOWL

Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery will also be in on the fun with sleigh rides, wine glass painting and the famous Cherry Pit Spit.  I always wanted to participate but the local papers always have an unflattering photo of someone spitting a pit and it isn’t pretty.

February 6, 2010 Winter Wine & Cherry Fest at Lautenbachs Orchard Country Winery Saturday 10-5 Cure the winter blues with live music 1-4pm, free product tastings, door prizes, cherry pit spit competition 1:30pm, cherry brats, hot soup and baked goods, horse-drawn sleigh rides, wine glass painting…and more! Fun for all!

We had an excellent time in New Orleans… I absolutely loved it and the food was fantastic as well.  The crowd was crazy because of the Saints game so Bourbon Street was nuts.  Of course we spent some time at the Super Dome people watching and listening to the band… okay, so we were drinking beer too.  Drinking  on the streets in New Orleans is encouraged!  Kehe Specialty Foods treated us to a Gala at the Mardi Gras Museum.  We traveled to the Gala in our own parade riding on actual Mardi Gras floats and throwing beads.  Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE a parade.   I had the most delicious barbecue  shrimp dinner one night,it was the best meal I ever ate.  I tried to recreate it and it turned out pretty good.  Heavy on butter, but super good.  The dish is nothing like the barbecue shrimp I have made in the past, the sauce was mostly butter, Worcestershire and spices.  When I ate it in the restaurant, I really had no idea was was in the delicious sauce was.  They served bread on the side to sop up every drop.  It wasn’t  a hot (as in spicey) dish either, most of the Cajun or Creole food we ate really wasn’t hot which surprised me.  Anyway, we had an amazing time and I would love to head back there again sometime.

We have been taking reservations for 2010… Don’t forget in May, we offer our “Stay two nights, get the third night free!” special.  On Memorial Day, the special means guests get the fourth day free.  We are looking forward to another great year at Egg Harbor Lodge.  We always look forward to opening May 1.  We love seeing  all of our “regulars” and we also look forward to meeting new guests each year.  Reservations are coming nicely, so reserve early to get your preferred dates and unit type.   Think Spring!

Anyway, I loved the storm.  I made a frittata for breakfast and  a big kettle of homemade chicken noodle soup for supper… that and a fire in the fireplace, what else can one ask for?  Winter is here… let’s enjoy it!

Last March, I was fortunate to get the opportunity to be on the “Living with Amy” show (it was LIVE!!) and cook with her.  We had a blast… she said she wanted to have me on again.  I hope so, it was one of the highlights of the spring for me and I have tons of good fall recipes, maybe she would like my Coq Au Vin!  Yeah, that sounds good, think I’ll make it this week.

Maple/Mustard Glazed Planked Door County Salmon

3 Tbsp. country style Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp. Door County Maple Syrup (I get mine from Schartner’s Farm Market in Egg Harbor)

1 Tbsp.  Balsamic vinegar

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Chef Paul’s Salmon Seasoning

1 large Salmon Fillet (freshly caught is best)

1 Cedar Plank

Combine the first four ingredients in a large plastic bag and add the salmon.  Marinate for 15 minutes but no longer than ½ hour.  Place the soaked cedar plank (soaked for one hour) on hot grill and heat for three minutes with the lid down.  Turn plank over, add salmon skin side down directly on to plank. Sprinkle salmon with salmon seasoning (there is sugar in this which helps to caramelize but don’t add too much) and salt and pepper and close lid.  Cook for 20 minutes- shorter for smaller fish and a bit longer for larger fish.    This recipe maybe done on a gas grill but is best on a charcoal grill.

Serves 4

Cedar Planked Salmon

Don’t try using some old piece of cedar… purchase the ones meant for smoking.   Cedar shakes could have chemicals that you wouldn’t want in your food.  I bought mine at Main Street Market.  When the plank is no longer usable throw the pieces on the fire for extra smoky flavor.

Mark’s mom made us a cherry pie with Door County Cherries for desert.  I think Mark’s sister Mary actually put the pie together, but Jean baked it for us.  They use a simple but delicious recipe.  I am not a huge fan of baking, but even I can make this pie.  I usually buy the crust but if I am in the mood I make the crust from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.  Mark’s dad had cherry orchards for years and Mark and his family picked and shook the cherries.  Mark and his siblings then used the money they made to go to the Door County Fair.  Here is the pie… it tasted excellent…

4 cups pitted, sour Door County Cherries  (frozen DC cherries may be substituted)

1/4 cup Minute Tapioca

1 1/2-2 cups sugar

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

butter

Mix together in a bowl and let stand 15 minutes.  Line a pie plate with pie crust, fill with the fruit mixture.  Dot with butter (don’t forget this part).  Top with pie crust.  Seal and flute then cut some slits on top.  Bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 45-50 minutes until the juices form bubbles that burst slowly.

Now that’s what I call a true Door County meal…

We not only have the “Best Water View in Door County!” we also have the Best Guests in Door County!

Don’t forget the Door County Triathlon and Half Iron man will be held this weekend… sadly we will not be participating this year but my niece Annie is and I am going to film some of the race tomorrow morning.  I know Annie is going to do great… can’t wait!  Here is a picture of Nellie, Emilie and I last year…

DC Triathlon

Wait till next year baby… we will kick some ***!

I took this picture of the owners at our business association dinner a couple of weeks ago…

Vonnie and Dave Callsen and daughter Kaaren and husband Steve Northrop

At least one of the Callsens or Northrops  or most of the time, ALL of the family is in the grocery store working.  They will also try to special order items.  Last year, I had Kaaren look for this “secret” ingredient Mark’s mom uses in her venison stew and of course Kaaren was able to get it for me.  I got a case of the “flavor booster” as it is called so I should be set for awhile.

They have an an equally nice deli department with imported cheeses, hand sliced meats, salads, subs and a lunch special every day. There is a counter and stools next to their bakery so you can get a pastry and coffee and read the paper.

I think one of the nicest things about Main Street Market is their customer service… there is no equal AND they carry out your groceries.  Yes, you heard it right, they carry your groceries out to your car.  This was huge for me when my four kids were young.  The store is the main hub of the village… it is where we get the latest news and visit with our friends particularly in the winter when I head to the store nearly every day just to see civilization.

I for one am glad they moved to Egg Harbor twenty two years ago… they give to back to our community through charities and donate to many of the arts and festivals in Door County.  We also count them as some of our best friends… lucky us.