Hello Badgers! Welcome back to a new semester. I'm excited to be back, filling this section with commentary on the culinary world. A great thing about Wisconsin is the array of seasonal foods that are best enjoyed fresh. Unfortunately, most of our seasons are filled with cold. However, from June through August we can finally break out the shorts, swimming suits and sunglasses and enjoy the freshly grown goodies.
So, in honor of the summer winding down, I'll share some of my favorite summer foods for you to savor one last time before they're lost in record snow accumulation.
First is the corn dog. This tasty summer food has so many different names, ranging from pogo to dagwood dog to pluto pup to corny dog. I'm partial to the Pronto Pup stands at the Minnesota State Fair myself. You Add ketchup and mustard, then eat it while walking virtually anywhere. It's a shame more adults don't eat corn dogs regularly. I say it's time we take back the corn dog and make it a regular (cheap) part of a college kid's diet.
As I was thinking about the Pronto Pups I'll consume at the fair this year, I remembered everything else the wonderful Minnesota State Fair has to offer. And really, there are too many to mention here. But I think we can take its philosophy to heart. Thus, my first favorite summer food expands to anything on a stick. Anything that can be rolled, stuffed or shoved onto a small wooden dowel is a great snack or addition to a meal.
Take for instance some of the regulars at the fair: deep-fried candy bars, chocolate-dipped (insert food here), alligator, walleye, pizza and s'mores, just to name a few. Again, I think we can adopt this practice as college students on the go. Just grab some popsicle sticks the next time you're at Copps and you'll be all set!
Next, I love burgers fresh from a grill. This is really only possible in the warm months, unless you have the most amazing landlord in Madison. My friends and I grill out almost every week, and it made my summer more enjoyable. And you can grill anything.
In just a few weeks, we had sampled beef and venison burgers, barbeque ribs and hot dogs. Feel free to mix up whatever you want when grilling. When you know exactly what's going in your food and you can make it yourself, it truly is a lot more satisfying. If you're not adventurous enough to create your own burgers, don't worry--hot dogs still come in precooked packs that only need to be warmed up.
Of course, a summer food list would not be complete without the plethora of fresh berries one can find from Wisconsin's local farms. Because our summer temperatures are perfect for growing these fruits, it's imperative that we enjoy them before we are forced to shop in the produce section of the grocery store for imported fruit.
Did you know that Wisconsin ranks first in the nation for cranberry, ginseng and snap bean production? We are also second in carrot production and third in sweet corn processing. Head over to the farmers market this Saturday and load up on fresh, locally grown produce, guaranteed to be delicious.
Last, but certainly not least, is the amazingly cold and wonderful dairy based essential: ice cream. It's cold enough to enjoy indoors before you turn the AC on, and really anywhere outside. Luckily for us, we have three major ice cream shops in town, and one even has two locations.
I'm a fan of the Union on a warm afternoon, grabbing a single scoop of Orange Custard Chocolate Chip in a wafer cone and heading out to the Terrace to enjoy some much-needed relaxation after the stresses of a day on the job. No matter where you get your ice cream from, why don't you follow my lead? And you better do it soon, because the first snowfall always comes too early.
Have the chance to savor any unique foods on a stick this summer? E-mail Claire at crwiese@wisc.edu and tell her about it.
