Moonlight Snowshoe

Two Saturdays ago M and I headed out to a local state park for their annual candlelight c.c. ski/snowshoe. We have participated in this at least one other time, if not two. (The memory goes when you start to get old.) It was the perfect temperature to be out, but the wind it was a-howlin'. We kept the wind to our backs on the first stretch and then went down into the protection of the trees on the way back. Some of the trail was simply illuminated by the light of the moon as the candles had blown out. After snowshoeing we headed to the warming house for some hot chocolate and cookies and then enjoyed a few minuted by the bonfire outside. The only problem was my sore aching legs! My hip joints have started to bother me with the pregnancy and snowshoeing didn't make them feel any better. Oh well, it was worth it.

Unfortunately we didn't take any pictures this year. Good thing we have some from another year!

Before heading out:

M on the trail:

One of the ice-luminaries up close:

Foodie Friday: Buffalo Chicken Dip (Monday Edition)

Here it is, one of my newest most favorite dips. (This is saying a lot as I LOVE dips. Er, that you eat.) I have made this dip twice in a week's time and it was loved by all. I found the recipe in a Campbell's mailing, but it can also be found on the Frank's Red Hot Sauce website.

Here is what you will need:

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese

1/2 c. blue cheese dressing

1/2 c. Frank's Red Hot Sauce

1/2 c. blue cheese

2 chicken breasts (cooked and chopped into small pieces)

I made this by putting all of the ingredients into my Little Dipper Crockpot. I just stirred it occasionally while it was heating up. I served it with Fritos and celery sticks.

Erin can attest to the yumminess of this dip!

Please Excuse Kristi

She had a busy week and feels bad about not posting much. (Especially for missing Foodie Friday.) She will try to make it up to you this week.

We Chucked . . .

did you?

"New In Town"

Anyone gone to see "New In Town" yet? No, well, neither have I. I do feel a strong connection with this movie, however, and will end up seeing it at some point in the future. You see, I spent 9 of my nearly 30 years of life in New Ulm. That's right, the very town where the movie is based--from what I have seen and heard, very loosely based. (It wasn't filmed in New Ulm, much less Minnesota, much less the United States. It was filmed in Canada.)

These facts I know to be true:

1) New Ulm is in Minnesota.

2) It gets cold in Minnesota in the winter.

3) We get snow in Minnesota in the winter.

4) People go ice fishing in Minnesota in the winter.

5) There are several factories in New Ulm.

6) If you were to try and fly into New Ulm you would have to fly to Minneapolis/St. Paul and then drive the 2 hours to New Ulm.

7) People do make hot dishes in New Ulm.

These facts I dispute:

1) While the older generation of New Ulm have slight accents, they are not the Northern Minnesotan accents you hear in the movie.

2) While New Ulm is relatively small, population 13,000, it is not a sleepy little town with nothing to do. (There are a number of small stores and boutiques that I look forward to going to when I visit New Ulm.)

3) The people of New Ulm are actually very welcoming toward new comers. (I should know, I was new in town myself once.)

If I were to write the movie, I would add in these details:

1) Renee's character would go to the mall to buy some new clothes, only to find that the Marketplatz Mall is largely deserted with only a few select remaining stores.

2) Harry's character would take Renee's character up to the top of the Herman the German statue for a cheap $1 date. After climbing Herman, they would go ice skating at the park below Herman.

3) Renee's character would be invited to do a guest reading at the Wanda Gag house.

4) Feeling lonely and sad, Renee's character would go to the Schells Brewery tap room where she would discover the magical powers in 1919 root beer.

5) Harry and Renee's characters would end up polkaing through the streets to the piped in polka tunes.

I give credit to the people of New Ulm for having a great sense of humor about the movie. I am not surprised, though, that is just the kind of people they are.