Category Archives: food

A Dutch Oven Cook-off at Tyler State Park

Teardrop Trail Log: March 23, 2018

No campout would be complete without some outdoor cooking, and we had an extra incentive to make our food memorable on the trip to Tyler State Park — A Dutch Oven Cook-off! I’ve used cast iron since I was a child, and although cookware innovations come and go, an old cast iron skillet or pot never fails. I used to host potluck parties for my staff at the University and there were always bean dishes, cobbler and other goodies cooked in cast iron. Likewise, Marilyn is an old-hand when it comes to cast iron and camp food, having been a trail chef at a dude ranch and learned at the knee of her father, who made some of the best cast iron beans ever. We felt like we could mount a respectable effort in the cook-off.

New cast iron toys

After much consideration, we settled on a Mac and Cheese topped with Pork Chops dish figuring nothing succeeds like “over-the-top” excess. Marilyn prepped carefully, pre-measuring the ingredients at home so cooking in camp would be as easy and foolproof as possible. I prepped our best 12-inch Lodge dutch oven and laid in a stock of charcoal. I bought a few toys as well from a Camp Maid grill and smoker set and dutch oven carry bag to a simple steel feed pan to stoke the charcoal. Nothing left to chance.

The cook-off was on Friday. Preparations were underway throughout the park with dozens of entries from the members of the Southwest Teardrop and Vintage Trailer Association members. Marilyn had cooked the macaroni a little earlier in the afternoon, and all was in readiness. I started the charcoal at about 4 PM knowing that the food had to be delivered to the potluck no later than 6 PM to be eligible. Precision timing was of the essence.

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This photo sequence shows the process from start to finish — delivered to the hungry crowd at 6 PM on the dot. Let’s just say that no one went away hungry!

Southwest Teardrop and Vintage Trailer Cast Iron Cook-off

On the Tasty Trail — Lunch at the Tin Kitchen

Teardrop Trail Log: June 20, 2017

The charming town of Weston, Missouri was settled in 1837. The success of the town was based on the exporting of large quantities of tobacco and hemp grown in the region. It was also the town that equipped Lewis and Clark as well as wagon train masters and other adventurers for their trips west. During this time, Weston had grown to be the second-largest river port in the state.

I compiled a list of attractions after Sara Tucker of Cool Tears Magazine had suggested Weston as a stop on the Teardrop Trail. Main Street climbs upward from what had once been the riverbed filled with steamboats. It is lined with quaint, old buildings that exude the charm of a bygone era, many on the National Register of Historic Places. We found a parking spot that would accommodate both the Lady and the Ambassador and began our walking tour of this pre-Civil War town. We passed the Weston Historical Museum, the National Silk Art Museum, Victorian homes, antique shops and more.

The Tin Kitchen

Weston’s rich history includes eating well. We always enjoy new dining adventures when we travel on the Tasty Trail. As we strolled down Main Street, we spotted the Tin Kitchen, Southern Smoke House, that occupies the old Rumpel Hardware building. Built in 1842, the building has been lovingly restored to preserve all of its wonderful charm. We were enchanted by the dining rooms that feature the original pressed-tin ceilings, wainscoting, dark wood tables and bars. We slid into one of the comfy booths that line the walls.

Tin Kitchen Logo

I ordered the Friday special, a grilled salmon salad with a yummy Balsamic Vinaigrette and Jim enjoyed The Cheeseburger and 24HR Slaw. After our wonderful lunch, we explored the TK2 – The Public House at Tin Kitchen, offering craft beers on tap along with a full bar featuring a great selection of wine, spirits, and craft-cocktails set in the same lovingly restored interior.

We had developed a fondness for the Show-me state and hope to visit again soon.

On to Edmond, our next stop!

The Cheeseburger and 24HR Slaw

Exploring Pella

Teardrop Trail Log: June 18, 2017

On Monday, after breakfast at the hotel, we strolled down Franklin Street and explored the Dutch heritage of the village. We started by walking around the Public Square Park, looking at all the shops, businesses, gardens and parks. There were many famed, significant buildings including the Scholte house, built by Pella’s founder in 1847, now a museum.

: Scholte House

: “The Gift” – Nick Klepinger

: A Hosta at Scholte Gardens

: “The Gardener” – Nick Klepinger

After exploring we were ready for lunch. The Windmill Café (709 Franklin) a bustling but friendly place just off Public Square Park.

: Village Wrap at Windmill Cafe

: Swiss Mushroom Burger

Smokey Row Coffee Shop

Jim goes in search of his customary mocha every afternoon and today was no exception. As we proceeded up Franklin street, we found the Smokey Row Coffee Shop. A Mocha success! We passed the Klokkenspel.

The Klokkenspel

This carillon was created for Pella with 147 bell chimes and eight animated, mechanical characters from Pella’s history that perform daily. It is one of a handful animated musical clocks in the United States, and can be viewed from both Franklin Street and on the courtyard side.

That evening we dined at George’s Pizza and Steak House, located in an historic building just across from the Klokkenspel. A tasty way to end the day’s Pella adventure!

Klokkenspel Courtyard

Arriving in Pella

Teardrop Trail Log: June 17, 2017

We like to see the sights around the state where the Red Power Roundup takes place. In April as we were planning our trip to Iowa, I put out a request to members of a number of tear drop trailer pages on Facebook asking for suggestions of what we should see while visiting Iowa. I was amazed at the number of responses from the members of the Heartland Tearjerkers.

Love the trailer community. We were even invited to join a small trailer gathering at Rock Creek State Park, east of Des Moines. Suggestions ranged from the Bridges of Madison County to Pella, Iowa.

Vermeer Windmill and Historic Village

Most people know the town for the windows that are manufactured nearby and the annual tulip festival. Pella was founded by the Dutch who settled in the rich farmland of Iowa in 1874 and founded the quaint village. Persecuted for being dissenters from the state Reformed church, they named their new home Pella, taken from a biblical city of refuge.The village offers old world charm, awesome scenery, great shopping and excellent Dutch bakeries!

We arrived on Sunday June 17, and checked into the Royal Amsterdam Hotel located on The Molengracht, which means “mill canal,” built to replicate a Dutch-style canal in the historic downtown area. That evening, we had a wonderful dinner at Monarchs Restaurant in the hotel. I had a fabulous butternut squash ravioli and Jim had lasagna. We shared a delicious chocolate cake.

: Monarchs Lasagna

: Butternut Squash Ravioli

It was as good as it looke!

Who Doesn’t Like a Parade?

Teardrop Trail Log: June 17, 2017

Morning coffee and tea

The third day of Red Power dawned humid with a light overcast, but we still enjoyed our morning coffee before heading into the fair. Catching up on Instagram and eMail, it was a pleasant way to spend an hour or two. Marilyn had a book signing event though, so we had to shake a leg.

Three-buck Breakfast Bowl

Normally we fix breakfast in camp, but our laziness and the late hour combined to encourage a little fair foraging. The breakfast croissants had been good, but we wanted something different. On the way to the Varied Industries Building, we encountered a breakfast stand hawking the “Three-buck Breakfast Bowl”. Promising eggs, cheese and potatoes skins, it looked interesting — we decided to indulge. Very tasty, it was arguably one of the most inexpensive but delicious breakfasts we had enjoyed on any of our trips. Definitely unique.

Mid-80’s monsters with a 40’s model “M”

Marilyn headed in to sign books, and I checked out the machinery behind the building. This time, I made for the large machinery, the brontosaurs and tyrannosaurs of the tractor world. They certainly dwarfed the “letter” tractors of my grandfather’s era. As I perused them, I noticed a line of tractors around the grounds. Apparently, a parade was forming up, and with a little haste, I could enjoy it. I headed for Main street.

The Land of Large Tractors

I’ve seen these parades at every Red Power, and they never fail to entertain. Like a family business, each machine seems to be driven by the owner/restorer or a member of their family and range from the tiny Cub Cadets to the enormous and rare 7488’s. I decided to capture a few in pictures and video:

After the parade, it was time to collect Marilyn and take a few last passes before the fair closed down. We wanted to say “hi” to our friends from Austin, Minnesota, Rachel and Charlie. We found them at their trailer on the machinery lot where Charlie, always busy with customers for his tractor parts and machinery stands were completing the last bits of business before the end of the day.

: Charlie with his customers

: Rachel and Marilyn

It looked like rain — we had a campsite to pack up before a trip to Pella. Better get a move on!

Leaving Red Power by way of the Varied Industries Building

The Octane Press Party

Court Avenue Brewing Co. Logo

Teardrop Trail Log: June15, 2017

Lee Klancher, of Octane Press had hosted a meet-and-greet in conjunction with Red Power Roundup in Racine the previous year. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet some of the other authors and many of the people I had worked with to publish Canning, Pickling and Freezing with Irma Harding. This year, the gathering was in downtown Des Moines at the Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company. It is located in the historic Saddlery Building, built in 1881by J. Rubelman of Muscatine, Iowa who decided that Des Moines with its two rivers and 13 railways would be a good setting for his saddlery company. The building had housed many different businesses but after the flood of 1993, the building was filled with 19 feet of water and was vacant until 1996 when the Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company began to move its brewing equipment in. The décor and beer labels celebrate the history of the building and brewing in Iowa. The walls are adorned with pictures, posters, signs and bottles from old-time Iowa breweries.

The room was buzzing with energy. The food was delicious and the beer memorable. It was a great opportunity to see old friends like Sally Jacobs from the McCormick International Harvester Collection and meet new friends.

A Day at the Red Power Roundup

Teardrop Trail Log: June 15, 2017

IH Curios

Marilyn had duties in the Octane Press booth, so I decided to see how much of the fair I could survey before lunch and her afternoon Irma Harding presentation.

Driving a Hard Bargain

The vendors were mostly located in the “Varied Industries Building.” and it took about an hour to look over the displays. You tend to see the same folks year after year. It’s always interesting though, and fun to catch up with the folks you know from previous ‘Roundups.

A new friend

After the vendor displays, it was time to venture out. The Fairgrounds are huge, and there were tractors everywhere. I started on the “Machinery Grounds” and spent the rest of the morning looking over the assembled equipment. As I was shooting a tractor, a fellow struck up a conversation. We had both noticed a youngster peddling a toy tractor down the sidewalk, and I mentioned that I had seen this hard-working lad earlier. As we talked, Ron told me about his years of farming, love of cows, work with animal breeding and avocational clowning. Quite an interesting fellow. We exchanged business cards and said we’d keep in touch. You just never know who you’re going to meet at a Red Power Roundup.

: Machinery Grounds

: Traffic Jam

: Just a walk in the park

: Nesting Tractors

Lunch at Red Power

It was time to prepare for Marilyn’s presentation. We found her hall along one side to the Varied Industries Building and with the help of Lee’s staff, got the projector set up. Hungry with plenty of time for lunch, I wandered over the the food concession. Hamburgers and fries were the delicacy of the day, and we chowed down.

: Rapt Attention

: Irma Harding and her ghostwriter

: A grove of tractors

: Mass transit at Red Power

: What did you say?

Marilyn’s presentation went perfectly (see separate post), and the afternoon was ours to explore. I took her around Machinery Grounds for a little while before we decided some air-conditioning would be nice. The “4H Building” was relatively close, so we headed there. Inside, we discovered ranks of Cub Cadet garden tractors and IHC Autowagons.

: IHC Auto Wagons

: Cub Cadets Galore

: Resto-mod Cub

: Cub Cadets Galore 2

In one corner of the building, they were setting up the annual auction and I noticed an enormous chest freezer. It was immaculate, and the owner was supervising the load-in. Inside, there were packages of mock food all wrapped in authentic Irma Harding freezer paper. We chatted with him for a few minutes before he had to go out for another load. We both wondered: did he realize that the Irma Harding paper he had used was more valuable than the freezer itself?

: Loading in a freezer

: Valuable food

On the way out of the building, we spotted the toy tractor operator. It looked like he was done for the day.

photo of boy with toy tractor resting on a bench

That’s enough for one day

Checking in at Red Power Round Up

Teardrop Trail Log: June 15, 2017

On the first morning in the campground, we decided that it would be best to head down to the main part of the fairgrounds and get breakfast rather than cook in camp. We had been able to explore a bit as we drove in, but the sheer size of the fairgrounds was challenging. We ventured down the campground’s rolling hills taking in the sights. It’s always fun to see the trailers, tents and other rigs and how people set up camp.

Breakfast at Red Power

As we walked though the fairgrounds, I began imagining what it would be like when the Fair was in full swing. Over a million people from around the world attend the fair during its 11-day run. We went by the various buildings, exhibition halls, the Sky Glider, Giant Slide, rides, and other popular attractions. Over 70 types of food on-a-stick are available during the Fair, I was imagining all the tastes and smells but sadly those concessions were shuttered.

Tractors began to appear from all directions, heading for the start of daily parade. We found the Varied Industries Building where many of the events and exhibitions were being held. The booth for Octane Press, the publisher of my cookbook, Canning, Pickling and Freezing with Irma Harding was in that building. We checked in with everyone and then went off in search of breakfast. At Barksdale, next to the famous chocolate chip cookies, we found an amazing breakfast croissant, with bacon and egg. For a few seconds, I thought about cookies for breakfast. Yum! A great way to start the day.

Octane Press at Red Power 2017

On the Tasty Trail – Lunch: Beacon Hills Grill & Bar

Teardrop Trail Log: June 13, 2017

It’s always nice to catch up with Jon, Jim’s brother and his wife Judy in Omaha. I’ve enjoyed spending time with them in their condo in Park City and their home in Omaha. I has been fun getting to know Omaha on our visits over the last few years. This time we hit the Tasty Trail for an amazing lunch at Beacon Hills Grill & Bar.

We drove to the Aksarben Village, a vibrant neighborhood location on the land of the former Ak-Sar-Ben coliseum and horse track in Midtown Omaha. This new, pedestrian friendly development is combined with the south campus of the University of Nebraska Omaha and the First Data Campus. It is home to many of Omaha’s major corporations, restaurants, Stinson Park, and even the Omaha Farmers Market.

We drove to Beacon Hills Grill & Bar. It opened in fall of 2016 and is a new venture of the owners whose Lincoln location was a local’s favorite for 16 years. The website describes the experience as homemade American Cuisine with Midwest hospitality. “Every one of our memorable homemade dishes is made from scratch.”

The atmosphere is contemporary combined with an urban industrial ambience. It is comfortable with exposed warm, wooden beams and large windows. The walls were adorned by modern sculpture that offered a nod to the windmill, a mid-western visual icon. There is an outdoor patio with a fireplace and gazebos.

I enjoyed the Asian Chicken Salad, with mixed greens, orange slices and snow peas tossed in a house-made Asian vinaigrette. The crispy-fried chicken tenders had been dipped in peanut sauce. Best of all were the mini egg rolls. Sadly, we did not take time to sample the amazing desserts.

Beacon Hills Grill & Bar is a real find! Hope we can dine there again when the Teardrop Trail takes us to Omaha again. This time with dessert.

Another Stop on the Tasty Trail – Edmond, Oklahoma

Teardrop Trail Log: June 10, 2017

Our first night on the Teardrop Trail was spent in Edmund, Oklahoma. On the edge of Oklahoma City, it is a great stopping place about half way from Dripping Springs to Omaha where Jim’s brother and Bob, his high school friend live.

Jim had introduced me to Edmond when stayed at the Best Western on the way to and from his high school reunion in July of 2015. It is conveniently located near I-35. On that trip, we explored a bit before having a wonderful dinner at Moni’s Pasta and Pizza, a culinary gem hiding in a strip mall on North May Avenue with great food and a casual, comfortable atmosphere.

A Lovely Evening

On the Tasty Trail this trip, we continued to explore the local culinary scene. A short Google search lead us to Othello’s, a family-owned Italian restaurant downtown, located in the building that was the original home of Edmond’s first hospital which was on the second floor of the town’s first movie theater. It is a picturesque dining destination with a classic vibe, complete with a pressed tin ceiling and candles melting over wine bottles. The walls were decorated with colorful murals of the Italian countryside. The service was friendly and we started with glasses of lovely Italian red. The menu contains many Italian favorites. Jim ordered Hellen’s Baked Ravioli and I ordered Nancy’s Penne Tomato Alfredo with Chicken from the Customer Creations section, a unique feature of Othello’s menu.

: Hellen’s Baked Ravioli

: Nancy’s Penne Tomato Alfredo

After dinner, we went in search of a bottle of wine for a night cap, but discovered that the liquor stores closed at 9:00. Disappointed, we returned to the cozy comfort of the Best Western for a much-needed rest. The morning brought a trip through the free continental breakfast buffet before we headed to Omaha.

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