 The end of Winter in Wisconsin means one thing: Fish Fry! With Lent going on, your local Catholic Churches (St. John XXIII in Port, St. Joseph's in Grafton and Divine Savior in Fredonia) become a great place to get your fix! The American Legion in Cedarburg offers a Fish Fry the third Friday of each month from 4-8:30 p.m. Of course, Oz has plenty of great restaurants serving up Wisconsin's favorite Friday (and sometimes Wednesday, during Lent) dinner. Here are some of the best options in Oz to get your Friday Fish Fry! Port Washington Fork & Tap In the heart of Downtown Port Washington, located behind Sherper's at 203 E. Main St., is offering their gluten free Potato Chip Crusted or Beer Battered Cod Fish Fry on Wednesdays as well as Fridays through Lent. Twisted Willow Port Washington's Farm-to-Table restaurant, located at 308 N. Franklin St., offers breaded or baked cod, buttered rye bread, house slaw & tartar sauce, potato pancakes or french fries, and clam chowder. Plier's Full Circle Pub & Restaurant in Port Washington, just across the freeway into Knellsville, probably has the most diverse selection for a Friday Fish Fry, including bluegill, walleye, haddock, tilapia and grouper. Schooner Pub at 114 N. Franklin St. in Downtown Port serves up cod, perch or shrimp baskets, along with the classic clam chowder. Yummy Bones BBQ is more known for their barbecue, but they serve a Fish Fry during Lent, only available on Fridays. 5 pieces of fried Cod, fries, a side of cole slaw and a corn bread. The Beacon, located on the first floor of the Harborview Inn in Dowtown Port Washington, serves up perch, cod or poor man's lobster on Fridays, with a great view of the Lake Saukville The Bog Reservations are recommended for this restaurant on the golf course located at 3121 County Road I in Saukville. Call (262) 988-1113. Riverview Inn in Saukville is best known for their pizza, but they also offer a great Friday Fish Fry Special. Located at 3172 N Riverside Drive along the Milwaukee River, this little log-cabin themed restaurant can get pretty crowded, but carry-out is available. Newburg No No's A traditional supper club on the corner of Highway 33 and County Road Y in Newburg, No No's serves a Friday night Fish Fry, as well as All-You-Can-Eat Smelt every Tuesday and Wednesday from 4-9 p.m. Call (262) 675-6960 for reservations or more information. Cork n' Barrel Bar & Grill, at 503 W. Main St. in Newburg, has baked or breaded cod, perch, jumbo shrimp and a choice of fries or potato pancakes. Grafton Juice's Ghost Town Restaurant, located at 990 Ulao Rd. in Grafton, offers a very traditional Friday Fish Fry with a choice of Perch, Haddock, or Walleye and either breaded, beer-battered, pan fried, or broiled. Children's portions are also available. Flipside Cafe and Grill at 2074 Washington St. in Grafton serves a very diverse all-day Friday Fish Fry, but they're not open late, so get on it. Belgium Lake Church Pub & Grill Located at 690 County Road D in Belgium, this humble little restaurant and Inn has quite a reputation for a good Friday Fish Fry. Perch, Walleye, Cod, Shrimp, and Poor Man's Lobster are all served between 4:30 and 9:30 p.m. Luxembourg Cafe, right off the freeway in Belgium (formerly Hobo's), Friestadt The Landmark in Friestadt is such a local gem it doesn't even have a website or social media, but they have a worthy Friday Fish Fry and they are the stuff of Ozaukee legends. Located at 10634 W. Friestadt Rd. Thiensville Remington's River Inn, right on the Milwaukee River in downtown Thiensville, offers beer battered cod or poor man's lobster with the usual sides. Daily Taco doesn't seem like the place to get a fish fry, but if you liked the award-winning fish fry from the cheel, this is it: lightly fried in a chickpea & rice flour gluten-free batter, served with golden raisin slaw, Mexican basmati rice, side of house tartar and a wedge of lemon. Mequon The Range Line Inn in Mequon was once a stagecoach stop in the early 1800's, but its been serving a good Friday Fish Fry at 2635 W. Mequon Road for a long time. Open 4:30-10 p.m. Cedarburg C. Weisler's is as historic as historic downtown Cedarburg can be, and they serve up a special Fish Fry, including a 3 piece Haddock Plate, a Tilapia Plate, a Lake Perch Plate, and more, from 4:30-9 p.m. every Friday at W61 N493 Washington Ave. in downtown Cedarburg. The Farmstead in Cedarburg is normally the place to go for steaks, but they do serve a classic Friday Cod Fish Fry, as well. Located at W61 N493 Washington Ave. and housed in a beautiful old farmhouse, The Farmstead is a local favorite. Settler's Inn in downtown Cedarburg offers pan fried or baked cod and pan fried walleye or perch for their Friday Fish Fry from 10 a.m. - 2:30 for dine in and 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. for carry-out. Call ahead to reserve your time slot at (262) 377-1191. Know of a great Fish Fry in Oz that we missed? Contact mary@OzaukeeLivingLocal.com and tell us all about it! Then, take our Best Fish Fry in Oz Poll!
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 The first Earth Day was April 22nd, 1970, and it was the beginning of the modern environmental movement. The passage of the landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed. Twenty years later, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world, but you don't have to participate globally -- there are many ways to do it locally! To kick off Earth Day in Oz, Traditions on the Green is hosting Earth Day at the Mequon Public Market on Sunday, April 10th from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Enjoy a water bar, live music, prizes, and kids can take home a pea plant. The Mequon Nature Preserve has a whole week of Earth Day events, beginning with two events for young children: a screening of the movie The Lorax on Monday, April 18th at 10 a.m. and followed by a craft, hike and storytime for kids at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 19th. Wednesday, April 20th, as part of the Brown Bag Lunch Series at MNP, Kat Erickson, Professor at MATC, will present "Environment is Where We All Meet: The Beginning of Human Connection to the Earth." On Earth Day, Friday, April 22nd, anyone ages 12 and up can participate in a Land Restoration Work Day at MNP. The Milwaukee Riverkeeper has their 27th Annual Spring River Cleanup from 9- noon on Saturday, April 23rd in locations all over southeastern Wisconsin, including Grafton, Saukville, Newburg and Fredonia. Milwaukee Riverkeeper provides the gloves, trash bags, and amazing FREE T-SHIRTS, and you provide the hands and energy to pick up the interesting and sometimes bizarre trash that finds its way into our beautiful river system. Afterwards, attend Rock the Green at the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee for live music and more. In Port Washington, the WJ Niederkorn Library is hosting a Native Tree Giveaway from 9 a.m. - noon at the library and 1-4 p.m. at upper Lake Park. In Saukville, Riveredge is hosting an Earth Day Summit for Teens on Saturday, April 23rd from 2-5 p.m. Groups and organizations are encouraged to sign up, but individuals may, as well. Also in Saukville on Saturday, dumpsters will be available for a Spring Clean Up at 649 S. Main St. between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Residents may drop off one large piece of furniture, carpeting, small amounts of construction debris, one box spring and mattress and appliances such as air conditioning units, microwaves, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, ovens, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers and water heaters. They cannot accept cardboard, batteries, waste oil, paints, liquids, hazardous waste, recyclables, lawn waste, iron, tires, concrete, bricks or electronics, such as computers, monitors, printers, or telephones with video displays. It's not exactly for Earth Day, but Ozaukee residents should know that Ozaukee County will also have a Community Recycling Event on Saturday, April 30th at Firemen's Park in Cedarburg and the Ozaukee Land & Water Management offers the Clean Sweep Program on May 14th from 8 a.m. - noon at the Ozaukee County Highway Shop, located at 1221 Hilltop Drive in the Town of Cedarburg. This program allows residents a chance to properly dispose of hazardous waste, old tires, electronics, and appliances. There is a $20 registration fee per vehicle for hazardous waste, but registration is not required for other items, though some disposal fees may apply. Happy Earth Day, Oz!  Chocolate Carrots available at The Chocolate Chisel in Port Washington. Whether you're looking for a place for Easter Brunch, the best local places to fill your Easter Baskets, or for a chance to meet the Easter Bunny, we've got you covered! Easter Events Port Washington has their annual Hippity Hop Easter Egg Hunt and Downtown Treat Hop on Saturday, April 9th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Kids 12 and under and their families can join in the egg hunt, get their photo taken with the Easter Bunny, participate in a Story Walk or Sing Along at Upper Lake Park anytime between 10 a.m.and noon. Then, "hop" to downtown Port, where many of the local businesses will be handing out additional treats between 11 and 1 p.m. On Saturday, April 9th, Grafton Park & Rec has their 28th Annual Egg Hunt at Centennial Park. Pictures with the Easter Bunny will available between 12:30 and 1, and the hunt will begin at 1 p.m. sharp — don't forget your basket! Adults can join in on a Festive Easter Candy Class in Cedarburg on Wednesday, April 13th from 6-8 p.m. Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson are having an Easter Egg Hunt in Thiensville on Saturday, April 16th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Belgium will have their Easter Egg Hunt at Heritage Park, 11 a.m. sharp, on Saturday, April 16 for children 10 and under. Bring your Easter Baskets and meet the Easter Bunny! Saukville will have their annual Easter Egg Hunt at Grady Park on Saturday, April 16th from 10 a.m. - noon. Easter Brunch Easter Brunch is a time-honored tradition, yet they're harder to find in post-pandemic Oz. In Saukville, The Bog is having an Easter Brunch in The Barn between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. In Port Washington, the Singing Salmon Saloon is having Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 10th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. with hot ham and rolls and photos with the Easter Bunny, himself. Easter Candy If you're in need of Easter Candy, you're in luck! Amy's Candy Kitchen and Ashley's Confectionary in Cedarburg have great selections. Sweet Trio in Grafton and The Chocolate Chisel in Port have plenty of chocolate bunnies to go around, as well. In Mequon, you want to check out the Cocoa Tree Confectionary. Happy Easter from Ozaukee Living Local!  National Library Week (April 3 - 9, 2022) is a time to celebrate our libraries, and we are very lucky to have so many great libraries to appreciate in Oz! First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and observed in libraries across the country each April. All types of libraries - school, public, academic and special - participate. There are some people who believe that libraries are no longer useful, now that most people have computers; why, who needs physical books when they can be read digitally on devices such as tablets and even our phones? Thankfully, that idea couldn't be further from the truth. Despite all of our technology, libraries have become the heart of communities; one of the last places where citizens of all ages can spend time and get resources without the need to purchase anything. In fact, assisting people with technology is just one of the many resources our libraries provide. In Ozaukee County, our libraries offer so much more than books. Events such as storytimes for young families to book clubs for adults, as well as movie screenings, speakers, concerts, workshops, and clubs for all ages are just some of the offerings. You can check out movies, use computers, get free Wi-Fi; in fact, at the Port Washington library you can even get seeds for your garden, and at the Cedarburg Library you can use a 3D Printer and neither will cost you anything! Free tax help, art galleries for our local students, and a massive amount of online resources, from learning a new language to auto repair, as well as being a community gathering space; honestly, we need our libraries more than ever. Not familiar with your local library? This is the week to correct that. Click on the links below and see what the Libraries of Oz have to offer! Are you living in a place in Oz that doesn't have a local library? Luckily, Ozaukee is part of the Monarch Library System, which means we have the Monarch Bookmobile, a library that comes to you! View the Monarch Bookmobile schedule here. W. J. Niederkorn Library in Port Washington Grafton Public Library Frank L. Weyenberg Library in Mequon Oscar Grady Library in Saukville Cedarburg Public Library CPL will be celebrating Library Appreciation Week with a photo op in the Maker Lab! Take a "shelfie" with your favorite book while posing in the hanging picture frame and share it with us at #CedarburgPublicLibrary or #NationalLibraryWeek. Be sure to fill out a notecard while you're here and tell us how you connect with the Cedarburg Public Library. Also, don't forget that replacement library cards at the Check-Out Desk will also be FREE the whole month of April (normally cost $3 for a replacement card). Come join in the fun!  Karen Estrada, Rick Pendzich, Austin Nelson, Jr. and cast in THE LEGEND OF ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS. First Stage, 2022. Photo by Paul Ruffolo. By Mary Boyle Almost exactly two years ago, I headed off to the Todd Wehr Theater in Milwaukee, as I had done countless times over the prior five years, to review a performance by First Stage, Milwaukee's premier theatre company for young people and their families. Little did I know that it would be the last major indoor theatre performance in Milwaukee I would be seeing for the next two years. The production I saw was the World Premiere of THE LEGEND OF ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS, and I thought it was brilliant; but, before I could write the review, First Stage announced, like so many other theatre companies, that it was shutting down the production because of the pandemic. Two years later, almost to the day, I finally made my way back to Todd Wehr Theater to see this hysterical little musical, based on the book by Drew Daywalt (author of The Day the Crayons Quit), and I still think it is brilliant. The story is the imagined origin of a game we all have played: Rock, Paper, Scissors; as told by the narrator and the three "warriors" who long to meet their match and worthy opponent in battle. John Maclay, who wrote the book and lyrics and is a Resident Playwright at First Stage, is a master at turning children's books into children's theatre, several of which have been produced at First Stage, including Anatole, Nancy Drew and her Biggest Case Ever, and Nate the Great. In the case of Rock, Paper, Scissors, Maclay and partner, Eric Nordin, who wrote the music and lyrics, kept all of the brilliant pro-wrestling drama and butt-joke humor of the book and brought it to life on the stage (complete with giant underpants), but added plenty of dad jokes and nods to adult pop culture that make this children's musical every bit as entertaining to the parents and grandparents in the theater. Thankfully, much of the original cast and crew from the first run were able to return to this season's production, including Director Kelly Doherty, who you may remember as Miss Trunchbull in the First Stage production of Matilda the Musical. I really can't tell which actor I love more, but both Rick Pendzich, as Rock, and Karen Estrada, as Scissors, are Milwaukee gems who give absolutely inspired and hysterically funny performances. Each warrior (Rock, Paper, and Scissors, as well as others) has a musical genre attached to them and, of course, Rock is what might happen if Gene Simmons of Kiss and a boulder had a love child. Scissors, meanwhile, has a Flamenco flair and Paper, played this season by Austin Nelson, Jr., is straight R&B. I would be remiss if I didn't note Sidney Kirkegaard's performance as Roll of Tape in Plastic Dispenser. You just have to see it. As our warriors search out worthy opponents through such places as the Land of Backyard and Mom's Home Office, their story is helped along by the Announcer (Eloise Field in the Chicken Nugget Cast and Max Larson in the Trail Mix Cast, who were both in the original), as well as a cast of young performers (Young Performer roles are double cast. Trail Mix Cast includes: Aiden Toth, Daisha Lafford (as Peach), Rebekah Michel, Costello Mylott, Sailor Ames, Greta Carlson, Vivian Madson and Evie Patrick. Chicken Nugget Cast includes: Abram Nelson, Naima Gaines (as Peach); Josephine Van Slyk, Kyra Mathias, Annie Sturtz, Ryan Bennett, Lucy Irwin and Eloise Bejma.). THE LEGEND OF ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS is a delightful introduction to musical theatre for kids between the ages of 4 and 12 and the perfect performance for the whole family to enjoy. This production runs through April 3rd at the Marcus Center's Todd Wehr Theater, located at at 929 North Water Street in downtown Milwaukee. Tickets are available at https://www.firststage.org/ or by calling (414) 267-2961. Special events for THE LEGEND OF ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS Pay What You Choose Performance: Friday, March 11, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. Pay What You Choose tickets are available on a first come, first served basis with a minimum suggested donation of $5 per person. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. on the day of the performance. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early. To learn more visit: firststage.org/events-tickets/tickets-offers/pay-what-you-choose/ Sensory Friendly Performance: Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 4 p.m. A Sensory Friendly Performance with accommodations for families with children on the autism spectrum will take place on Saturday, March 12 at 4 p.m. Sensory accommodations include lower sound, house lights up, a quiet area staffed by an educator experienced with the care of students on the autism spectrum and other developmental differences, and more. Tickets for Sensory Friendly Performances are $10. Order by phone at (414) 267-2961, weekdays 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. to reserve tickets. To learn more visit: firststage.org/plan-your-visit/sensory-friendly-performances/. ASL Interpreted Performance: Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. This performance will be sign language interpreted for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing. Assistive listening devices are also available at the Todd Wehr Theater. To learn more visit: firststage.org/plan-your-visit/accessibility/sign-language-interpreted-performances/ About First Stage First Stage is one of the nation’s leading theaters for young people and families. First Stage touches hearts, engages minds and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences through professional theater productions that inspire, enlighten and entertain. Its Theater Academy, the nation’s largest high-impact theater training program for young people, fosters life skills through stage skills and serves nearly 2,000 students each year. As Wisconsin’s leader in arts-integrated education in schools, First Stage’s dynamic Theater in Education programs promote literacy, character building and experiential learning throughout the curriculum, serving over 20,000 students each year. First Stage was selected to participate in the Partners in Education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (2012) and was the recipient of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Eureka Award, recognizing creativity and innovation in business, education and the arts for its Next Steps program for students on the autism spectrum (2013, 2015). First Stage is a member of TYA/USA, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education, Milwaukee Arts Partners and is a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF).   By Sara Dahmen Did anyone celebrate Imbolc earlier this month? We did, but barely – it’s a tricky fire feast here in Wisconsin because other than the slowly lengthening days, it’s still basically the deepness of winter around here. Sometimes I think these fire feasts were developed on some land that had a completely different understanding of “winter” months. Ha! And since we’re still in the thick of it, I’m sending you all my very favorite potion for telling a cold to ‘take a hike’ once you feel symptoms coming on. I’m guessing it will help with Covid-like symptoms, too. And then, I’m also including our family cut-out cookie recipe. It’s one from Old Germany and includes nutmeg and sour cream – it makes outstanding cookies. And since it’s February, we may as well make hearts to celebrate Valentine’s Day, even if it is just past – we could all use a little love! SOUR CREAM CUT OUT COOKIES This recipe is also available in my book, Copper Iron & Clay: A Smith’s Journey (available anywhere books are sold), and it has been in the family a long time – one of those recipes I have handwritten down from my mother’s handwritten recipe, which she got from HER mother’s handwritten recipe. These are the things we all try to preserve, is it not? They are quite fail-proof, and I always add a tad bit more nutmeg than it calls for. Makes about 3 dozen cookies (but honestly it feels like five, LOL;) I also bake these on my tin-lined copper cookie sheets because the even heat is awesome sauce. 1 cup shortening 2 cups sugar 1 cup full-fat sour cream 2 eggs, at room temperature 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 4½ cups all-purpose flour, more as needed for rolling out the dough Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, cream the shortening and sugar. Add the sour cream and eggs to the shortening/sugar and mix until there are no lumps. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix together until smooth. Refrigerate the dough (covered) for at least 1 hour. (Sometimes I leave it overnight.) When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. On a heavily floured surface, roll out the dough to ¼-inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes of your choice. Place them on the baking sheet and bake for 9-12 minutes – watching to make sure you don’t overbake (unless you want crispy cookies, then let the very bottoms get medium-brown in the color). Cool cookies completely before frosting them! DENY-A-COLD TEA This concoction actually tastes pretty darn good – it’s like the healthier version of a hot toddy (and I suppose you totally could add whiskey or brandy to this, too!). This tea is NOT safe for children ages 12 and younger, as the garlic is too powerful for them. Drink 1.5 cups of this per day while cold symptoms exist – it’s especially effective if you can start drinking it right when you first get that itchy tickle in your throat or nose! 1 crushed garlic clove 1 Tbsp crushed fresh ginger root 1 tsp honey ¾ cup very warm water The juice of 1 freshly squeezed lemon Combine all ingredients, let sit for 5 minutes to combine, strain, and drink while still warm.  About the Author
Sara Dahmen is a coppersmith, award-winning author and novelist, and entrepreneur. Her expertise is of vintage and modern cookware; she manufactures pure metal kitchenware in her Port Washington, Wisconsin garage for her company, House Copper & Cookware. All of her current designs are based on American traditions and wares and are sourced in the USA. When unable to recreate traditional elements, she uses only small family owned and operated makers or Armed Forces veterans to help with the production of her cookware pieces. Her work also includes refurbishing and restoring old and damaged copper using vintage tools. Learn more about Sara at: https://www.saradahmen.com/ Order Sara's book! Full color, hard-cover COPPER IRON AND CLAY (Morrow/HarperCollins)   Dipped and decorated strawberries are just one of the delicious offerings from Ashley's in Cedarburg. February 14th is Valentine's Day and, though many consider it a "Hallmark" holiday, the celebration actually dates back to Roman times; a fertility festival called "Lupercalia." Times have certainly changed. Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated by friends, family, and lovers, alike, and whether you need a treat for your kids or a romantic gift for your significant other, there are plenty of great, local choices in Oz. Chocolate is the most common Valentine's Day gift, and Oz is home to several very fine chocolate shops! Chocolate Chisel in Port Washington always has fresh, chocolate covered strawberries available for the occasion, as well as a wide variety of milk and dark chocolates to choose from. A beautiful caramel apple from Amy's Candy Kitchen in downtown Cedarburg makes a wonderful Valentine's gift and, while you're in town, make it a gift from Cedarburg with something from Ashley's Confectionery, too! If you're in the Grafton area, stop into Sweet Trio for a delicious variety of chocolates, candy and caramel apples, or, if you're in the southern Ozaukee neck of the woods, Mequon has the Cocoa Tree Confectionary. It's hard to believe, but some people don't like chocolate and candy. If flowers are what you're looking for, you're in luck! There are plenty to choose from in Oz. In Saukville, try Lighthouse Florist; in Grafton, there's the Bloomin Olive. Cedarburg has Rachel's Roses, while Mequon has the corner market with A Floral Affair, Fantasy Flowers, or La Terre at the Mequon Public Market. Perhaps the lovely lady in your life has jewelry in mind? You can't go wrong with Armbruster Jewelers in Cedarburg or Sharbuno Jewelers in Port Washington; both family businesses who have been in their community for many years. Wyndrose and Pagoda Fine Jewelry in Cedarburg are also local favorites.  This Strawberry Coconut Cooler with Boba from Java House in Cedarburg has Valentine written all over it! Really, though, does anything say "love" better than coffee? Check out Java House or Cedarburg Coffee Roastery in Cedarburg, Java Dock in Port Washington, Fiddleheads in Grafton, Mequon, Thiensville and Cedarburg, or Colectivo in Grafton or Mequon. Also in Mequon is the delightful Cafe 1505, which has treats, breakfast and lunch, and is also a full service coffee bar.  Looking for a special dinner out? In Port Washington, there's Twisted Willow, The Beacon, or Beanies Mexican Restaurant, who all have special dinners planned. Brandywine in Cedarburg is a good bet. On Saturday the 12th, Shully's Cuisine in Thiensville is offering an amazing 7 course Zodiac Dinner for Valentine's Day that would be hard to pass up, and Foxtown Brewing has a special 4 course dinner for two. No No's in Newburg or Messina Italian Restaurant in Saukville are other considerations.
However you share the love, put some Oz into it! Happy Valentine's Day, everyone.   By Sara Dahmen Winter is here, and it’s taking no punches! Single digits, brutal winds, and a heavy dose of all the illnesses that come with winter weather (the pandemic notwithstanding). There are many herbs available to fight a fever and kill a cold, but some remedies aren’t safe for young children, even though they’re natural. Garlic, for instance, is an essential ingredient to an amazing influenza busting concoction (more on that soon!) but it’s not safe to give children 12 and under. And we all can do with a cup of hot soup when we’re feeling a little down. This French Onion Soup is a twist on the classic, and I’ll even list out how to make it Vegan-Style! Meanwhile, take heart, dear hearts. The days are already getting longer and the sun is slowly waking up again! FRENCH ONION SOUP This is a classic, but I like to add a little bit of excitement by using multiple kinds of onions. This simple recipe can easily be transformed to a vegan one by exchanging out the beef stock for vegetable stock (the hearty kind is best!) and using plant-based butter for caramelizing the onions and garlic. Chao or other plant-based brand “cheese” melts easily under the broiler, which won’t be quite as stinky as the classic gruyere, but it’s better than no cheese at all! **This recipe is for 6 people 2 red onions, cut in half and sliced thin 2 yellow onions, cut in half and sliced thin 2 white onions, cut in half and sliced thin 1 shallot, sliced 3 cloves of fresh garlic, minced 8 cups beef stock 2 Tbsp butter 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 bundle of dried or fresh thyme Gruyere cheese French baguette, sliced thickly Place all onions/shallots in a large pot and add butter. Cook at medium heat, stirring almost constantly, until the onions start to caramelize. Add in the garlic and cook for another 2 – 3 minutes. Add the beef stock, salt, pepper, and thyme and bring to a simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Heat the broiler to 400F. Slice the gruyere enough for each bowl of soup you plan to serve. Place bowls on a baking sheet and ladle in the hot soup. Top each bowl with a slice of baguette topped by a slice of gruyere, and carefully put the entire baking sheet of bowls in the oven and broil for 4 minutes. Serve quite warm! KID’S FEVER-KILLER TEA It’s still cold and flu season around here! This tea is safe for kids of all ages, especially those who are under the age of twelve and cannot have as many over-the-counter medications and fever reducers. It’s also super soothing on the stomach! Make a cup of this loose leaf mixture 1-2x a day while fever persists, and hopefully your young’uns will drink it right up and get well fast! 1 tsp dried feverfew (do not use while pregnant) 1 tsp dried or fresh catnip 1 tsp dried tulsi (holy basil) (avoid if attempting to get pregnant or are pregnant) Mix these ingredients together and place it in a tea sieve. Boil a cup of water and pour the boiling water over the sieve and leave to steep for up to 10 minutes. Remove the herbs, cool to your preference, and drink. Bonus! You can add 5 – 10 drops Willow Bark decoction to the tea before serving. Willow bark is wonderful as it truly is Nature’s aspirin, but should be used in relative moderation, especially for children. To make the decoction, add 1 part Willow Bark to 3 parts water. Boil, then simmer until the water is reduced by 1/3. Strain and store for up to 48 hours at room temperature or in the fridge. Why these herbs? Feverfew is anti-inflammatory and another fever reducer (hence its name). Catnip settles the stomach and is known especially for being a gentle, somewhat tasty herb good for helping colds, flu and fever in children. Tulsi can be decocted alone to reduce a fever or taken daily as tea or decoction for general overall health. Willow Bark is anti-inflammatory and usually is used to reduce arthritis issues, but is also a great fever reducer. About the Author
Sara Dahmen is a coppersmith, award-winning author and novelist, and entrepreneur. Her expertise is of vintage and modern cookware; she manufactures pure metal kitchenware in her Port Washington, Wisconsin garage for her company, House Copper & Cookware. All of her current designs are based on American traditions and wares and are sourced in the USA. When unable to recreate traditional elements, she uses only small family owned and operated makers or Armed Forces veterans to help with the production of her cookware pieces. Her work also includes refurbishing and restoring old and damaged copper using vintage tools. Learn more about Sara at: https://www.saradahmen.com/ Order Sara's book! Full color, hard-cover COPPER IRON AND CLAY (Morrow/HarperCollins)  Area students observe a morning color ceremony at the 1st Annual Crossroads Rendezvous in 2018 at Peninsula Park in Saukville, WI.  Jay Oestreich, a self-taught tailor , will lend his skills to the Crossroads Rendezvous Workshop Series beginning this February at the Crossroads Museum in Saukville. Photo by CB Boettcher After a two year hiatus, thanks to the pandemic, the annual Crossroads Rendezvous will return to Peninsula Park in Saukville on the traditional third weekend this coming May 20-21; but, before its arrival, organizers have planned a Workshop Series, designed to engage both seasoned reenactors and those new to the hobby, that will bring the lessons of living history indoors.
"When we decided we had to cancel the 2021 event, after already losing the 2020 event, we knew that we needed to do something to build momentum and assure people that we were going to return," said Mary Boyle, Crossroads Organizer. "We were able to get a Tourism Grant from the Saukville Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee, which allowed us to move forward. Originally, we planned for a one day mini-reenactment at the Crossroads Museum on what would have been the weekend of the event, which was meant to be followed by the workshop series; but, as the time drew near, it became clear that people were still not ready to gather together." As organizers went back to the drawing board, they connected with Patricia Gerber, the Coordinator of the Community Rivers Program, to collaborate on an event that would benefit both the Community Rivers Program and Crossroads Rendezvous, as well as their parent organizations, Riveredge Nature Center and the Saukville Historical Society. "CRP participated at our 2018 and 2019 School Days, so we'd already established our mutual connection with the Milwaukee River," explained Boyle. "The event [River History Day] practically built itself, and it was really fun to do. We'll probably do it again this fall." The Workshop Series was meant to follow River History Day, but the holidays and rising Covid counts kept pushing the start date further back. In the end, though, everything came together, and the Crossroads Rendezvous Workshop Series will begin on Saturday, February 12 from Noon to 5 p.m. with a session called A Tailoring We Will Go, led by Jay Oestreich, in which participants will get an overview of 18th Century men's fashion and then have time, space and assistance from Oestreich to get started on their own sewing projects. Other classes in the series include basket making, finger weaving, archeology of the Fur Trade, and an afternoon with Boyle where participants will learn about 18th Century women's fashion and start work on creating their own chemise, which is the base layer of clothing for a lady of that time period. "Besides Sarah Pender Smith, who is an actual Archeologist, the rest of us [leading workshops] are mostly just reenactors who wanted to share the skills we've learned with others," said Boyle. "You don't have to even be interested in reenacting to join us; these are just fun or useful things to know, regardless of whether or not you're into living history. We've all been sitting around with largely no events to attend for the past two years so, if nothing else, this is a way to reignite our own flames." The Crossroads Rendezvous Workshop Series will take place at the Crossroads Museum, located at 200 N. Mill St. in Saukville. Space is limited and participants must register for the workshops by emailing Mary Boyle at info@CrossroadsRendezvous.org or filling in the registration box on the CR Workshop Series Tab on the website: www.crossroadsrendezvous.org/cr-workshop-series.html  By Mary Boyle When the frigid Wisconsin cold keeps us indoors we, unfortunately, share more than space. If you're fighting off a cold or flu, this Healing Vegetable Broth, courtesy of Medical Medium, is perfect to sip from your favorite mug, but also makes plenty of extra for your freezer to use in any recipe that calls for vegetable broth (or for when the next person in your household comes down with the sniffles!). In a large stockpot add:
Place all the ingredients in a pot and bring to a gentle boil. Turn heat down to low and allow to simmer for about an hour, covered. Strain and sip for a mineral rich, healing and restorative broth, or leave the veggies in to enjoy as a light healing soup. Broth will keep for 5-7 days in the refrigerator, or freeze for later use. Personally, I add a bit more celery and carrots and more water to fill my big stock pot so I have plenty of broth to fill my freezer. Feel free to fill a mug to sip from when it's done; otherwise, allow the broth to cool and pour through a sieve into freezer-safe containers (be sure to leave about 1 inch of space at the top, as it will expand when frozen). I compost all of the veggies, as they sort of become washed of flavor in the simmering (the broth is actually more effective without the veggies in it, but I know it can feel wasteful, so you do you;) . I ended up with nearly 6 quarts of broth. For those of you looking to get healthier in the New Year, I cannot recommend Medical Medium highly enough. By implementing Anthony William's recommendations, I have personally experienced incredible results. The books are great; however, all of the information is available on the website, including this recipe and many others. Here's to your health! |
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