A closer look at flyover land

Poetry about Minnesota

April is National Poetry Month, and the Poetry Foundation is, of course, featuring poetry on its site all month. Including today's gem: Bemidji Blues by Sean Hill, a poet who lives in that fine northern Minnesota community.

Look!

Or, preferably, buy!

It's the updated edition of my first book, available at a fine bookseller near you! (Or online, of course.)

It's bigger (almost 130 pages longer than the first edition)! See?

The one on the left, that's the new one! More photos! More stuff to do! More things to see! More places to eat!

What are you waiting for? You have shopping to do. :-)

 

Book week, part 7

And--for now--part the last.

Once There Were Castles by Larry Millett. Oh, what a luxuriously gorgeous book this is. It'd be a shame to classify it as either history or architecture, because for many people (um, me) that might make it sound dry. Instead, this is a sumptuous, wallow-around-in-it kind of book, especially if you're a fan of old-style mansions from long ago. I am; I love any excuse to drive along Summit Avenue in St. Paul and various spots in Minneapolis, seeing the grand dames of great days gone by. But I never realized how many more there were, once upon a time, until I had a chance to peruse this coffee-table-sized book.

Author Millett has done considerable research, learning about these lost mansions, who they belonged to, and why they're gone. It's not always a case of "knock down the house to build something modern." Sometimes houses were torn down to build even bigger houses; sometimes they were moved when owners decided to use that particular piece of property for other reasons, such as commercial.

Plus there are the architectural oddities: who knew that octagon-shaped houses were once in fashion?

But this book is really enhanced by the photographic evidence. Those of my readers who have been to Seven Corners in St. Paul, does this look even remotely familiar?

Look carefully--towards the back, you can see the beginning of mansions on the bluffs.

How's this for a ballroom, in the Gillette House, formerly of Minneapolis:

I think it's safe to say that the corner of 39th and Bryant Ave So in Minneapolis doesn't look a thing like this anymore.

This is a lovely book, not one you sit down and read straight through, but one you're proud to have on display and can dip into any time you need a break from current times. It's ideal for people interested in local history or people anywhere interested in long-gone home architecture, or for anyone who just likes to imagine life long ago.

My thanks to the University of MN Press for sending me a review copy.

Book week, part 6

Breadcrumbs, by Anne Ursu, drawings by Erin McGuire. 

At first I wasn't sure I should mention this book, because the author is a friend of mine. Maybe it looks suspect when I say it's her best book yet (and I've liked all her other books), even though I really do mean it, and anyone who's talked to me about it in person knows I rave about it.

But then Amazon.com named it one of the 10 best books of 2011 for middle readers, and NPR selected it for its December kids' book club read. Maybe my opinion is suspect, but since Amazon and NPR echo it, I'm going ahead.

Breadcrumbs is a lovely story inspired by the Snow Queen tale of Hans Christian Anderson. Hazel lives with her divorced mother in frugal circumstances, but she doesn't care, as long as she's still friend with Jack, her best friend since they were six. Jack has some family issues of his own--his mother is sinking deeper and deeper into depression, and both kids are subject to taunting at school. But as long as Jack is her friend, Hazel can cope.

Then one day Jack suddenly wants nothing to do with Hazel anymore. There was no fight, no clear issue. Even though Hazel's mom tries to tell her that this is what happens when boys and girls who are friends reach the age of eleven, Hazel is heartbroken and doesn't believe it. As it turns out, she's right to put faith in Jack: unbeknownst to any of the grownups, Jack has had his heart frozen and has been spirited away to live in an ice palace, deep in the woods.

When Hazel learn what's happened, she is determined that she must save him, no matter how difficult the journey may be. Because that's what friends do for each other: they know the truth about each other, and they will do whatever it takes.

Like the books I talked about yesterday, the magic of this story is tempered with its grounding in reality. There's a wry look at the way adults interact with kids, such as when Hazel's mom decides to have a teachable moment regarding the scientific makeup of snowflakes:

"People were always doing this sort of thing to Hazel. Nobody could accept that she did not want to hear about gaseous balls and layers of atmosphere and refracted light and tiny building blocks of life. The truth of things was always much more mundane than what she could imagine, and she did not understand why people always wanted to replace the marvelous things in her head with this miserable heap of you're-a-fifth-grader-now facts."

Hazel's journey to find the ice palace and rescue Jack is fraught with danger, and she also meets up with various fairy-tale characters. Even in this hallucinatory place, there is a correlation with reality:

"She had stepped into the woods in the park and landed in an entirely different place. She knew this might happen. She'd been to Narnia, Wonderland, Hogwarts, Dictionopolis. She had tessered, fallen through the rabbit hole, crossed the ice bridge into the unknown world beyond. Hazel knew this world. And it should have made this easier.

"But it did not."

Beautifully written, haunting, wistful--this is a good one not just for middle-grade readers, but for everyone.

And I do mean that.

Book week, part 5

Let's talk about those middle-grade and young-adult readers now. Especially boys. Minnesota seems to have an affinity for writers creating stories for these ages, and I say, keep it up. We need more books for boys to read.

Kurtis Scaletta's newest novel, The Tanglewood Terror, is every bit as fun and engaging as its cover makes it out to be. Thirteen-year-old Eric's family life is disintegrating, with Dad wanting to reclaim his lost youth as a musician, leaving his family behind in Maine to pursue his passion in Boston. When Eric and his younger brother Brian discover glowing mushrooms growing in the woods behind their home, it seems odd and unsettling--especially when the mushrooms continue to grow at an unearthly pace, crawling across yards and up the sides of houses overnight and covering the town's football field in short order. And yet, the townspeople don't seem as worried about it as Eric is--or as worried as runaway Mandy is. Together, she and Eric struggle to learn what's behind this menacing, glowing growth.

What I really liked about this book (besides the fun plot and brotherly interplay) is that, for all its supernatural occurrences, the book is rooted firmly in the real world. Family problems; issues at school; fear of Halloween haunted houses--these are all very real and obviously have a huge impact on kids. Adding the creeping (and creepy) mushrooms underscores Eric and Mandy's realities. 

The same could be said of this book.

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill. How great is that cover?? And yes, it fits the story. I love this novel's epigraph: "There is no utter truth or utter falsehood in this world. There is only mostly. Which part of mostly you choose to accept, well, that much is up to you."

Jack's family is falling apart. His parents are splitting up, and he's become nearly invisible to them. To make things easier (for them, not for Jack), they're shipping him off to his aunt and uncle in Hazelwood, Iowa. Could things possibly get any worse?

Well, yes. There's Clayton Avery, the town bully. And Clayton's father, who is every bit as bad--and maybe worse--than Clayton. But there's also Wendy and Anders, and his peculiar aunt and uncle who nevertheless seem to like him--at least he's not invisible anymore. But with weird, unsettling things happening at his aunt and uncle's house, and a mysterious deserted schoolhouse with decidedly unusual properties, maybe being invisible isn't so bad after all.

Like The Tanglewood Terror, the supernatural elements in The Mostly True Story of Jack serve to underscore the all-too-real things that are happening to Jack and his friends. Kids will enjoy the books, a but don't rule out grown-ups reading them too, with a different appreciation.

 

Book week, part 4

Vikings in the Attic: In Search of Nordic America by Eric Dregni, published by the University of Minnesota Press. 

It's become a cliche, the whole Minnesotan-Scandinavian thing. Yah, sure, uff da, you betcha, and yes, there are still restaurants (and a good many church dinners this time of year) that serve lutefisk. Stoicism. Farming. Hard work. Bland, bland, bland. Except for that lye-soaked fish.

Eric Dregni has a different view, one backed up by extensive research. These settlers were far from dull. Their unimaginably horrific journeys to get here didn't immediately result in gaining the golden opportunities they expected; there were territory battles with the railroad barons, the government, and Native Americans; sod houses provided shelter, along with the joy of rattlesnakes slithering through the walls; brutally hard work all summer was required if they were to have any chance of surviving the winter. Not surprisingly, there are surviving letters from immigrants to families back in Scandinavia, urging them to stay put and battle the famine that was going on there at the time rather than face the daunting odds in the Midwest.

It wasn't just the rural areas that were tough, as detailed in one Dane's description of Minneapolis: "I have never seen such horrible filth as in this city. Thousands of loads of manure and household trash are piled up in the yards, and some even in the streets. If a person has to remove some of it due to lack of space, he simply throws it in the Mississippi River, which provides the city's drinking water. The bodies of dead dogs and cats lie in the streets by the hundreds."

Well, that certainly puts a little littering into perspective, doesn't it?

Dregni's done his homework, and this book is in turns startling and funny. It's packed full of vintage photos as he explores nearly every aspect of the Scandinavian experience. What exactly is egg coffee? Or even more appetizingly, potato coffee? What's the deal with the Kensington Runestones? Who was that crazy Norwegian that gave a speech at Carleton College titled, "A Plea for Cannibalism?" Did these stoic people really get riled up by politics? (Quick answer: oh, boy, did they ever.) Weren't they prim and proper? (Not according to a visitor who reported some very unseemly behavior by milkmaids in haylofts.) Was Lutheranism really that important? And what's with all the festivals?

This is a hugely enjoyable book that has plenty of history decked out in entertaining fashion. And you know what? I don't think you have to have Scandinavian heritage to appreciate it.

My thanks to the University of Minnesota Press for providing me with a review copy.

Book week, part 3

On Thursday, I talked about a couple of amazing picture books. I'm not quite done with that demographic yet.

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night, text by Joyce Sidman, illustrations by Rick Allen, published by Houghton Mifflin. I admit it: I'm late on this one. It came out in 2010. But once I got my hands on a copy, I didn't see how I could not write about it. This beautiful ode to the world of nature at night, with lush illustrations by printmaker Allen, is another book that transcends what appears to be a young audience. The poems are charming: 

"The night's a sea of dappled dark,
the night's a feast of sound and spark,
the night's a wild, enchanted park.
Welcome to the night!"

The joyous opening is followed with poetic portraits of snails, primrose moths, oak trees, spiders, bats, mushrooms, the moon, and of course, the owl. Beside each poem is a short factual piece about each topic. This gem is a keeper.

From the University of Minnesota Press' Fesler-Lampert Minnesota Heritage Book comes a reprint of Playful Slider, by Barbara Juster Esbensen and illustrated by Mary Barrett Brown. First published in 1993, the U of M Press did an exemplary job by bringing it back. The playful slider of the title is the otter, and here we learn how these goofy winter hunters can't resist a hill to slide down, a river to swim in, or otter siblings to play with. Illustrator Brown takes the wintry setting and gives it vivid life and color, showing these lively critters personality and charm. Recommened for any child interested in animals (and really, how many children aren't?).

My thanks to the University of Minnesota Press for sending me a review copy of Playful Slider.

Book week, part 2/Friday food

But before today's book, what a great shout-out Salon gave to local indie bookseller Uncle Hugo's! 

Since it's Friday, it's logical to look at food-related books.

The Heavy Table's James Norton is the editor and co-author of Minnesota Lunch: From Pasties to Banh Mi. This is a wonderful collection of essays with recipes, documenting the wide-ranging lunch offerings--specifically, sandwiches--around the state, with historical and ethnic context provided. The lunch sandwich is one of those under-appreciated meals; it so often seems to be the "slap it together with whatever's available", when it can be something far more spectacular. The strength of this book in particular is its attention to variety: Minnesota isn't just about fried walleye sandwiches (not that there's anything wrong with that, no, nothing at all wrong with a properly done fried walleye sandwich!) and State Fair turkey sandwiches; we're also home to increasingly authentic and delicious Mexican tortas, Vietnamese banh mis, and sambusas, all of which are covered here. In particular, I was delighted to see a shout-out to Turtle River Pasties, which is very close to my childhood home of Tenstrike (and I have some of those very pasties in my freezer right now, much to my joy), and in the chapter on Mexican tortas, a lovely sidebar on Don Pancho's Bakery in District Del Sol. It's fortunate for my waistline that I live pretty far away from Don Pancho's, otherwise I know I'd be there several times a week, seeking out those killer guava-cheese turnovers.

Minnesota Lunch is about the food, and where to find it, and why you most definitely should not turn up your nose at small-town eateries and church suppers--you never know what delight you might find in the humblest setting. Kudos to Norton and team for exposing Minnesota lunches for what they really are: diverse and delicious. (Scroll down for a recipe from the book.)

Chicken and Egg by Janice Cole. This is a delightful combination of memoir and recipe book. Cole had long toyed with the idea of raising chickens in her backyard, but it wasn't until a layoff from her food stylist/editor job occurred that she began pursuing the idea more seriously. After taking a chicken class and carefully ordering supplies, she sets out on her urban farming adventure. The book is then divided into seasonal sections while Cole learns the hard way about actually raising chickens (yes, chickens can be burned by heat lamps), all the while exploring the myriad ways one can cook chicken and eggs (but note: she only eats the eggs of her chickens, not the chickens themselves--she considers them pets). The fact is, eggs and chicken are among the most versatile foods out there, so it's not surprising that Cole includes 125 recipes. An enjoyable read, and bonus! Lots more ideas for eggs and chicken.

Manny's Special Torta
Reprinted from Minnesota Lunch with permission from the publisher

More of a Tutorial Than a Recipe
Although he welcomed us, camera and all, into his kitchen, Manuel Gonzalez would not divulge the exact recipes—especially the chi¬potle mayonnaise and a piquant spice blend—that make his tortas stand out in a city where all sorts of restaurants, from Asian fusion to mainstream American diner, are starting to spin out versions of the sandwich. He instead provided us with a kind of primer, a loosely de¬fined step-by-step guide to compil¬ing the sandwich, which the begin¬ner will likely find edifying and the aficionado, we hope, a great place to start. To it, we have added our own mayo recipe and some likely local spice blend candidates.

1 telera or bolillo roll Butter, melted
Refried beans
3 slices steak or beef tenderloin Spice blend (tips follow)
Olive oil
Chopped onion, tomato, carrot, and mushroom
San Marcos pickled jalapeños
2 slices ham
2–3 slices Swiss cheese
¼ avocado, peeled and mashed
Chipotle mayonnaise (recipe follows)

1. Halve the roll and apply butter to the inside of one half and a layer of refried beans to the other. Place both sides face down on pan or griddle.

2. Grill steak slices, adding a sprinkling of spice blend. Add olive oil to pan and grill chopped vegetables and pickled jalapeños. Add spice blend, chopping it in with the side of spatula. Next, grill ham and organize it in a sandwich shape. Stack steak and grilled vegetables on top of ham. Add Swiss cheese: “Mexico City is very cosmopolitan, so we use French bread and Swiss cheese!”

3. By now, the buttered and bean-smeared sides of the bread should be crispy. Spread avocado on the butter side, then place meat and veggie pile on top. Spread a dollop of mayonnaise across the top of the meat. Place the bean side on top and close up your sandwich. Slice and eat!

Chipotle Mayonnaise

2 San Marcos chipotle chilies en adobo
1 tablespoon adobo sauce
½ cup mayonnaise, preferably with a little lemon

Place ingredients (chilies through mayonnaise) in bowl of food processor or blender and blend until completely combined and smooth. Taste and adjust mayonnaise and chilies: remember, it’s going to be buried in all that meat and cheese!

Spice Blend
For the spice blend, we had great luck with the following combinations from Penzeys Spices:
Northwoods Fire: Heat and smoke balanced with a nice herby mixture of garlic, thyme, and rosemary.
Spicy 4/S Seasoned Salt: A peppery kick—no smoke, but the added benefit of salt.
Hot Chili: The most straightforward, this one offers a lot of depth and flavor—with fewer herbs, it gets all its complexity from the chilies.  

 

 

Book week, part 1

Ah, yes, the holidays. They are upon us. What to give? Personally, I'm very fond of books, both for giving and receiving. This year there's been a bumper crop of wonderful books written by and/or published by Minnesota authors and publishers. So over the next week, I'm going to profile several that I think would make fantastic gifts. (In fact, I started yesterday over on my other blog, where I talked with Lynne Rossetto Kasper about her lovely new cookbook.)

I should also--ahem--note that my book would make a wonderful gift too. In fact, I know someone who bought one of my books and gave it accompanied with a gift certificate from the Minnesota Bed and Breakfast Association, which I think is rather brilliant. 

OK, enough self-promotion. Today I'm going to talk about a couple of picture books that far transcend their target audience of young readers or pre-readers. 

Birds in Our Backyard, text by Adele Porter, photography by Bill Marchel, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. I can't tell you how much I love this book. The photography is absolutely gorgeous, and I can't imagine the time and patience it took to get some of these shots. Each bird is accompanied by a short poem in larger font, then a short paragraph in smaller font with more details about that bird. So in one short book you have a colorful, lively tale to read to the little ones; text worthy of sounding out for new readers; and photos that bird lovers of any age will appreciate. This is one of those books that, when it showed up on my doorstep, I thought, cool, I wonder who I can give this to when I'm done with it? And then, upon finishing, realized I have no intention of giving it to anyone.

The same thing happened with this book.

Twelve Owls, text by Laura Erickson, illustrations by Betsy Bowen, published by the University of Minnesota Press. This is a fascinating exploration of the 12 species of owls native to Minnesota. Each species is represented by a life-size painting of that owl, from the tiny northern saw-whet owl (only 8 inches from head to tail) to the Great Gray Owl, the largest owl in North America. Along with the color portraits of each owl, there are several black-and-white illustrations too: an owl chasing a rabbit, an owl with head cocked, an owl family in a nest. The text is more advanced than a typical picture book, but again, really young readers will appreciate the vibrant illustrations, and older readers--and adults--will learn a great deal about the complex world of owls.

My thanks to the University of Minnesota Press and the Minnesota Historical Society Press for providing me with review copies of these books. That I have no intention of giving up. They're MINE. Get your own.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled broadcast

I know it's Friday, and that's supposed to be about food, but today, it's all about this:

Namely: Backroads & Byways of Minnesota, by yours truly, now available at fine booksellers everywhere. Well, at least in the Midwest, and definitely online.

Won't you support a toiling travel writer and buy her witty, charming book?