Jennifer Street - Madison, Wisconsin - August 2012

Bohemian...Hippie....Green

These are adjectives easily applied to Jennifer Street. Jenny Street runs parallel to and one block over from the busier Williamson Street in the Marquette neighborhood in Madison, Wisconsin. This neighborhood is one of Madison's oldest with a plethora of architectural styles, including Greek Revival, Italianate and Arts & Crafts bungalows. 

During my recent trip to Wisconsin, I inhabited this vicinity while staying at my sister-in-law's house between Willy and Jenny Streets. While strolling on Jenny Street, I photographed these two yards, about a block apart.

Obviously not available at the big box stores, these yard art dogs have none too shiny, gravel teeth...

 ...and sport dark sunglasses.

Serious party animals, these two.

 I'm willing to bet they howl just fine when the moon is full.

 You may have seen painted bowling balls utilized as yard art before, but these demonstrate the power of quantity and repetition.

The pink zinnias set off the blue bowling balls, offering a pleasing counterpoint.

The lady of the house was sitting on the screened in porch and she came out to chat.

One of her favorite features in the yard are the moon flowers shown here in bud. She grew them from seed.

Stay tuned for more trip photos.

Carina

Drunken Worms

 I've been in the kitchen channeling Alton Brown, a frat brother and my own inner child. As is often the case,  Facebook played a part, reeling me in hook, line and sinker. One of the "friends" linked a photo and recipe for Jello worms, maybe from Pinterest. She vowed to make these worms the next time the grandchildren visited.

Intrigued? You bet I was, but an adult version of this concoction was in order.

Here is my kitchen work and wisdom, should you feel the need to follow my example.

 

First gather your supplies. Bendy straws are required.The unflexed bendy part gives your finished worms that distinctive earthworm bit of anatomy called the clitellum. I suggest looking for wide straws, they unmold a little easier.

You will want a container that holds the straws snugly. A tall, narrow glass is used here. A washed, used orange juice carton holds more straws and works well too.

The recipe:
You will need

The bigger box of raspberry jello

Peach scnapps

Heavy or whip cream 

Peach nectar (found this in the Mexican food aisle of the grocery store)

Knox unflavored gelatin

green food cloring

boiling water

Put it together like this:

1. Start 1 and 1/2 cups of water boiling

2. Sprinkle 1 package gelatin over 1/2 cup peach nectar poured into a nonreactive bowl.

3. Add boiling water, jello powder. Stir until everything is dissolved.

4. Add 3/4 cup cream, stir.

5. Add 1 cup peach schnapps.

6. Add green food coloring to get your desired reddish-brown, wormy coloring

7. Pour into straws, leaving a little room at the top.

Leave a little empty space at the top of your straws. Chill in the refrigerator until set, generally several hours. To unmold, allow the worms to warm a little at room temperature. Grasp the unfilled end between thumb and forefinger. Place the other thumb and forefinger next to the first, with a traveling pinch push the jello worm out the open end, onto some wax paper. After a few tries, you will get the hang of this maneuver and develop your own rhythm.

Put the lovely, unmolded worms back in the fridge to firm up a little, perhaps after tasting a few to check flavor.

Worms could probably be made with any red jello and the alcohol flavor is up for further experimentation.

For extra versatility your worms can also be used to decorate desserts. They are rather tasty.

 

Enjoy in moderation.

Carina

Proof Positve

While my husband contends that I sometimes drive like a bat out of H E double hockey sticks, may I offer proof to the contrary. After all, how fast can you be going if you get passed by a mere kitchen appliance like a toaster

Well maybe not....




This Honda element was actually parked next to me in the parking lot and I thought the bumper sticker was pretty darn cute. As for my driving, my last speeding ticket was 25 years ago..... really it was.

Carina