I realize there are so many wonders in our great nation, but my soul will always long for more satisfying days wandering the ancient, cobblestone streets and sun-soaked piazzas of Florence; more chiming of cowbells in the distance on an elevated hike through the Swiss Alps; and more romance and grandeur of a champagne-filled evening taking in the sight of a glittering Eiffel Tower at midnight in Paris. My list is never-ending and as satisfying as seeing one picturesque scene is, I know my heart will always want more. But, enough of my complaining - there are still plenty of other things to see and do during winter in Minnesota to keep me occupied.
In fact, would you rather bathe in the Caribbean or bundle up in all of your winter gear to stand outside for a few hours sampling craft brews from 120+ local and national breweries? Well, I chose to dig out the Cuddl Duds and wool socks for just that, and did I mention it's highly encouraged to create your own pretzel necklace to accessorize, too?! It was our second year attending the St. Paul Winter Carnival's Beer Dabbler at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Thankfully, temperatures remained around 40 degrees, at least a full 50 degree swing from last year! Among the copious amounts of beer we tasted, there was one that stood out from the rest and left the most lasting impression - Horny Goat's Choclate Peanut Butter Porter. The complexity and flavors were absolutely incredible, like an orgasm for your taste buds! I apologize, but I just couldn't resist the opportunity to take advantage of the brewery's creative title! Coming in at a close second, and winner for most unique sip, was the Black Fang from B Nektar Meadery. Its brilliant red tint intrigued me, while its sweet combination of blackberry, honey and clove mead left me wanting a refill.
With all of the beer we consumed, I felt some physical activity was necessary to tip the scale back, quite literally, as all of the porters and stouts are rather heavy libations. So, I'm adding another "must do" winter activity to the list - ice skating at Centennial Lakes Park! Or in my particular case, clenching my feet for at least the first 5 minutes until my legs were able to recollect how to balance themselves on two, thin blades atop a frozen pond. It actually wasn't so bad, I was gliding along with a giddy, child-like grin in no time at all. My heart even skipped a beat as I watched Mitch anxiously cruising along ahead of me and realized how incredibly valuable moments like that, the ones which bring an honest smile to our faces, actually are.
It's a perfect reminder to be thankful for a fortunate life. So, even though I spent at least the first two minutes complaining about my lack of travel lately, I really don't have it so bad after all. Plus, we opted to host a sophisticated Super Bowl gathering with an Italian theme this year. So, I was at least treated to an afternoon of perusing the aisles at Cossetta's authentic Italian market in St. Paul, planning the perfect menu of charcuterie and delicious spaghetti and meatballs.
Our gathering was rather impromptu and our guest list was limited to my Mom and Dad, as they were in town for the "airport parking and taxi service" that Mitch and I now seem to offer post migration to the suburbs! We served up the essentials: prosciutto, capicola, and porchetta, along with an array of craft cheese including, fresh Mozzarella, goat's milk Brie, pesto Gouda, and Fontina. Our cheese board was accented with honey-glazed walnuts and blue cheese stuffed olives. And is any Italian themed fete complete without good wine?! I didn't have any Italian varietals, so instead we had a 2011 Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvingnon out of Napa Valley. The woody aroma was overpowering but the wine itself was smooth and more subtle than expected. We barely saved enough room for spaghetti and meatballs after devouring the meats and cheeses, but we certainly left room for dessert! Mom had her usual lobster tail, the Italian pastry, while Dad had a Frutti di Bosco, fruit tart, and Mitch and I shared a chocolate peanut butter tart. My dessert was reminiscent of that chocolate peanut butter porter from the Beer Dabbler that's still on my mind!
All in all, I do still yearn for a trip, a getaway from the day to day life. However, through writing this, I'm feeling slightly less anxious and more at ease. And it's been at least a week since I've filled my Pinterest board with all of my dream destinations! Plus, the days are getting longer, which means summer is just around the corner. And we have a fantastic backyard that I'm excited to fill with vegetable gardens, flower pots, and hopefully lots of late nights gathered around the fire with friends!
