Pickled Pike

The many smaller lakes in the Great Lakes region provide a variety of species of fresh water fish. Some folks shy away from preparing the Northern Pike due to the additional row of bones ("Y" bones), which can make it a bit trickier to prepare.  There is a fairly simple technique to handle the bones, [...]

Welcoming Autumn – Apple-glazed Smoked Turkey

Seasonality is a foundational idea in Great Lakes cuisine. The seasonal cycles in the region are pronounced and the agricultural traditions respond accordingly. The traditions of preservation, so important to Great lakes cuisine, is clearly derived from the seasonality. Some of the traditional meals also fall in line with the turn of the seasons. As summer fades into the [...]

In Praise of Cherries – Pork Tenderloin with Cherry Pan Sauce

The summer picking season has begun in the Great Lakes region for tart Montmorency cherries. Both Bing and Montmorency are grown extensively in Wisconsin and Michigan, thus the National Cherry Festival hosted in Traverse City, Michigan each year. On the festival website, they share this bit of history: French colonists from Normandy brought pits that [...]