Hi folks!

I thought I would take some time to share some updates with you. Originally I was going to do separate posts for these, but I am running into the problem of too many posts for too few days. I got a little behind last week when I was sick. And frankly, I have a pie recipe that just can’t be put off much longer. I feel too bad keeping it to myself. I have already made it twice and plan to make it again this week. It’s THAT good (and I can’t seem to keep it around long enough to get a picture of a slice).

 rhubarb apple pie

Blog

As you may have noticed, I have let some of my regularly scheduled posts slide in the last few weeks. Don’t despair, Badger Girl Book Club is not defunct. I am just finding I need to space them out a little more. I have two reviews planned for the next two months and I am also working through some new cookbooks.

I am also planning to launch a new blog in the Fall. I am really excited about this! The new blog will focus on eating for life: fitness, clean eating, nutrition, whole foods, and healthy entertaining.  It will be very similar to Badger Girl, but less regional focused and more healthy living focused. And Manatee has finally given me permission to disclose his true identity.

Picture of Manatee

I guess he finally got tired of his older sisters teasing him…He really doesn’t look or act like a Manatee, I promise. He is also going to help me with the fitness posts so I am super excited to start this new project with him.

That being said, I will still maintain Badger Girl Learns to Cook and I will shift to more regionally focused topics (local chef interviews, spotlights on local farmers and producers, local foodie events, etc). Local chef interviews will be back starting this week! I have an awesome interview and sandwich recipe from Chef Joey from The Weary Traveler. Check back later this week to learn about him and the best sandwich you never thought to create. Trust me.

So, if I seem a little distracted, bear with me. I am trying to plan for both blogs, hire a designer, and work on photography skills. Yes, my new camera is still operating in Auto mode. It’s a little embarrassing, but I am slowly making progress.

Oh, and there’s that cookbook I am writing. Work is ramping up for that and it’s been really exciting.

 CSA

We have been LOVING our CSA from Harmony Valley. We were told that there was no way we would be able to eat a full produce and fruit share. We don’t know if we are pigs or what, but we don’t seem to be having any problems. We have been making a ton of stir fries and that seems to use up most of the veggies.

Stir Fry with Tofu turnips, mushrooms, onions, cooked greens over spinach

We also got our first full fruit share two weeks ago. It lasted about a week.

Full Fruit Share

All I have to say is:

Plums and Peaches

BEST

Picture of Cherries

DECISION

Picture of blueberries

EVER.

I feel like as a food blogger, I should have made all these ridiculously good desserts and dishes with all of this fruit. Reality? We just ate a lot of fruit. It was so good by itself that I couldn’t imagine ‘wasting’ it in a dessert or dish. The craziest thing I did was throw some blueberries on a salad with sliced almonds and lemon vinaigrette.

It was a-maz-ing.

Salad with blueberries and almonds

But then I proceeded to eat the rest of the blueberries plain. Such a good sweet snack, I couldn’t resist.

Garden

I am sad to say we have had some deaths in the last few weeks.

Dead lettuce in a pot

I knew it was inevitable. I am not a natural gardener. The lettuce just didn’t seem to go very well, especially with the recent heat.

But it’s not all gloom and doom folks, most of the plants are doing great and we are even starting to do some harvesting.

cherry tomato on vine

pepper plant

With the deaths, we decided to add a few more plants because hey, we can’t waste a container with soil in it, right?

new plants for garden

We added lemon grass, sweet peppers, red cabbage, cauliflower, delicata squash, and arugula. 

I will keep you posted….

Fitness

We kicked off the summer by running the Madison Half Marathon. It’s one of our favorite events. Next up, I did my first Aquathon. I am doing the entire series this summer. Each event consists of a 1000 meter swim followed by a 5k run. This was the longest I had ever swam in open water and the first time I wore a wetsuit while swimming.

aquathon start

I have to say that I loved it. Good thing because I bought the wetsuit before the event. What can I say? I am a sucker for a good deal!

The run also went really well.

Me running at aquathon

But I think that was largely due to my cheering section.

eli cheering for me

My adorable nephew Eli was there with his family and my in-laws. And of course, Manatee was the ultimate cheerleader, though he may have gone overboard on the pictures. My transition looks like a animation flip book. Thank goodness for the delete button! I have two more events in July and one in August.

Our next event was an annual tradition. Every year, Manatee, my dad, and I race as a relay team at the South Wood County YMCA sprint triathlon. I swim, my dad bikes, and Manatee runs. Last year we took home the gold and I am proud to say that we held on to our title. My dad had threatened to make this year his last, but I think Manatee and I convinced that we need to come back next year for a ‘three-peat.’

me and my dad at the triathlon

I am also excited to say that Manatee has committed to doing an individual triathlon. We will be competing in the Ripon triathlon at the end of July. I know he is going to do great.

We also are planning to the Madison Mini Marathon, an olympic distance triathlon in Lake Geneva, and a half marathon in Milwaukee in September. I will also be doing a women’s only tri in August with some girlfriends. In short, it’s going to be a busy summer!

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That’s it for my updates. How is everyone’s garden doing? Anyone else doing any athletic events this summer?

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