MORE GRAND HAVEN ROCKET FISH

Grand Haven is a copycat-type of town.  Chicago had it's art cows, Grand Haven has Rocket fish.  This week is the opening of the fabulous Art Prize in Grand Rapids so Grand Haven has an art walk during Grand Rapids Art Prize.  Holland has heated sidewalks so we tax payers see our taxes go up to heat Grand Haven's sidewalks.  With what we pay in taxes I really would like to see some originality in the Grand Haven activities.  Now off my soap box and on to Rocket Fish:

 One of my favorite fish is the Grand Haven Light and Power fish going after a hook and bobber.  With all their trucks with lift buckets, they were one of the few that could hang a bobber so high.

 Can you see the hook?  I need Tom to take pictures!

 A diving fish shows imagination as all the other fish are on their tails.

 A pretty face has shoes for scales.

 Must be outside a shoe shop.

 I like the colors of this fish.  The scales are the name of the bank.

 A fish with a hook and a net; however, it looks like it got away from the fisherman.

 Swirly skies and the Grand Haven Lighthouse for an eye.

 Dutch and other languages say, Welcome, on this fish.

 Multi-colored and fun fish.  I like the fish with teeth added .

A fish ready for the beach in a swimming suit.  I hope it doesn't decide to sun bath and start to smell. 

STICKS AT THE MARKET.

 PUMPKINS ON A STICK.  YES, THEY GROW THAT WAY.

BOTTLES ON A STICK.

Tom made a fantastic bottle tree out in our backyard after his sister showed him a picture of a bottle tree that had been in Southern Living.  We have always told people who had never seen a bottle tree that it was Southern Folk Art or Redneck Trash Art.  Take your pick! 

PAINTED PUMKIN ART FROM HOLLAND FARMER'S MARKET

 Painted pumpkins.

"Big Red" the Holland, Michigan lighthouse.  Block S for Michigan State University.  Go Green!!

GRAND HAVEN'S ROCKET FISH

Chicago had its cow art and now Grand Haven has rocket fish.

 A jeweled fish outside an art gallery.

 Fish scales and a cute face outside a music shop.

Fish scales made out of CD's.

 Pottery fish.

 Detail on pottery fish.

 Museum fish.

Scales made from  pictures of old Grand Haven.

 My maternal Great-Grandpa was a sailor on ships like these in the pictures on the fish.

 Grand Haven pier on a fish.

Honor given to the Coast Guard on a fish.



GO RIGHT THROUGH.....WATCH THE POINTS KEEP GROWING!!

Our Grandson, #8, taking the ball down the field for a touchdown!!!!!  Go Green!!!

COOKING SWISS CHARD MISSISSIPPI-STYLE OR MICHIGAN-STYLE

Swiss Chard at the Farmer's Market.  Swiss Chard comes with white, yellow or red stems.  When the three colors are sold together it is called Rainbow Chard.  The red stem variety is often called Rhubarb Chard.

Every time I purchased Swiss Chard at the Farmer's Market someone asks me how do you cook it.  I have always cooked it like spinach, but Tom's cousin, Joyce, taught me how to cook it Mississippi-style this summer.  Swiss Chard does not have as strong and bitter taste as Mustard or Turnip Greens.

I first became acquainted with Swiss Chard when I lived in Missouri.  In areas with hot summers and spring seasons which quickly heat up, spinach bolts and goes to seed overnight it seems.  I learned that Swiss Chard grows much better in warmer climates than Michigan.

MICHIGAN-STYLE SWISS CHARD

Swiss Chard

Salt and pepper to taste

Swiss Chard.

Rinse chard well as it can be sandy.   Chop steams into small pieces.  Cut leaves into 1-inch wide or so ribbons.  I like to put a vegetable steamer in the bottom of the cooking pot, but it is not necessary.  Add a little water to cooking pot and add stems.  Cook for a few minutes.  Add leaves, cover pot, and cook chard until wilted.  Drain and serve.

Chop stems into pieces.

Cut leaves into ribbons.

Put a little water into a pot and cook stems for couple of minutes.

Add leaves to pot.

Cover pot and cook chard until leaves are just wilted.

Drain.

Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

JOYCE'S MISSISSIPPI-STYLE SWISS CHARD

Swiss Chard

Garlic clove

Olive oil

Balsamic vinegar

Ingredients:  Chard, garlic, olive oil and Balsamic vinegar.

Rinse chard well as it can be sandy. Chop steams into small pieces. Cut leaves into 1-inch wide or so ribbons.  Cut garlic clove into slices.  Put olive oil in a frying pan.  Add garlic and cook to softened.  Be careful that it doesn't get browned or burned.  Add chard steams.  Cook for a couple of minutes.  Add the leaves.  Cook until wilted.  Serve with a splash of Balsamic vinegar.  

Cleaned chard.

Chop stems.

Cut leaves into ribbons about 1-inch wide.

Clean garlic and thinly slice.

Put olive oil in a frying pan and add garlic.

Cook garlic until it softens.

Add stems and cook for a few minutes.  Oops, need Tom to take pictures.

Add leaves and cook until the leaves are just wilted.

Serve with a splash of Balsamic vinegar.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!

DUTCH HERITAGE DAY IN HUDSONVILLE, MICHIGAN

Saturday was Dutch Heritage Day at the Hudsonville Fair Grounds.  Two Grandson's football games, Grand-daughter's birthday party, and two bad knees waiting to be replaced prevented me from going.  I haven't missed Dutch Heritage Day for years.  Six years ago after Katrina hit New Orleans, Tom was asked to go back to work to restore the telecommunications for the railroads.  Since he wasn't able to go to Heritage Day, which he loved, the Grand-daughters and I took plastic food storage containers to the event and purchased food for him, put it in the containers, and put it in the freezer at home for him.


One of the nice things about the day is it is always the same.  You can depend on getting great pea soup, see the beautiful horses, play shuffle board, shop at the Dutch Store, and hear the accordion band.  Since I didn't get there this year, I am posting some of my pictures from last year plus addresses for Oliebollen and last year's post on Dutch Heritage Day.  I hope you enjoy and know that next year I will be there to eat my way through all the great food available.


Here is the web address for last year's Dutch Heritage Days: http://michigancottagecook.blogspot.com/2010/09/landdag-2010-annual-dutch-heritage-day.html

Entrance to the Fair Grounds.

Horses and accordions.

Games.

Helpers.

Bonket for sale.

http://michigancottagecook.blogspot.com/2010/05/dutch-butter-cake-nederlandes-boter.html

Boterkoek for sale.

Herring cart.

Eating herring.  Tom loved to eat the herring.  Me, not so much.

The place to buy Oliebollen.

http://michigancottagecook.blogspot.com/2010/11/dutch-oliebollenfat-ballshappy-new-year.html

Oliebollen.