What’s For Dinner usually involves something cheap (Emergency Chicken Breasts, ground beef) and easy (we can cook it in less than 90 minutes), that isn’t exotic (because who can get rhubarb this time of year, unless you’ve frozen a batch from last spring?) and that my 4-year-old will feign interest in.

I’m guessing that since we all live here in this fine state, I’m not the only one who looks at the cupboards in January/February and thinks, I wonder what they are eating on the Baja peninsula right now?

So I propose a challenge, starting next week. We shall call it the Metroblogging Minneapolis What’s For Dinner Challenge.

Interested? Think you have a recipe that could shake the Tator Tot Hotdish blues? Read on.

Rules:
* Recipes must be something you have made before – something you’d really recommend. Don’t just cut and paste something you found on epicurious because it sounds good.
* Meals must have an active cooking time of 1 1/2 hrs or less (Crock pot meals work, because they don’t require you to be there monitoring the cooking)
* Submissions must be made with in-season items (I.E. no asparagus, no raspberries… you get the idea.)
* Skip the exotic ingredients (it’s dinner on a Tueday night, folks. It should be stuff that you would be able to afford and keep in your fridgee on a weekly/monthly basis… so Foie Gras is out (sorry), but cheaper cuts of meat are in!)
* Recipes with next-day office kitchen viability get extra points (who doesn’t love lunchtime leftovers?)
* This is about keeping the palate and mind fresh and interested during what I find to be the most lamentable month of our year here. Creativity, interest, and freshness all win, in my book.

Submit your recipes via comments. I’ll make as many of the recipes as I can during February — review them — and encourage readers to do the same. At the end of the month, we can vote on the best of. Sound like fun? At least sound like a way to add some interest to your winter?

But Adam Turman has a great step-by-step of how he put some of his goregous artwork on a messenger bag. It’s lovely – but combining poster artist + messenger bag + minneapolis artwork = a really happy me, anyway.

Let’s Cook is hosting a Winter Food Market the 3rd Saturday of every month from 10am – 2pm. Let’s Cook is located in NE Minneapolis at: 330 Hennepin Ave, (612) 623-9700

Winter Market Dates:
January 19
February 16
March 15
April 19

Let’s Cook will have their kitchen packed with local vendors selling unique seasonal goods including jams and preserves, pasture-raised meats, handmade confections, delicious baked goods and artisan cheeses.
Vendors vary each month and include:

Minnesota Valley Organics*
Edna’s Caramels*
River Chocolate Company*
Braucher’s Sunshine Harvest Farm*
Lucille’s Kitchen*
Azariah Acres Farm*
Mystic Prairie Eco-Farms*
Valli dell’Etna Olio d’Oliva*
Prairie Hollow Farms*
Bread, Coffee and Cake*
Shepherd’s Way*
St. Honore Gluten-Free Bakery*
Northern Lakes Wild Rice
Miel y Leche
Tasteful Thymes
Love Handles Hand-painted Chocolates
Wildtree
and more!

* – 2007 MCFM Vendor

Hey, it’s one way to beat the winter blues, right?

Spinario:
Located on the corner of 13th Street and 2nd Ave in northeast (I mean, while you’re down there, grab a drink at 331, stop for eats at Erte or the Modern, make a day out of it!)… These guys were really helpful and knowledgeable about their inventory and had some items in storage they were willing to show us whenever we wanted. Prices = decent, selection = execllent (if you are into midcentury furnishings). If nothing else, it’s worth it to stop in to look at how the old bank space Spinario uses ends up being really functional and lovely as a gallery of sorts.

Swank:
Located just into St. Paul on University (you can smell the Porky’s onion rings, if you are astute at such things), Swank has a fabulous collection of more kitchsy 50s-60s-70s furnishings. We most liked how the items for sale were set up in little living room or kitchenette setups. Prices were really good as well, and again, helpful and friendly staff. We didn’t buy anything, but I did notice all sales were final at Swank, so be sure before you buy.

Any other recommendations (other than good old Craig’s List) for good places to source vintage furnishings?

Anyway, if you’re at all into the music scene, I’d recommend it. And not just because he’s a friend … mostly because it’s good stuff.

So what if it snows a foot this weekend?
You can still head on down to the Midtown Global Market for the No Coast Craft-o-Rama (doors open at 3PM today!).

If you’ve never been: Don’t expect potholders (I mean, I’m sure you can find them, but…) Honestly, this is my third year going (one year, when life is less insane, I may actually make and sell some handmade awesomeness), but I always find great – local – handmade items (posters by Adam Turman? Check!) for Christmas giving goodness. In the past, I have snagged great soy candles, gorgeous mittens, killer t-shirts, handbags, baby gifts, posters and art (lots and lots of posters), jewelry… I could go on and on.

If you go:
* Bring your own bag to tote around all your loot
* Bring cash … most vendors don’t take plastic
* Go hungry. There’s always somethiung awesome to eat in Midtown.

Buy local, support our thriving (and growing) independent art and craft community.

Anyone heard an exact date?
I’m all excited to go out, eat something fabulous, and review it.

(I’m also all excited for the Red Stag’s website to have some contenet other than Opening Soon… the suspense is killing me. And has been since the Northeast block party this summer.)

Time for some recycling research on the City’s website.

Turns out I have a couple of problems:
1) I don’t separate my recycling into paper bags. Why? Because I use reusable bags at the grocery store (trying to be eco-friendly and all) and don’t usually bring the paper bags home. And they apparently don’t like the ones Target forces me to bring home (plastic).
2) I have been doing this wrong for two years, and didn’t realize it because I never got a, hey stupid, here’s what you are doing wrong, yellow note… per the city’s website.

So in case you are like me and are being punished by separating your recycling incorrectly, here’s a reference:

How to Prepare Your Recycling
All recycling must be placed in separate paper bags, as follows:

Cans; food, beverage & aluminum foil
Rinse, clean and remove all caps or lids.

Glass Bottles & Jars
Rinse, clean and throwaway all caps or lids.

Plastic Bottles
Rinse, clean and throwaway all caps or lids.

Newspaper
Keep dry. Ads are accepted.
Bundle with string or twine.
20 lbs.

Magazines and Catalogs
Keep dry.
20 lbs.

Dry Food Boxboard, Office Paper & Mail
Flatten boxes, remove plastic, and keep dry.

Household Batteries
Tape ends of lithium contacts to prevent fire.
Place in clear plastic bag, on top or inside the bin.

Phone Books
Keep dry.
Place on top or inside the bin.

Corrugated Cardboard
Flatten each box. Remove and throw away plastic, tape and packing material.
Must be bundled with string or twine
20 lbs.

Will it ever stop raining in our fair city so we can enjoy autumn? Anyone else considering moving somewhere tropical (like, perhaps, Seattle?)

I know the best way to look for a house is probably to have a realtor… but right now, I’m in brainstorm/think mode, not actually buying anything mode. I just want to get a thermometer out on what’s out there, prices, what you get for the money, etc. Also, to daydream on my lunchbreak.

Anyone have a personal favorite?