A Busy Day In Muscatine!

Today is one of those special days that call for a celebration.  Well,  First, I should mention that today is Cheryl's Birthday.   Happy Birthday Cheryl!   Ok,  Now that we got that out of the way, we can move on to the "important stuff!"   Namely:  Today is the day the Allies Invaded German Occupied France in the Operation known as "Operation Overlord"  Or more Commonly known as "D-Day!"    A Special Thanks to the Greatest Generation for saving our Butts (And The butts of the rest of Europe...) from the Real Nazi's.   Well done!

To celebrate this day,  we decided to visit Muscatine and enjoy a day along the Mississippi.   The temps were already rising, so  we managed 7 miles and a visit to Tee's. 

Our Wildlife sighting was  a couple White Pelicans.  Normally, they do not give you a chance for a decent picture,  choosing to fly high in the sky or swim on the other side of the river...  But today we got lucky.

Once Back home,  Cheryl was bombarded with packages...  I can only assume to help celebrate the D-Day Invasion.  Hiro wanted to help open the packages.. probably thinking there were treats and toys in them for him.    He was disappointed to find out otherwise.


On the bright side, he seemed to find the paper just as fun as any toy inside.   Otherwise,  most of the toys were for Cheryl.  Yes!  She really is a kid at heart after all... And apparently,  her entire family knows it!

One of these looks a little...off.

After the package opening, I attempted to fold some origami while Cheryl worked on her Birthday Cake.   The baking bug has still with her and she wanted to see if she could make her own birthday cake this year.   After watching a number of You-Tube videos....  she came up with this:

Time to dispose of evidence. 

Cake is good!  Cheers!

The recipe calls for three layers of cake... but she had enough for 4 layers.   This was a lucky development as one of the pans did not work out so well.   However,   The damaged cake did provide us with a sample of how the recipe was working out.   I had to help hide the evidence...  A job I excel at performing.

Fish and Chips and Beer!

And finally,  Fish and Chips!   Nothing celebrates D-Day better than having Fish and Chips in The American Fast Food Tradition.  Our selected fish?   Mississippi Farm Raised Cat Fish!

Small sample of Michigan
fish..

A Small note here:  Ever since I graduated from Michigan State with a B.S in Fisheries management. ( Specializing in Aquaculture.)  I have wanted to LOVE Catfish as a food fish.  They are the # 1 farm raised fish in the US for  food.   Unfortunately, I was born and raised in Michigan.   And as a result,  I was spoiled on the Great Lake's Fisheries as my gold standard for edible fish species.   Whitefish, Lake trout, Rainbows, Yellow Perch,  Walleye, Bluegill, Crappie, Brown Trout, Salmon, and Smelt are all the BEST fish for eating!   If you add in Smoking, you can add suckers, Ciscos  and Carp to the mix.   ( Yes, Carp are tolerable if smoked properly.)    However,  "trash fish" like Sheephead and Catfish are usually thrown back or given away to "Outsiders" ( People from Indiana and Ohio.. or anyone who wants to eat those muddy, fishy tasting fish.

Do I sound like a snob?   Yes!  I know I am... and it holds me back from making discoveries... Like today.

Secret ingredient:  Buttermilk!

Roll in Corn meal. 

Back in Arkansas,   Cheryl and I stopped by a Dive and enjoyed the BEST Catfish I have ever had.  How did they do it?   Here is the Secret:  BUTTERMILK!   Soak the fish overnight in Buttermilk and they lose the fishy, mud flavor!   How did I NOT know this?!?!  Well, I guess there are some things Michigan State did not teach us after all...

Ling Cod
Not found in stores....

This opens up a huge world of possibilities as the fish selection here in Iowa is rather limited.   Most of the fish are either farm raised trout or from the ocean.   And by Ocean, I mean Haddock, Alaska Cod. ( Tom Cod.. NOT Ling Cod!)

Fry them up!  

 The Difference is HUGE!   Let me put it this way:  Ling Cod are a Russian Delicacy that tastes like Atlantic cod mixed with Halibut.  Tom Cod are used as Crab Bait for Fishermen!)   Again with the Snobbery!

Dip, Eat Drink Repeat. 

But being in the middle of the country,  Catfish is readily available and CHEAP!  And ALWAYS fresh!.   I have always turned up my nose at it because no matter how fresh it was, it always tasted like mud... Until today.   We fried up half a pound and enjoyed some french fries in a basket with Tatar Sauce and Beer.    Delicious! 

Huston,  We may have a problem....

So, Now Cheryl is working on her Birthday Cake.  It is mostly working out with the three remaining layers.  I hear from the Kitchen that she may have hit a light bump in the decorating.      She may have made a few  errors in the leveling process.   We shall see how things taste, however, as the cake was pretty good. And no one else will see the finished product.   Except the people who follow this blog.   ( Which is everyone on the internet!... Possibly..)  Hurrah for Privacy!

Nothing looks wrong to me....

Ok,  UPDATE!   The Cake is Awesome... Tasting.   ( We won't score the appearance here..)  It is the moistest cake with the creamiest frosting I have ever had.  Bear in mind, most of my birthday cakes  were from a old bakery where the frosting was crusty and the cake was dry.  And my Mom was no baker.    But this is good.   Better than HyVee or  any of the other bakeries we have visited.   As long as you close your eyes a little and savor the flavors..  you would be impressed.

Sorry for the Vulgar Meme...
Those Army guys sure use a lot of
profanity....

And that is all..   So happy Birthday Cheryl!   And Happy D-Day World....  IF there are any WWII Vets still alive, you should thank them.     Hope everyone is having a great day and Thanks for stopping in.