Youth Ambassador Applications Open!

Minnesota Students: Youth Ambassador Applications Due Jan. 17

Partners of the Americas, through a program funded by the United States Department of State, is looking for U.S. youth between the ages of 15 and 18 to travel to South America and the Caribbean next summer.

Your mission is to:

Participate in promoting mutual understanding between the people of Latin America and the U.S.

Develop a greater sense of civic responsibility and commitment to community development

Build leadership capacity

Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, religious and national
groups

Explore local and national issues and become involved with or contribute to those issues

Selected youth will receive grants covering travel and expenses to Antigua and Barbuda, Chile, Ecuador or Paraguay for 4 weeks in July and August 2011. Applicants should be between 15-18 years old, currently enrolled in a public high school as a Junior or younger, have Intermediate-level Spanish skills and meet other criteria.

Download your application (due Jan. 17) today.

Contact Erik (erikbrand10@gmail.com) with questions.

Minnesota's German Christmas traditions

Christmas Market at Germany's Annaberg-Buchholz in the Erzgebirge.

Longing for Light: Ore Mountain miners influence the world
Christmas traditions throughout Minnesota, the U.S. and even the world can be traced back to the woodcarving of miners in need of more income near the border of Germany and Czechoslovakia in the 1800s.

They, in particular, craved and treasured light during the cold, dark season of winter and brought more of it to their homes with wooden candle arches (Schwiboggen), carved miners and angels (who represented their wives), elaborate chandeliers, and grand windmill-topped pyramids that spin from the heat of candles and lights.

Schwiboggen

Other beloved crafts: delicately curled boughs on wooden pine trees (Spanbäume), smoking Santas and figurines that puff curling wisps of incense, and the well-known Nutcrackers, a wink-wink, nudge-nudge way of mocking the stern mining officials from the Erzgebirge (also known as the Ore Mountains).

You can read my whole feature on Christmas traditions from the Erzgebirge in the Nov. 27 Star Tribune travel section. 

Find hand-crafted German ornaments in Minnesota

While it's a dream trip to see these crafters and the area that inspires them, it's also enchanting to find these Christmas crafts closer to home.

The two best places to find "Echte Erzgebirge" or "Authentic Ore Mountains" ornaments? Käthe Wohlfahrt store in Stillwater and several shops in New Ulm.

Stillwater features most famous Christmas store
The Käthe Wohlfahrt store is one of those mandatory stops in Rothenburg, which ranks as one of Germany's most picturesque (and touristy) medieval towns. Stillwater, Minnesota, claims a rare U.S. branch of this Christmas store.

It complements an already beguiling and historic downtown with its unique blend of boutiques.

Heirloom ornament sets.

Christmas reigns in New Ulm 
In New Ulm, several stores sell one of the greatest wedding gifts I've seen: heirloom sets of holiday ornaments. What a great idea and nice twist on the usual sets of pans and home decor brides and grooms put on wish lists.

Try these stores for all things Christmas:

Lambrecht's Gifts, 119 N. Minnesota St., is an efficient one-stop shop for unique women's wear and accessories, home decor and baby gifts with two stories and multiple rooms that make it fun to explore. You'll find a Christmas village and more than one upstairs room filled year-round with German ornaments from elegant to playful.

Guten Tag Haus, 127 N. Minnesota St., has the nicest display of Erzgebirge Christmas crafts such as nutcrackers, the smoking Santas, candle arches and pyramids. They also have colorful displays of German blown-glass ornaments that glitter and catch the light, along with German and Czech cut-glass vases and bowls. If you have Norwegians and Irish in the family, too, you can find gifts for them as well--just not as many. Germans rule New Ulm.

Domeier's German Store, 1020 S. Minnesota St., sits along a residential stretch rather than downtown so you have to go looking for it. They pipe in the oom-pah-pah music and cram the store with ornaments, clocks and sweets galore. It's not the best choice if you have kids bundled in bulky winter gear, but it's fun in a folksy way. Don't miss looking up at the ceiling that's covered in postcards.

Shop Minnesota museums for the most unique holiday gifts

If you crave gifts that are unexpected and go up a notch on the cool factor, skip the big retailers. Head to your local museums instead.

Museum gift shops celebrate regional artists, authors and local flavor in a ways you won't get at most stores. By shopping at museums, you're supporting Minnesota's cultural scene as well as taking a breather if you're able to enjoy the exhibits, too.

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis
The Mill City Museum (left) in particular melts into the holiday mood thanks to its focus on Minneapolis' history as the flour capital of the world for half a century. General Mills with its Betty Crocker icon and Pillsbury with its Dough Boy continue the homey kitchen legacy. I always leave with an urge to go bake cookies.

What you can find here: Lip balm scented like Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, stuffed Dough Boys, hot dish cookbooks, Minnesota-invented Bundt cake pans, wonderful junior chef bakeware for kids, and aprons with attitude: "I'm not Betty Crocker. Deal with it!"

Minnesota History Center,  St. Paul
Visitors to the Minnesota History Center will find top-of-the-line local treats that tie into its new show, "Chocolate: The Exhibition." On loan from the Field Museum in Chicago through Jan. 2, it follows the history of how a humble cocoa bean became one of the world's most sought-after flavors.

It's also an ideal place to pick up something for book-lovers such as Peg Meier's "Wishing for a Snow Day: Growing Up in Minnesota," beautifully photographed "Paddle North: Canoeing the Boundary Waters-Quetico Wilderness" from Greg Breining and Layne Kennedy, and novels such as Dean Urdahl's "Uprising," the first in a trilogy about the U.S. Dakota War of 1862.

Need stocking stuffers? Look for light-hearted loon flutes, ladyslipper socks and Ole and Lena fortune cookies.

Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul
This is the greatest shop for nature and biology kits, guidebooks, rocks and minerals, dinosaur puzzles and other wonderful hands-on gifts for curious kids (or adults).

A sampling of goodies for under $20: hand-held, take-apart brain-teasers similar to Rubik's Cube; origami kits for folding bunnies that hop and birds that can flap their wings; a build-your-own kaleidoscope kit; and DVDs of favorite IMAX movies.

To shake things up a little, you can pose with Anubis (left), a 26-foot-tall replica of the Egyptian god erected this week at Landmark Plaza. It makes for an enchanting Christmas outing with a stop at the free Wells Fargo ice rink. Anubis precedes the upcoming King Tut exhibit, "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs," that opens Feb. 18. Tickets went on sale this week and can make great stocking stuffers, along with tickets to the general museum or Omnitheater.

Tip for parents: If you have kids ages 10 and under, stop by the Mississippi Visitor Center in the museum's lobby. Like other national park sites, you can get a free workbook to learn about the river and earn a Junior Ranger badge.

Art museums
Art museum gift shops have always been spot on for unique jewelry, art cards, journals, whimsical umbrellas, puzzles, prints and posters, funky desk toys and, of course, art supplies. The Walker Art Center's Totem building cards and crayon rocks for kids look especially intriguing. The
Minneapolis Institute of Arts also is worth a look. Plus admission is free with the exception of special exhibits. Check out its family center and look for monthly family days.


Regional museums
Don't forget smaller regional museums either. They're especially good for older relatives who enjoy memoirs, nostalgic gifts and the funny ones. Our favorite find one year was from St. Cloud's Stearns History Museum: Nunzilla, a stern, wind-up nun who walked and shot sparks from her mouth. It was perfect for an aunt who attended a strict Catholic school and spent many Halloweens dressed in a habit.

For more information on museums statewide and art centers, go to Explore Minnesota.

For additional gift ideas, check out some of the best Minnesota-made apparel and accessories.

Add wild rice to your Thanksgiving menu

Just harvested grains of wild rice.

I'm deviating from travel posts to share a few recipes after seeing the huge interest in earlier wild rice posts.

One dish become almost as important as turkey and mashed at our family Thanksgivings since friends shared the original recipe in the 1970s. It has since spanned the globe from Hawaii to Germany.

It's designed for cultivated wild rice, which requires longer to cook. If you're using the hand-harvested truly wild rice, it only takes about 20 minutes. We usually double the recipe so there is extra to freeze or make creamy wild rice soup with the leftovers.

Read more about great restaurants serving wild rice or the difference between hand-harvested and cultivated wild rice in earlier posts.

Wild rice soaked overnight.

Wild rice with mushrooms & pecans

This recipe has followed us from Hawaii to Germany as we've shared it with everyone. We often double it and use leftovers for a creamy wild rice soup.

4 T. butter

2 T. grated carrot

2T. finely diced celery

2 T. finely diced onion

1 C. wild rice (let it soak overnight & drain it)

1 tsp. salt

2 C. chicken broth

½ lb. mushrooms, coarsely chopped

2 T. finely chopped fresh parsley

¼ C. finely chopped pecans (or almonds)

Melt 2 T. butter over medium heat until it foams. Add vegetables and cook, stirring occasionally, 10-15 min. They should be soft but not brown. Stir in cup of rice plus salt. Cook 2-3 minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Cover pan tightly, turn heat to low and let cook undisturbed for 45 minutes until rice is tender and liquid absorbed. About 10 minutes before rice is ready, melt remaining 2 T. of butter. Add mushrooms and parsley and cook about 5 min. Add pecans & cook 2-3 more minutes. Add to rice and fluff with a fork. Enjoy!

Wild Rice with cherries and red pepper

This is a more unexpected version of a wild rice side dish that's served at Quivey's Grove, a restaurant in Madison, Wis. It's one of my most memorable dining experiences for the historic atmosphere and their focus on traditional Wisconsin ingredients. The dried cherries sweetly complement the nutty taste of wild rice.

2 T. olive oil

3 T. white wine

1 minced shallot

1/2 leek (the white part) cleaned and finely diced

1 finely diced celery rib

1/2 half finely diced red bell pepper

1/2 t. coriander

1/2 T. fresh sage

1/2 C. dried cherries

1 C. wild rice

3 C. chicken broth

Rinse the wild rice well in a colander under cold, running water. Saute the leek, celery, and pepper in the olive oil and wine. Heat the stock. Add the rice and stir to coat thoroughly. Add the spices and dried cherries. Add the simmering stock and cover. Simmer gently until all the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes. 4 servings.

Christmas chocolate cravings

Canelake's delightfully old-fashioned Iron Range candy shop.

Upper Midwest's best candy shops

It's a pregnant woman's fantasy: chocolate-covered dill pickles and even chocolate-covered green olives. How can you not give in to curiosity and give them a try?

My mom and I found these savory, strange sweets at Carole Widman's Candy Company in Fargo, North Dakota, last winter. It takes a bit for your tastebuds and brain to process an utterly unpredictable taste combination--mostly with the olives. It requires you to chew slowly, let it linger, say "Hmmm..." and then try it again. It's a strangely addicting combination of sweet and salty, and I'd have to say I preferred the olives. The dill of the pickles seemed too overwhelming.

Since we're probably all recovering from the sugar and calorie comas of Halloween's predictable treats--Reese's, M&Ms and Kit Kats--it's a good time to seek and celebrate what's different and what creative candy makers at small chocolatiers are serving.

Think of it as a sensory gift, too, a sweet hit of aromatherapy. Remember that magical French mint whiff you'd get walking past Fanny Farmer stores?

If you're not drooling yet, give it a minute. Here are a few tasty picks from Minnesota and the Dakotas. Most offer mail order for Christmas if you can't get there in person.
Watertown Confectionery, Watertown, SD

This store nestled into a wonderful old-fashioned  downtown serves my favorite chocolate-covered potato chips. The kettle-style Dakota chips are thick and crunched up for maximum density and texture. Even better: try the clusters jalapeno-flavored potato chips drenched in chocolate. It's a surprisingly brilliant combination: a kick tempered with sweetness and a dash of salt.

Owners Mike and Vickie Marotz also are known for their South Dakota cow pies and chocolate mints you can smell throughout this tidy, spacious shop--unless it's coffee roasting day. Breathe deeply and enjoy.

Carole Widman's, Fargo, ND
If the novelty of chocolate-covered pickles and olives seems too out-there (or you can't eat them right away before they expire), go for a fresh take on traditional hand-dipped chocolates. We loved the sunflower-seed-studded bars of chocolate (a perfect nod to local crops) and the crisp-crunch of chocolate with flax seed. That, too, gives a nod to local farming and bites like a more delicate Nestle Crunch Bar with a nutty, fun kick of roasted flax.

Their most famous chocolates? Chippers, chocolate-covered potato chips, heavy on the chocolate.

The pink-themed store seems like a candy newcomer buried in a strip-mall by big-box stores, but Widman's business has been around for about 100 years. Other family members run stores in Grand Forks and Morris, Minn.

Canelake's, Virginia, MN

If you love that stick-in-your-teeth butterscotchy goodness of Butterfingers, you'll love Canelake's "Hot Air," an old-fashioned foam candy dipped in chocolate. Of course it's much airier and more puffed up than a Butterfinger with its unusual texture. 

This downtown Virginia institution with its vintage red-and-white-striped storefront screams nostalgia in the best way possible. The Canelake's candymakers have been stirring buttery caramel, adding real cream, roasting nuts, and cooling hand-dipped chocolates on marble tables since 1905.

You can buy assortments by the box or put together your own mix with minty Swiss chocolates, chocolate-caramel-pecan frogs, glazed and chocolate-dipped apricots and just about any nutty, fruity or creamy candy-store combination.

Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen, Knife River, MN
 You'd never know this adorable red-and-white shop used to be Mel's Fish store. This long-time Knife River icon seems like such a natural fit for a sweet little candy shop. Pamela and Patricia Canelake and Pamela's husband, Dennis--grandchildren of the Canelake's founder--bought the building and replanted the family's chocolate roots in 2007.

Like Canelake's, one of Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen's best-known sweets is the chocolate-covered sponge candy dubbed "Air Crunch." Among their other standouts are spicy ginger caramels with a hint of cinnamon, a maple cream bar covered in chocolate-covered peanuts, chocolate-covered sea salt caramels, and the wittily named U Betcha Bars--a generous caramel square dipped in chocolate and rolled in walnuts. It's on a stick, which is a fun nod to Minnesota's legendary on-a-stick state fair food.

Indecisive? A Knife River Nibbler box can take care of that. And if you're missing Mel's Fish, you'll have to go to Russ Kendall's for your smoked fillets, but grab the candy shop's tribute to Mel first: a chocolate fish.

New articles in El Pais about Minnesota Partners!

Two articles were published last week about the visits of two Minnesotans, Judge Leslie Metzen and John Carmody, currently in Uruguay on Partners projects. "Both visits were a complete success," reports Willy Lockhart, the president of the chapter in Montevideo.

See Judge Metzen's coverage

See John Carmody's coverage.

Weekend fun: Anoka's Halloween parade

Anoka's Light Up the Night Parade

Halloween capital of the world
You can go throughout the Twin Cities and beyond to find plenty of good scares this month (Duluth's Ship of Ghouls, anyone?). But for a light-hearted look at Halloween and the creativity it inspires, head straight to Anoka, the so-called Halloween Capital of the World for more than half a century.

At 7 p.m. this Saturday you can enjoy what's pretty much a classic summer parade (minus marching bands), but lit up and with a ghoulish twist. You know how we've all seen the royalty floats from neighboring towns with their prom dresses, crowns and elbow-elbow-wrist-wrist waves? This Light Up the Night Parade has those princesses morphed into zombies, dancers from "Thriller" or something tamer, like "The Wizard of Oz."

The vibe is fun and perfect for kids since it doesn't last more than an hour.

Halloween costume ideas on parade
If you want to see the big event, you have to return on Saturday the 30th for the 1 p.m. Grand Day Parade. That's almost worth it just for the hilarious costumes worn by the 5K Gray Ghost Run participants who lead the parade down Main Street. Isn't it taxing enough to do a run without wearing, say, a giant sneaker, full body stocking or a torso-riding fish? I bow to these folks: they're fit and can cook up awesome costumes.

Anoka has nailed the infectious, playful spirit that pervades the best Halloween events and makes it easy to understand why the town has wholeheartedly embraced this favorite fall holiday.

Best costume: Pinata man
How can you not love a guy who dresses like a pinata and lets a girl beat on him for 5 kilometers? Here's hoping they snagged a prize last year.

Long weekend: Devil's Lake & Wisconsin Dells

Devil's Lake State Park

Wisconsin Dells' fall fun beyond waterparks
Need a fun family getaway for Minnesota's four-day teachers' workshop weekend? One of our favorites is a trek to Wisconsin Dells. Sure, the indoor waterparks are a gimme (and weatherproof), but there are several other outstanding attractions that get lost in the crush of things to do. Here are my best picks for a fall weekend:

Ride the train
About half an hour south of the Dells, the tiny town of North Freedom keeps vintage trains chugging throughout the summer. The last Mid-Continent Train Ride of the season--the Pumpkin Special--is a scenic and fairly soothing way to see what is left of fall colors Oct. 23-24. It's a short tour--only about an hour round-trip--which makes it ideal for preschoolers and elementary-aged kids.

Mid-way through the ride, you can hop off and pick out a pumpkin to take home. Adults should be able to appreciate the antique bench seats that can face front or each other, along with classy wood trim in the renovated cars. Fares: $15, adults; $13, kids 13-18; $9, 3-12.

Hike Devil's Lake State Park
OK, I got cocky. That's what happens when you're from the Land of 10,000 Lakes. You think you've seen bodies of water in all shapes and sizes. Wrong. Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo (about 15 minutes from the Dells) can drop jaded jaws with its density of color across 10,000 acres, toe-tingling cliff views and wonderfully rugged hikes.

Start with the wooded drive into the park where the very air seems infused with golden fall color. Then hike up to the top of cliffs for sweeping views of the 360-acre spring-fed lake. If you have kids who aspire to be billy goats, hang on tightly and know this is their kind of turf with shaded, intricate rock formations to climb across.

Beyond golden yellow maples that arc over the roads, you'll be able to hike past vivid red maples that look like they've been acid-washed with yellow. It's a funky and memorable pattern that makes the trip a bountiful bonanza for leaf-collectors.

Best for kids ages 5 and up. Park admission is $5 for Wisconsin residents, and $10 for anyone out of state. Colors are nudging past peak, but you can get updates through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Take a Wilderness zip line

If you haven't had a chance to try ziplining yet, The Wilderness Canyon Zip Line Tour opened one last year that offers plenty of thrills without being terrifying (assuming you're OK with stepping off a platform high above the trees). The price also is decent at about $45/person for Wilderness Resort guests or $65 for the general public. The route includes five lines across the property's canyon.

Our son, who was 10 last year, was a bit nervous taking that first step, but harnesses feel snug and safe. You get used to the whirring hum of cable as you buzz across it letting gravity do its thing. It's a fun, fresh way to enjoy being outside and stretching those comfort zones. The zip line also is less scary than the indoor ropes course at Kalahari Resort. Kids (and parents) wanting to try the zip line need to be at least 70 pounds.

Devil's Lake leaves

For more information:
Additional reviews on Dells-area attractions can be found on the new iPhone app by Melanie Radzicki McManus. Watch for my own app on Minnesota's best lake getaways by Christmas 2010.

Find the best views of Minnesota's fall colors

The maple leaves are starting to flame into shades of red and gold, making it a great time to plan fall drives. Whether you seek a daytrip or a weekend, here are some of my favorite fall destinations in Minnesota. Don't forget to check the Department of Natural Resources fall color report for the best timing.



Aim high for a fall hike:
Lutsen Mountains

While colors along the North Shore can be pretty, they get more vibrant as you head inland. Best view we've ever seen? Standing on Moose Mountain, facing a brilliant Magic Mountain. The experience is escalated by the ride there. The ski resort's mountain tram glides across the burbling Poplar River before heading up into the steep Sawtooth Mountains. It was enough to give a three-year-old the willies one year.

There's the Summit Chalet at the top where you can warm up with a light meal and hot coffee or cocoa while facing the sapphire blue expanse of Lake Superior. There's a great loop hike around Moose Mountain. Back at the resort, the alpine slide offers another thrill. Like the mountain tram, it's open Thursdays through Sundays until Oct. 24.  If you love golf, splurge on a round at nearby Superior National, one of the state's premier courses. Its advantage: elevation, the rugged Poplar River, and Superior scenery.

Phelps Mill near Fergus Falls.

There are lots of inland forest roads throughout Cook County. Check with location attractions for designated fall color routes and make sure you've got a good Minnesota atlas, as well. GPS is nice, but we swear by DeLorme maps first and foremost.


Prairie Pothole country:  
Otter Trail Scenic Byway
 
If you want to ditch the leaf-peeper crowds and enjoy gently rolling roads, this 150-mile route rolls through the surprisingly beautiful prairie pothole country. The best introduction to this unique western Minnesota terrain can be found at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center on the outskirts of Fergus Falls. Created through the National Wildlife Refuge service, it explains the importance of these lakes to the thousands of birds that flock to this section of Minnesota and into the Dakotas.

Near Glendalough State Park

One of the prettiest scenes in the area has always been the 1889 Phelps Mill, a pretty red-and-white structure reflected in its own mill pond. You can walk right in to view displays and a film on the area's wheat boom.

Keep heading north for a sweeping view of fall color at Maplewood State Park. Atop its Halloway Hill Trail, the view encompasses hillsides of sumac and hardwoods, South Arm Lake, Lake Lida and Pelican Rapids.


In the spirit of Oktoberfest: New Ulm 

Fall is an ideal time to climb up to "Hermann the German," a monument high above New Ulm where the view  encompasses the Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway. (You'll have to use your fall color imagination with the photo on the left, taken in the spring.)

New Ulm boasts several historic bed and breakfasts, tasty restaurants and the beloved Schell's Brewery. The brewery, Schell mansion and historic gardens (pictured below) naturally complement autumn with tours and tastings. Even better: It celebrates its 150th anniversary this year--a huge accomplishment for a small company that survived the U.S. Dakota war, Prohibition and competition of corporate breweries. It's something to think about while hollering "Prost!" at Oktoberfest the first two weekends in October. It's certainly cheaper (and less crowded) than a trip to Munich, and you can get your fill of lederhosen and oom-pah-pah music.

Even without the festival, the town's German heritage  is beautifully reflected in its shops, architecture and food. The chamber rents well-done and free walking tour podcasts of its historic downtown. Leave time to explore its curvy, wooded Minnesota River byway and detour into the countryside to sample wines at Morgan Creek Vineyard. It will be livelier than usual on Oct. 2, when visitors come from across the state to squish grapes through their toes at the Cambria Grape stomp.

For more fall festivals and scenic drives, check out www.exploreminnesota.com.

Uruguay university among top 10 in Latin America

Good news today that Uruguay has one of the top 10 ranked universities in Latin America, according to a study by US News and World Report.

Felicidades a Universidad ORT Uruguay!

Northern Lights Resort: A parting shot at summer

Every parent should have the chance to launch their child on a family vacation. It's deeply, deeply cathartic. It somehow equalizes things like broken windows, moldy laundry and barfing on new carpet. 

Minnesota family resorts: Lake vacations with old-fashioned fun

Hydro-biking at Northern Lights Resort

It's a little embarrassing to admit, but we haven't had the chance to enjoy a true lakeside resort before--not the neighborly family-run variety where kids roam freely, movie rentals are on  the honor system, potlucks are spontaneous, and the resort dog shows up when she gets the first whiff of pancakes.

Flexible schedule saves money

Northern Lights Resort near Voyageurs National Park.

Most family-run smaller resorts require weeklong commitments during peak summer weeks. That can be beyond many budgets or more than you can spare from work or kids' activities. Some resorts are so popular, families book the same cabin and the same week each summer, making it tough for newcomers to get reservations. If you fit into any of those categories, consider the first two weeks of June or last two weeks of August when planning for 2011. You'll find more flexibility for shorter stays plus better rates if you're willing to risk the more unpredictable and chillier temps. 

Our gamble paid off with gorgeous weather and a relaxing three-night stay at Northern Lights Resort. Yes, the lake was cold, but we toughed it out and got used to it. Needless to say, the kids had a blast. With paddleboats, hydro-bikes, canoes and kayaks, fishing galore, an ice cream social and pontoon rides, there really was something for everyone. 

Look for resorts with the best water toys

Launching into Lake Kabetogama

Many of the best resorts have wonderful lake toys: trampolines, inflated log rolls, slides and swim rafts. We were lucky enough to have a Rave Aqua Tower at Northern Lights. You climb to the top and slide down or you jump down to "the blob" and wait for someone to jump on the other end and launch you. That was hands-down the best entertainment possible. Really. We couldn't decide what was better--seeing them go for height records or distance. Even a great sunset can't compare to the thrill of seeing a 11-year-old fly flailing into the air. Good stuff.

Best places to eat wild rice

Since it's wild rice season in Minnesota, here are a few of our favorite places to enjoy this nutty grain also known as Mahnomin:

Clearwater Travel Plaza's fritter French Toast and wild rice sausage.

Savory wild rice sausage
Clearwater Travel Plaza, Clearwater, Minn.
This bustling, impressive pit stop on I-94 south of St. Cloud built a huge fan base with its homemade fritter bread French toast. It's accented beautifully with plump, savory wild rice sausages made down the road at McDonald Meats in Clear Lake. You can grab a to-go package at the plaza or at the meat market.

Sweetest bowl of wild rice
Hell's Kitchen, Minneapolis, Minn.
Owner Mitch Omer serves hand-harvested wild rice in a bowl with dried blueberries, craisins, real maple syrup and cream. He found inspiration for Mahnomin Porridge reading through fur traders' journals. Hell's makes tasty, zippy and creative soups and sandwiches, but we lust most for the breakfast menu's lemon ricotta hotcakes and toasted bison sausage bread made with coffee, currants and pie spices. Sadly, they no longer serve breakfast at Hell's in Duluth's Canal Park.

Cozy Red Paddle Bistro at Gunflint Lodge

Wild rice on pizza? You bet.
Coho Cafe & Bakery, Tofte, Minn.
Get ready for an earthy, savory and unforgettable blend of shitake, button and portabella mushrooms with locally made wild rice sausage on the cafe's Call of the Wild pizza. There are plenty of surprising and tasty twists on familiar foods in this hip, kick-back gourmet cafe nestled along the Lake Superior harbor.

Best wild rice soup
Red Paddle Bistro, Gunflint Lodge on Minnesota's Gunflint Trail
I've had plenty of good creamy wild rice soups over the years but one of the most delicious and unexpected ones was here. The colorful walleye chowder blends nutty wild rice with tender bits of walleye, sweet corn and tangy sun-dried tomatoes. The setting--a warmly glowing wood-paneled restaurant overlooking the indigo blue of a winter's night--doesn't hurt.

Quivey's Grove

Tastiest wild rice side dish
Quivey's Grove, Madison, Wis.
One of my all-time favorite meals was at this historic stone carriage house on the outskirts of Madison, Wis. Steeped in history, the owners let historic meals influence their entrees such as trout, tender beef and pork chops. What I remember most was the complex savory-sweet nicely textured wild rice side dish. It blends sage, coriander, celery, red pepper, chicken broth and tangy bits of dried cherries.

There are surely more amazing wild rice meals across the state. Please feel free to comment and share your favorites.

Read other wild rice posts:

• History of wild rice and harvest season.
• Quivey's Grove recipe and our family's favorite wild rice casserole.

Minnesota's Wild Rice Season

Wild ricing on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation.

The Bois Forte Heritage Center, a wonderful and overlooked Native American museum near Tower, Minnesota, beautifully tells the story of how their band of Ojibwe came to Minnesota. After being forced from the East Coast, a guiding spirit told them to go where food grows on the water.

That food--wild rice that thrives in the shallows of Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes--sustained them and remains a cherished part of their culture.

Celebrate the Wild Rice Moon

In late August and early September--the time of the Wild Rice Moon--tribal members and others head across the state to ricing lakes.

Raw wild rice from the Crow Wing lakes.

They pole through through the grasses, rhythmically using cedar ricing sticks to sweep the grasses over the canoe and gently knock the ripened grains into the bottom. I was fortunate enough to ride along with Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe conservation officer, Frank Bowstring, a few years ago. During his childhood, kids could get out of school to help with the rice harvest which could pay for school clothes.

We watched a few ricers head onto Nature Lake. They expertly captured wild rice grains with skills passed through the generations. Later, we watched water-rich green rice meticulously parched in iron drums that rotated over wood fires in Cass Lake. Once it dried and chaff was removed, bags of processed rice piled up with the name of the ricer written across burlap bags.

Hand-harvest wild rice vs. cultivated

The thick, plump mottled earth tones of hand-harvested wild rice is clearly a different product than cultivated rice. Cultivated rice, with its shiny, thin ebony grains are bred to be machine-harvested. With the tough hulls, it takes 45 minutes to cook. True wild rice takes only 20 minutes. The White Earth Band of Ojibwe has long fought to highlight the differences and to maintain this sacred crop.

Green wild rice ready for processing

I consider myself a harvest junkie, but will leave wild ricing to the experts. And I'll more gratefully invest in bags of wild rice knowing the labor that's involved.

Wild rice across the state

Anyone can rice, and many people do it as a seasonal passion. A license is required through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which can also help you find accessible rivers and shallow lakes. (Only tribal members can rice on reservations.) Following waterfowl helps, too--the rice is their equivalent of an energy bar for the long migration south.

Wild rice on a stalk.

The DNR estimates there are more than 60,000 acres of wild rice among more than 700 lakes --the most of any state in the country.

When you're out and about this fall, look for authentic Minnesota wild rice at gift shops, grocers, and up-north convenience markets. Buying a bag or more helps support this $2 million crop and celebrates one of the state's best culinary treasures. Add wild rice's rich, nutty flavor to salads, casseroles, side dishes, breakfast entrees and Minnesota's famous wild rice soup.

More on wild rice: Best places to dine on wild rice plus two excellent wild rice recipes for the holidays.

Announcing the Deon Stuthman Fund for Social Justice

The board of directors of Minnesota-Uruguay Partners of the Americas has announced the creation of the Deon Stuthman Fund for Social Justice.

A former president of the organization, Dr. Stuthman passed away suddenly in June, 2010, after a short, intense struggle with cancer.

The Fund will underwrite opportunities for travel between Uruguay and Minnesota that advances causes related to social justice--work that Deon cared deeply about.

Individuals wishing to travel between Minnesota and Uruguay to work on social justice projects can write erikbrand10@gmail.com.

Tax-deductible donations to the Fund can be sent to:

Harlan Petersen, Treasurer
Minnesota-Uruguay Partners of the Americas
PO Box 24042
Minneapolis, MN 55424-0042

Uruguay forecasts GDP will expand 30% in five years

According to a story in Mercopress today, the administration of President Jose Mujica estimates the Uruguayan economy will expand 30.2% from 2010 to 2015, reducing the fiscal budget 0.1% of GDP each of the five years. At the end of the period the US dollar currently exchanged at 20.50 Uruguayan pesos should reach 23.40 pesos.

Sec. of State Clinton thanks host families of exchange students

"When we dispel stereotypes and we open new avenues of dialogue across boundaries and borders, we enrich ourselves and the world."

Earlier this month, Hillary Clinton taped a video thanking families hosting exchange students like our Youth Ambassadors, who are funded through the State Department. It's a general message for a broad audience, but I think it's worth listening to and definitely applies to our experience with the generous families in Minnesota and Uruguay who have opened their doors to host exchanges. Very true words!

Happy Independence Day Uruguay

August 25th is almost here. Happy Independence Day Uruguay! Here is a message from Hillary Clinton about the big day.

Time to apply! The Dennis R. Shaw Memorial Scholarship

The Dennis R. Shaw Memorial Scholarship

Dennis Shaw was a valued member of the Partners of the Americas team in Washington DC starting in 1996. His lifelong passion for education and cultural exchanges and for the Youth Ambassadors program, which he coordinated for Brazil from 2003-2007, were contagious to all that met him.

The Shaw Memorial Scholarship will assist young people of limited financial means who 1.) Have traveled on a Partners of the Americas administered grant or program or 2.) Are members of a Partners of the Americas chapter.

The purpose of the Scholarship is to cover expenses associated with pursuing higher education at any university in the Western Hemisphere. Examples of potential academic expenses include:

Travel expenses to and from university;
Textbooks and supplies;
Course fees that are not covered by scholarships or other financial aid;
Opportunities for travel or study abroad that the student would not
normally be able to pursue for financial reasons.

A minimum of two awards will be given in 2010, for a minimum of $250 each. At least one award will be given to a youth from Brazil. Award amounts may be larger, depending on availability of funds. Award winners will be determined periodically by the Partners Foundation. Youth may only win a Shaw award once.

To apply for the Shaw award, eligible youth must submit a statement of academic purpose, recent transcript or letter/ proof of admittance, and description of what they intend to use the Scholarship for. Financial necessity is a consideration and students should address their merit as a part of their application. Students must submit their paperwork to Michelle Nicholson at mnicholson@partners.net for consideration.

Watch bears and wolves in Minnesota

Ginormous Ted, possibly the world's largest black bear, lives at Ely's
North American Bear Center.

Here's a little-known fact: Not only can you watch black bears in the wild in Minnesota, but August is the best time to view them. Why? They're packing on the pounds for the winter, foraging for enough to get them through long hibernation.

The tiny town of Orr, Minnesota, on the cusp of Voyageur National Park vacation territory, is home to the 360-acre Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary, a one-of-a-kind wildlife stop. The late Mr. Shute, a former logger, used to shoot scavenging bears before he finally decided to  feed them and became known as "The Bear Man."

The platform at Vince Shute Sanctuary.

These days, dedicated volunteers bus visitors into the woods each evening, letting them off on a spacious elevated boardwalk where you can watch the bears climb trees, wrestle if they're feeling playful or eating at logs and other places around a meadow that the sanctuary staff loads up with seeds, fruit and juice.

A hub for hungry black bears
Up to 80 bears come here seasonally, with 15 of them featured on the web site with clues into their character and interesting individual histories. Schwinn, for example, has survived with just three legs and is a favorite for the way he sits Buddha-style in the meadow. Uuno, with his almost-comical woe-is-me look, was tracked covering 232 miles when he was 4 years old.

You can stay all evening to watch the bears and hear about them from volunteers, or keep it a short visit and hop the bus back. We saw a few adult black bears and a cub while we were there one June. Volunteers did a great job keeping younger kids busy with bear-themed coloring pages and naturalist activities. Newer programs include photography workshops, yoga workshops or spending the night and learning how to safely camp in bear territory.

You'll leave with a whole new appreciation--and affection--for these gentle giants of the woods.

Playing at the North American Bear Center.

See more bears or watch wolves in Ely

It's about a 45-minute drive to Ely, where the International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center bookend this chic outdoorsy town. It's an ideal place to learn more about bears and all about wolves.

The Bear Center, which opened in 2007, has displays and videos that demystify bear behavior and seating that faces the backyard where the resident bears hang out and tussle for fun. You can also stand outside on the deck to watch the bears in action.

Talk to staff, and they'll give you the affectionate low-down on the quirks of Ted, Honey and Lucky's personalities. Honey can be impatient with the boys and Ted's usually sweetheart, especially when Lucky wants to play.

While the bears hibernate in the winter, the center remains open. You may be able to watch at least one of the bears in hibernation. Last winter and spring the center's groundbreaking in-the-den webcam on Lily, as she gave birth to Hope and got the new cub used to the world.

Howl with the wolf pack

Resident wolves at Ely's International Wolf Center.

Interactions get even more complex at the International Wolf Center with the resident pack's chain of command and intricate social roles.

And while the bears go into hibernation by late fall, winter is one of the more intriguing times to visit the wolf center. The wolf center has several excellent family learning vacations throughout the year. There's a Halloween-themed slumber party the weekend before trick-or-treating. Winter events may include dogsledding and listening for howls in the wild. There are even  grandparent-grandchild programs, which is an excellent option for those once-in-a-lifetime vacation memories.

We were lucky enough to visit the International Wolf Center in 2008 when two new pups were being integrated into the pack. The adults were anxious and eager to meet the little ones, and started howling like that come-and-go sound of a tornado siren. It was both chilling and thrilling to hear primal howls up close. It's an experience that stays with you.

Family travel on a budget? Try a camping workshop

Nine-Mile Lake in Superior National Forest.

If families are looking for the best vacation deal around, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, teaming up with REI, has been offering I Can Camp! workshops around the state this summer. The new program teaches families everything they need to know for only $55--that's with equipment provided. It's one of the best investments you can make in affordable vacations. Even better: you're teaching kids an appreciation for the outdoors and letting all of you unplug from the daily hubbub.

If teens aren't sold on the idea, remind them camping may be their best bet for frugal vacations during cash-strapped post-grad years. They can acquire cheap camping supplies at garage sales, Goodwill or invest in a few good pieces. There's even a new tent you literally throw into the air and watch it pop up and assemble itself. Seriously. We saw a demo at a neighbor's house last night. As someone who's tried to pitch a tent in the dark (not by choice), I can vouch that this is an amazing leap forward. Kudos to the creator.

Learn camping basics
The guidance of a camping expert can do wonders. Knowing the proper way to put a tarp under the tent, for example, can make all the difference in staying dry if it rains. And learning how to make a good fire will prevent frustration, conserve firewood and speed up campfire dinners and treats.

There are four I Can Camp! workshops left on Aug. 19 and 20.  Keep the DNR site handy next spring if those dates don't work out.

Picking a state park

My recommendation among remaining workshops: Flandrau State Park in New Ulm. The man-made, sand-bottomed pool is marvelous. Plus you have vintage WPA buildings at the park and charming New Ulm nearby. You can't ask for a better place than this German community to pick up tasty sausages to grill and locally brewed beer or root beer. Lake Carlos near Alexandria is another solid choice for campsites near its nice clear lake and sandy beach.

Flandrau State Park's man-made
beach the day before it opened.

Glendalough State Park sits in Minnesota's glacial lakes area near Fergus Falls. Wild turkeys and deer are easy to spot in this uncrowded park. Lake Maria State Park is the closest to the Twin Cities, but is more rustic.

More camping resources

If you're looking for more tips on beginning camping, check out a feature I wrote for  Suite 101 about learning to camp and participating in the annual National Wildlife Federation's Great American Backyard Campout.

Glendalough State Park

Also head to the library or bookstore for nature guides and Lynn Brunelle’s Camp Out! book (Workman Publishing, 2007). It's our favorite resource with a little of everything: advice on setting up camp, tying knots, telling ghost stories, playing night games, star gazing and creative cooking. It even has a guide for animal tracks and figuring out who pooped on the trail.   

Cooking on a Stick by Linda White (Gibbs Smith, 2000) is more narrowly focused but fun for its kid-focused campfire recipe. Snail on a stick anyone? (It's bread--don't panic.)

For more family fun, read on to other features, including free Jelly Belly tours in Wisconsin or Devil's Lake State Park and train rides near Wisconsin Dells.