When we go “Up North,” whether it’s to Lake Michigan on the Michigan side or to the lake regions of Wisconsin, a big part of the week is cooking. We pack a cooler of our CSA and garden veggies, bags of other supplies, and make sure to get the freshest lake fish, berries and foods our favorite midwest locations offer.
Last week, we had a new an unexpected surprise for our cooking. The cabin we had rented was full (inside and outside) of kichen equipment we’d been wanting to try, along with a pantry and fridge stocked to a gourmet’s delight. There was a deep fryer, popover tins, an outside smoker (taller than me), and two beautiful fire pits surrounded by chairs and tables. We could have been snowed in for weeks with all the food we had.
Our first project was to smoke a pork shoulder we’d brought (we weren’t sure how we were going to cook it before and were pleased to find the smoker). It was the simplest preparation possible, and incredibly delicious. It was a thrill every night, too, to build a fire and cook over it (even though we had top of the line appliances to use inside, too). Of course, s’mores were the biggest hit with kids and adults.
Have you ever found a kitchen gadget or appliance at a vacation rental you loved to try? Hope you are all having a lovely summer, cooking with your friends and family.