Category: My Family

Without a family, one seldom thinks long term

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Mise en bouteille au Château

Bringing you all up to speed, last fall before my daughter Kristin was deployed to Iraq, the two of us decided on something that would take about a year to develop and we could enjoy on her return. We decided to make wine.

The idea came to me after thinking about my grandfather who — with his buddies during WWI — bought a rather expensive bottle of wine that would be consumed and toasted by the ‘last man’ left standing. Well, as it happened my grandfather enjoyed the wine late in his life and reflecting on how much the world had changed since they all made this little wager. As a homage to Pops, I thought it might be fun to make some wine!

So, armed with nothing but raw materials and books, Kristin and I set forth on this fun journey. Obviously, there was much to do after she left… but it has been a fun seeing what the real ‘pirates’ of wine making are up to!  30 plus years ago, I was first involved in wines through a national organization called “Knights of the Vine”… a fun group whose sole purpose was to educate, promote and enjoy wines in America. However, in talking more to winemakers and after a lot of reading… my eyes were re-opened to the wonders of this experience.

After wrestling with a bunch of ideas, I labeled our ‘product’ today and I believe it may just earn my coveted 12 stars designation ( one for each month of aging!) when it’s finished ‘aging.’ I used the colors of Kristin’s Alma mater “West Point” capped with an engineering symbol.

Thinking of you Kristin.

Dad

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friggin cold enough? bake some bread pudding to warm you up!

cold, tired & down? a nice serving of warm breading pudding with a rum sauce is just what the doctor ordered!
cold, tired & down? a nice serving of warm breading pudding with a rum sauce is just what the doctor ordered!

To all my friends who are suffering in today’s cold weather, I wish they would bake a ‘nice bread pudding’ to perk themselves right up. To me, it is a little bit of sunshine in a casserole pan!

Here’s the recipe again!

Having lived a time or two in cold and very cold weather, I saved a few recipes from those days that would always hit the spot… and whether or not is was a soup or a ‘buckle’ it always something bread-like about it or with it.

So, fire up the internal furnaces… things will look better again.

Roger Freberg

PS. the side byproduct of this recipe is a nice cordial

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largest gathering of fruit tree pruners in America

a huge crowd (over 300) comes to learn tree pruning!
a huge crowd (over 300) comes to learn tree pruning!

Well… it has been an interesting look into American resolve to see how many folks came to see, hear and participate in a tree pruning lecture.

Not all of these folks own an orchard, many have only a few trees — or like us — one very spectacular Apple tree! So, if you don’t know by now, this is the time to prune your apple tree.

The reason – I believe – that folks came to listen was to learn how they could more efficiently use the tree (s) they have. I believe that people also have a desire to produce more home grown crops and save a little money along the way. Potentially tough economic times have a way of getting us all think about how we live our lives, what we can live without and — most importantly — how we can make it better.

Nothing is better than home grown and home made foods!

Laura and I love our little Apple tree and we constantly fight over whether or not we turn it into apple sauce ( Laura’s idea) or apple pie ( my idea).

The head Cal Poly guru came out and said that normally they hold these meetings inside in a classroom of 30, but since over 300 showed up, he thought maybe outside would be better. With a droll smile, he said that this was the largest gathering for a meeting of fruit pruners… ever… in America…. everyone laughed!

If this encourages folks to eat better, lose weight and get outdoors… it’s a good sign for our land.

Roger Freberg

ps. my Laura is in the lower left of the picture

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Leroy Sievers tribute in Bethesda Magazine

Lauras little brother Leroy Sievers
Laura's little brother Leroy Sievers

An excellent tribute to Laura’s brother journalist Leroy Sievers recently appeared in  Bethesda magazine by Kathleen Wheaten.. It was a welcome peek into Leroy’s often very private life. It always amazes me how celebrities who we feel we know… can have an entirely unknown life after hours. The thing is Leroy had no after hours!

As his wife Laurie would probably tell you, Leroy’s life was his work and anyone who wanted to have a friendship of any kind with him had to accept that… and that could be painful to those closest to him. Laurie was kind enough to pass on a hard copy of the magazine which we all appreciate.

Leroy was very lucky to have Laurie handle all of the things that relationships need… like communication.

Roger Freberg

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yummy bread pudding on a cold day

Our toughest reviewers say, a FAB bread pudding!

Nothing warms you or fills you up on a cold winter’s day like a nice bread pudding!

Although — historically — many folks snub the humble ‘bread pudding’ as poor folks food… it can be so much more… it can be fabulous! Here is our recipe for a bread pudding made with raisins and blueberries, sour dough bread with a few muffins and  topped with a glazed almond crunchy topping and a superb honey and brandy liquor sauce!

Here is our step-by-step recipe!

Oh yes, that’s our homemade eggnog ice cream… and it works well with this dish.

enjoy!

Roger Freberg