"It's a Rebuilding Year"

Susie, over at Susie's Homemade, is a Green Back Packers Fan, just like those of us over here in The Pop'rs Family. She says there's no reason to be too upset about The Pack's recent losses. Her mantra? "It's a Rebuilding Year."

Time to take solace in The Packers' storied past, and its quirky fans, who are parodied in the recent Packers Pro Shop commercials running in our area. This one features the Crazy Packers Fan and Wide Receiver Donald Driver, Number 80. I swear, these commercials make some of us laugh instead of cry in our Leinies! Oh, and more about our Family Connection to the Leinenkugels Brewery in an upcoming post!

Not a lot of Happy Campers at Sunday's Packer Party. But I guess if you're not gonna have a winning team, you should have Cool Gear. Or at least funny commercials about that gear.

Up to Our Keisters, and Beyond!

We had such a lovely, uneventful Turkey Day Holiday, celebrating with family and friends. So, we knew that Getaway Sunday, the Busiest Travel Day of the Year, Might. Come. To. This.

No, this shot isn't current. It was snapped by a TJ, whom we presume is a UW-Madison student, judging by his profile. It was posted on his blog, Feeding Milk to Chickens, in February 2008, the last time The Badger State had a snowstorm of monumental proportions.

That day, Wisconsin suffered snows that Shut. The. State. Down. And we're talkin' schools, government offices, the whole proverbial Ball of Wax. OK, we're Mixing Metaphors here, but still...

Southeastern Wisconsin, from Madison to Milwaukee, is forecast to get something along the lines of 10 inches today. According to Moker, and his Profile of Wisconsin for Blog Around the World, we Hardy Cheeseheads enjoy weather akin to "Nine months of winter, and three months of tough sledding."

We're just a Tad Concerned today, though. The East Coast Branch of The Pop'rs Cousins are traveling back to school at Larry U. Today. In the Snow. Hope the precipitation doesn't dump enough to cover poor ol' Mr. Lincoln's Head in front of Bascom Hall. But ya never know!

On a much more positive note, The Green Bay Packers play Carolina today at Lambeau Field. Snow is forecast. Go, Pack!

Aunt Julie Hosts *Recipe Week*-Part Deux

We had such a Fun and Successful *Recipe Week* in September, that Aunt Julie has decided to do it again! Every day, between now and next Sunday, we'll be sharing Yummy Recipes with all of our Bloggy Friends, as part of Aunt Julie's *Recipe Week*--Part Deux.

At the end of the week--next Sunday, to be precise--we have a little ol' surprise in store for ya! We'll be asking readers to submit Yummy Dishes of their own to share, as the lead-up to our Next Pop'rs Giveaway!

Today's recipe is an Old Wisconsin Favorite, which we start thinking about just as the leaves begin to turn. Hot Beefs go really well with Cold Beer, and put us in mind of a Packer Party. The above pic, BTW, captures Uncle Lynn and his Mom, Pearl, right in the midst of tailgating at Historic Lambeau Field.

So, think about us Packer Fans as you're pulling out your crock pot, browning the meat, and setting the whole thing on "low" so it can simmer throughout the day. Go, Pack!

Aunt Julie's Hot Beefs
1 chuck roast (three to four pounds)
Small amount of olive oil
Salt & Pepper, to taste
1 envelope Lipton's Beefy Onion Soup Mix
1 beer, can of beef broth or water (your choice)
Whole wheat hamburger buns, toasted

Brown the roast on top of the stove in a little olive oil on both sides. Sprinkle the roast with salt & pepper as you're browning it. Transfer the browned roast to a crock pot. Add the envelope of Lipton Soup Mix, and about an inch of water, canned beef broth, or beer. The Pop'rs Family prefers the "beer option." Let the roast cook on "low" all day. At dinnertime, the meat will shred very easily with a fork. Stir it all up, and serve with a little juice on toasted buns. Aunt Julie likes sliced pickles on hers, and maybe a little ketchup. Moker and Veggie Mom love sliced raw onions and ketchup. Maybe even a little Texas Pete instead of ketchup!

Lay's Kettle Cooked Jalapeño Chips are a lovely accompaniment to this delightful repast. And have another bottle of beer, while you're at it!

~Tomorrow: Aunt Julie's Beef Stoganoff!~