The Ladies Main Event

Back this year by popular demand is the Cookie, Pie and Cake Baking Contest. Ladies, bring on your finest or your favorite treats and we will have a the judging during the Caber Toss. Bring a dozen of your finest cookies, your fabulous pie, or your fantastic cake. Or bring all three! Each category is judged separately and the this year will will have judging just like on Dancing with the Stars. We will have 3 judges who will vote based on appearance, flavor and originality, as well as the consumer voting by those who want to sample the entries. The winners will be determined 50 percent by the judges and 50 percent by the fans. So bring it on, Gals! Everyone is counting on you!

New Fun Things at this Year's Games

So there will be some new things happening at the Games this year. The first is that the Master of the Games has announced a new Heavy Event--the Stone Carry. Let's just say that this isn't your egg-on-the-spoon kind of relay race. Seems there's this GIANT rock and the contestants have to carry it from the starting line to the distance marker and then back to the finish line, with the winner being the person who can haul this thing the furthest. The weight is, as of today, undetermined, but the Rock will be heavy--thus, a new "heavy" event. Be sure to come out and see this great new competition.
You may also have seen that we are encouraging Highland dress this year. Contestants in the heavy events will get an extra "bonus" point (which could be a tie-breaker!) if they participate wearing a kilt. That's right, Ladies and Gentlemen, a kilt. Doesn't have to be a tartan kilt (please see utilikilt.com if you think a kilt has to be plaid) but definitely has to be a, how shall we say this?, a garment without legs. Not to be confused with a "skirt". That is a ladies' garment. A kilt was a men's garment that was originally just a really long piece of the clan tartan (so you knew who you were killing when he came to plunder your castle) that was laid out in pleats and then the lad would lay down on it, roll himself up and put on a belt to hold it all together. If he had some extra, he threw it over his shoulder or his head if it was raining or if he needed camouflage while he was stealing the neighbors cows ("kine" for those of you who are slightly interested in some Gaelic words to throw out when you are at the Games. You may look over our fence and say "Hey, Lynn, what kind of kine has old John got out there in yon pasture this year?" Yeah. Kine means cow.) So bring your kilt and we promise not to ask what you're wearing underneath it.
And for the rest of you Scottish wannabes, we are also encouraging anyone else who wants to wear any thing that looks like it could have stepped out of the Highlands, to feel free to use this as an excuse for a summer-fair, dress-up-day. So break out your creative juices, or as always, just come and watch the fun! Only 16 more days!

2011 Schedule of Events

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Time to get excited about the 2011 Games! So while we are talking about time, here is this year's schedule of events:

Saturday, July 9, 2011
4:30pm Camping Available (for those who are on a first name basis with nature!) Bring your tent or your RV and we will send the little kids out to sleep with you!
7:00pm Potluck supper and Weenie Roast. Bring a dish to share and we'll start a fire that will singe off your eyebrows! Our own personal version of the "Calling of the Clans"!

Sunday, July 10, 2011
9:00am Praise and Prayer time. Join us for hymns and prayer to worship our Creator and Saviour.
10:00 Scottish Breakfast for Everyone! Some may consider this the Heavy Event of the Day, but we just call it home cookin'! We'll provide the basics, if you will bring a dish to sweeten the morning. It helps if you let us know who's coming. You can call us at 319-621-6605, send a text or email brenda@writeitdown.org
11:00am Registration and Rules for Heavy Events
11:30am Wee Highlander Games All the Little Ones get to join in the fun! New Games and some old ones too!
11:45am Heavy Events Begin Grab your lawn chair and settle in for the excitement of watching these feats of strength.
2:00pm Pie, Cake and Cookie Bake Contest Ladies, start your ovens! Watch for complete information in the days to come.
3:00pm Awards Ceremony

71 Days to the 2011 Highland Games!!

Welcome to the 2011 RJM Highland Games! In just 70 short days (for those of you who may be training!) we will gather at the Farm to celebrate the spirit of Bob Madden and the Highland Games we are coming to see as a Summer Ritual. The day of the games is set for JULY 10, 2011. The official schedule of events will be available in the next few weeks, but we always have these things on the schedule: Lots of FUN, FOOD and FABULOUS COMPETITION! We hope you can join us this year!

Tasty Recipe!

Here is a great recipe from Karen Cummins:

Baked Apple Pancake

2 Granny Smith Apples, sliced thin
1/4 c. butter (or more)
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. Cinnamon
Mix cinnamon and sugar, shake apples in mixture. Melt butter in oven-proof cast iron pan and saute apples.

Pancake:
1 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 t. salt
1 T. baking powder
4 eggs
1 c. milk

Blend well; pour batter over apples in pan.. Bake until done about 25 minutes at 425 degrees. Turn pan upside down on serving platter , so apples end up on top. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.

Recipe Exchange is Open for Business!

So if you are interested in tasting the flavors of the Games again--request a recipe or submit one to me at brenda@writeitdown.org. I'll try to get them posted as we go. Here's the first request:

Cucumber Salad

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2 small cucumbers

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion (optional)

Combine sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper flakes for the dresing in a bowl; set aside.

Cut cucumbers in half lengthwise, then scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Discard seeds. Slice cucumber halves into thin slices to make a yield of 2 - 2-1/2 cups. Toss with onion slices and dressing until well coated. Chill salad until ready to serve. Can be prepared up to an hour ahead.

Brenda's notes: (This is what I add to a recipe since the kids all say I change stuff and don't advise). I don't de-seed my cucumbers, but I do buy either English cucumbers or use small (one to one and a half inch diameter) cukes so the seeds aren't so wet. I usually don't cut them in half. I make it in advance and it keeps well, I think, up to 2 or 3 days. I have even added new cukes to the brine the next day to stretch, but the flavor diminishes. I have only used the red onions once, but that may have been the day you ate it :-). I usually slice the cucumbers in my food processor so they are really thin, but some people like them a little thicker. This reminds me of the cucumber salad my mom made when I was a kid--my dad ate it up, but as kids we turned up our noses. I love the Asian flavor--reminds me of a seaweed salad at a Sushi restaurant.

Hope you like it--the recipe came from Cuisine at Home, a cooking magazine.

The 2011 Robert James Madden Highland Games

Mark your calendars--the 2011 Games are set for July 10, 2011. Become a follower on this Blog to keep up to date on the news as we get closer to the big day next year, or send your email address to brenda@writeitdown.org to get the latest news on the Games. If you would like to receive a postcard with the official schedule next year, send your information to Brenda Griebahn, 3590 Utah Ave NE, Iowa City, IA 52240. See you all then!