Weekend Roundup

WEEKEND ROUND-UP

After a two-year hiatus, the annual Chainsaw event returned to Hackensack, MN. One dozen locally and nationally recognized chainsaw artists displayed their creative talents by carving works of art from logs Sept. 23-24, 25. Carvings were sold at two auctions, one Saturday afternoon and the other Sunday, with proceeds split between carvers and the four-event sponsors: the city, Chamber, Legion and Lions.

In turn, the sponsors donate their shares (beyond expenses) to community and charitable causes. The event included raffle tickets with prizes of cash and merchandise as well as food and family games. This event also featured the All American Lumberjack Show multiple times each day. This show provided its own unique brand of entertainment as professional lumberjacks demonstrated their log-rolling, log-cutting and sawing, and axe-throwing skills. Sometimes they recruited audience members to try their hand, so watch out!

Vendors and food booths were also part of the fun, offering great stuff to buy or consume, from food and beverages to jewelry, metalworks, pottery, clothing, and more.  A fun fall activity for all.  

My biggest takeaway from this event was the fascinating auction process. If you were planning on bidding you needed to register, get a card and a number. All carvings to be auctioned off were lined up facing the audience who were in bleachers. An auctioneer gets the bidding going and wow is he ever a fast-talking man sputtering bid numbers pushing each one higher and higher and higher. It's hard to believe logs can become such a creative up north decor.  We watched but did not bid! Though I must say many of these carvings would have looked splendid on our porch.  

Once the last bid is made on a  carving, it's moved to another area for pick-up.  I realize the auction is a fundraiser but some of the final bids made my head spin. 

Bigfoot went for over $950.00

The bear carving went for close to $975.00. In this case, well worth it for all the intricate detail. In front was a bear and behind it was an owl with a fox below the bear.  

Luckily I prepped the dinner ingredients ahead so preparation went quickly.

Chicken Sweet and Sour Stir Fry 

Cook's Notes:

Chicken Sweet and Sour Stir Fry is an Ever Ready Special with a recipe that's quick and satisfying. This prepared sweet and sour sauce image posted is very good and does not compromise the taste using it. I also used a microwaveable/stovetop rice pouch as an add-in for easier preparation. The recipe serves 4.
Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 chicken breasts, diced into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup diced mini sweet red and yellow peppers
• 1/2 cup sweet onions, diced
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cups broccoli florets 
• 1 cup carrots, diced into bite-sized pieces
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• Dash red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds 
• Prepared sweet and sour sauce

Directions:

• Heat sesame oil in a large fry pan or wok.
• Add into pan chicken, peppers, onion, carrots, and garlic.
• Stir fry on medium heat for 3 minutes. Cover and reduce heat, cook 5-8 minutes longer until carrots tender. 
• Uncover and drain liquid. Add in desired sauce enough to moisten the ingredients adding in red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, broccoli, tomatoes, and the contents of the rice pouch. 
• Cook 10 minutes more uncovered.