Brad Hicks' Blog

We had a guest on Fox6 Wake-Up this week who makes olive-shaped chocolates for dessert martinis.   I decided to try the "Cholive" in a Chocolatini.  Here's my creation:

5 oz. Vodka, 1/2 oz. vanilla extract.  Shake with ice.

Stir together 2 oz. heavy cream, 1 oz. chocolate syrup, and 1 oz. Bailey's Mint Chocolate.  Add it to the vanilla vodka in the martini shaker and give it a few shakes to blend.

Swirl some chocolate syrup on the inside of the glass, pour, and top with shaved dark chocolate-- oh, and don't forget the "Cholive"!   (Only 15-thousand calories!)

Last year I tasted dozens of pizzas and picked the top 6 in SE Wisconsin.  I have a new one to add to the list:  MY OWN!!!!

Here's my homemade Margherita pizza:  I made the dough from scratch, and made the sauce from homegrown herbs (oregano and basil) and homegrown heirloom Brandywine tomatoes.  It's topped with fresh Mozzarella, homegrown Brandywine and Black Krim tomatoes, basil and parmigiano reggiano.    I enjoyed it with a Luna Sangiovese.  YUMMMMM... :)

I don't want to promote another network (cuz the boss would have my hide!), but if you're interested in watching the Olympics I highly recommend watching the live streaming video on NBC's website as opposed to their TV coverage.

Not only do you actually get to see the events live (the TV stuff is delayed hours and hours), but you can pick which sports and events YOU want to watch.  Moreover,  you don't have the commentators talking constantly.  It's like being there in Beijing!

Last night, for example, I watched the entire women's 63kg weight lifting competition.   They have tons of great camera angles, including cameras in the back staging area so you can see the athletes warmnig up and getting psyched.   This is something you'd never get to see on network TV.

BTW, my favorite weight lifter, Natalie Woolfolk, came in 12th.  GO NATALIE!!!   Here's a link to videos of her lifting those heavy weights.  She's awesome!  Click here

I've noticed a lot of commercials lately with British accents doing the narration-- most recently an ad for Victoria's Secret. 

Makes me wonder if in England they have commericials with American accents.  

Yep-- another deep thought by Brad!!!

Okay... WHO WANTS TO MAKE THEIR IDOL PREDICTIONS FOR THE TOP THREE?

I think we'll have an all guy final three this season:

David Cook

David Archuleta

Michael Johns

Who do YOU think will be the top 3????

Last week I was in California doing some genealogy research on my ancestors who moved to California during the Gold Rush.  I'm really not much of a "library" kind of guy, but I am curious about stuff, so it was fun.

Anyway, through old deeds and maps, I found the location of the house where one set great-great-great grandparents raised their kids.  I drove there and found a vacant lot with the old barn still standing.  As I was contemplating the place, looking at an old picture I had of the house, an elderly guy drove up and asked what I was doing.  I explained and showed him the old picture of the house.

Turns out, he grew up in the house!!!  He's 88 now.   His grandmother bought the house from my great-great-great grandparents children after their parents had died.   His brother still owns the property, and tore the house down in the 1950s because it was falling apart.  Meeting old Spencer Bennett was one of the highlights of my little adventure into the past!!

And just for fun, here's a pic from 1877 of my Great-great-great grandparents who lived in that house.   Also in the picture:  four of their five daughters, including my great-great grandmother and her husband with their first newborn daughter.

If you've ever been to Great Harvest Grain Co. in Elm Grove, you know they are very generous with their samples-- they'll slice you off a piece of anything.

So anyway, I stopped by today and picked up a loaf of some pretty tastey raisin walnut bread.

I was hungry, so I asked the guy behind the counter to cut me off a chunk from my loaf so I didn't mangle the thing trying to tear off a piece while I was driving.

The guy refused.  He said the loaf had to arrive home whole;  so instead he gave me the entire huge piece from which they were cutting the samples.  

That is some incredible customer service.  So a big shout-out to Great Harvest!!!

Have you seen the new Subway commercial?

Subway used to have Jared as a spokesman, selling Subway as a great way to lose weight.

Now Subway has Peter Griffin doing a commercial!!! Peter Griffin!?!?!?  (It's the character from Family Guy for those of you who don't know.)

He's the anti-Jared.   Funny how things change.

It's getting close to that time-- time to plan your Thanksgiving feast.

Anyone have a special recipe they enjoy for the holiday???

If you want, I'll share my awesome homemade cranberry sauce recipe.  Yummy!

I always enjoy discovering new restaurants, especially those places you might call a dive or a hole in the wall.  You know, small, usually family owned, nothin' fancy.   Even when others have discovered the place, it still feels like a discovery to you.

I had a nice dinner at The Pasta Tree on Farwell in Milwaukee the other night.   It sounds like some sort of a buffet place or something, but it's actually a cozy little step-in kind of place.  Great cioppino, nice staff.

 This morning, I did a greasy spoon breakfast at Chuck's Place in Theinsville.  I'd actually like Chuck's Place even more if they hadn't fixed it up a bit, but the menu is plain old American breakfast.   Not good for you, but good!   And friendly.

Any hole in the wall places you'd recommend?


 

I think everyone will agree, one of the worst ads on TV right now is the Viagra ad with the band in the bar singing Viva Viagra.    Just kinda odd to have all these guys playing their instruments, and not a woman in sight.   I think I know what the message is, but I'm not sure.

 The new Cadillac ad is right there with it--   The one with the woman driving through a tunnel as she informs us the only thing important about a car is that when you turn it on, it returns the favor.  Clever.

If you ever get turned on because you started your car, it's probably because you listened to the guys singing in the bar and took Viagra. 



 

Funny thing-- on Wednesday evening everyone in the newsroom got a kick watching "Anchorwoman".   And despite terrible ratings nationally, the show actually did quite well in the Milwaukee market.

But to no avail-- Fox has cancelled the show after a single episode.  Lauren-- we hardly got to know ya!!!

So my question to all you Fox6 bloggers who saw the show:   If we get a reporter opening, do you think we should hire her?

I just got back from what I think is my favorite place in Wisconsin-- Along the Mississippi between La Crosse and Red Wing.

For a bicyclist like me, it's heaven-- great rides through the coulee country with tons of beautiful scenery and challenging climbs.

On my longer rides I can burn 6000+ calories, so it's great to have dozens of funky river town bars where I can replenish some of those calories with a few cold ones!

I also went boating on the great river:  Lots of people tubing, fishing and camping-- just lots of fun!!!  I especially enjoyed the bald eagles around Alma soaring overhead when I was on the water. 

What's your favorite place in Wisconsin?

Check out these baby back ribs I picked up from Karl's Country Market in the Falls.  Extra meaty and a great price. 

I coat them with my own rub (cayenne, cinnamon, ground oregano, salt, pepper), let them sit overnight, then slow smoke them over applewood, and finish with a mop of barbeque sauce (Sweet Baby Ray's is good), thinned with Worcestershire sauce, and red wine.

Don't ya just get hungry looking at those. Mmmmmmm.....