Family Jargon on "Between You and Me"

By Jennifer Poenix

This Saturday, on "Between You and Me," the topic is family jargon. You know, those things that people in your family say that only make sense to your family.

For instance, if you put on a sweater at my house to keep warm, we call it a hal-fra-roo-fra coat. It comes from a Christmas song that my husband listened to a lot as a child. The kid in the song is singing about what he might buy his mother. We still can't figure out exactly what he says, but it has something to do with a real fur coat.

Would you ever tell anybody to "go outside and get the stink blown off?" Well, we say it my family, and it doesn't mean that you stink. It just means you've been cooped up inside for too long. It's something my great-grandmother would say. Maybe her mother said it too. And her mother.

It's comforting knowing that the things we say live on, even if they are strange. My son, age 3, is already picking up on this. One day, I said "Crash, bang, boom," as I was digging through a cupboard to grab a pot in the back. He laughed at the phrase, and I told him it was something his grandma said whenever she made a lot of noise in the kitchen. Now he'll tell me, "Crash, bang, boom, Grandma Wendy says."

What kinds of things are said in your family? Is it something a child said once long ago, and it just stuck? Do you have a phrase that has lasted generations? We want to hear your stories this Saturday on "Between You and Me," from 10am-noon. If you're unable to call in during the show, you may use our Talkback line: 218-999-9876, or email heidi@kaxe.org.

A MN Metal Thanksgiving with JJ Snell

by Doug MacRostie

For a special Thanksgiving Edition of Centerstage MN turkeys will rain from the sky and the cranberries will flow like blood as we give thanks to MN Metal!!! I'll be joined by JJ Snell of Borotva Promotions; he organizes and promotes many of the concerts and events in the Grand Rapids area and we'll talk about the bands and scene he's a part of. JJ has been played music in multiple bands and has worked on Grand Rapids events for years. The next show he has lined up is THIS Sat, the 28th, at the Ground Floor in Grand Rapids with Take Cover, The Jamestown Story, Cities Never Sleep and more starting at 6pm.

One reason I think it's worth spending a full hour with JJ on this topic (and actually, it isn't ALL metal, but indie and pop-rock as well) is I'm a huge metal-head as well and too often this music is overlooked, ignored or feared. And beyond that, JJ brings in bands that have a positive message (even if you would never guess it with song names like 'Napalmed Bodies,' hehehe) and gives kids a fun, badass and safe place to rock out and have a good time with friends instead of going out and causing trouble. I hope that presenting this music and concerts on KAXE will help give credibility and build parent-support for the metal scene that is getting stronger each day in Grand Rapids. You need to look beyond the black clothes, crazy haircuts, growls and tattoos, people!

And, if you don't believe I'm a metal head, here's a vid of the band I was in back in college at UMD, Alone (I'm stage left...aka the right of your screen :D). P.S. the guitarist on stage right is Chad Snell from Marcell, now bass player with Take Cover.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.

Karen's Rocky Mountain Blueberry French Toast

We're having a KAXE retreat this morning and I'm waiting diligently for the homemade breakfast to come to out of the oven. Thanks Karen!

Rocky Mountain Blueberry French Toast

12 slices stale French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
16 oz cream cheese, chilled, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup blueberries
12 large eggs
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 cups milk

Generously grease 8 au gratin dishes.* Place 1/2 of the bread cubes in the dishes. Scatter cream cheese over the bread and sprinkle with one cup of the berries. Arrange the remaining bread cubes over the berries. In a large bowl combine the eggs, syrup and milk. Mix and pour evenly over the bread-cheese mixture. Spray the undersides of 8 pieces of foil generously with a vegetable spray and cover each au gratin dish. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, set the dishes out to bring them to room temp. Bake in a 350 degree oven, covered for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until puffed and golden. Serve with blueberry syrup.

*this can also be made in a 9x13 inch pan.

Blueberry syrup

1 cup sugar
2 T cornstarch
1 C water
1 C fresh blueberries
1 T unsalted butter

Combine the sugar, cornstarch, and water over medium high heat. Cook for 5 minutes or until thickened. Stir occasionally. Stir in the blueberries and simmer for 10 minutes or until the blueberries burst. Add the butter. Stir until melted. Drizzle over French toast. Makes 8 servings.

NOTE from Karen: this recipe can be halved. I used fat free cream cheese and used 1/2 of an 8 oz bbrick and used all the maple syrup with 6 eggs. I also baked it for 30 minutes covered, and 30 uncovered....just watch it....every oven is different. I did not put the butter in the sauce either.

Phil Anderson's cheater Black Forest Cake

This morning on What's for Breakfast we talked with KAXE member Phil Anderson from Walker. Phil is the father of four and he recommends snack foods for breakfast. "Yesterday" he told us, "they had chicken wings."

Phil also mentioned a favorite of his kid's - The Black Forest Cake. He called it a "cheater" but that they love it. So here goes!

Phil Anderson's Black Forest Cake

1 pkg devil's food chocolate cake
4 oz chocoate instant pudding
1 c milk
1 pkg soft cream cheese
1 big can cherry pie filling
Whipped cream

Bake the cake! Combine pudding, milk & cream cheese... spread over cooled cake. Layer pie filling on top, then whipped cream.

Have a Shot of Love with Willie Murphy

by Doug MacRostie

Willie Murphy is one of the most influential musicians ever from Minnesota; he was one of the original three Charter Members of MN Music Hall of Fame (along with the likes of Bob Dylan and Prince) and he helped define the sound of R&B and Blues since the 70's through today, including his work with The Angel Headed Hipsters and Willie and the Bees, not to mention his other solo projects and releases. His new double CD is called "A Shot of Live in a Time of Need / Autobiographical Notes" and Willie will talk with me about it this Thursday night at 6 on Centerstage MN.

Willie Murphy creates thought-provoking, fun music and"A Shot of Love in a Time of Need" (his first release with Redhouse Records) is a sizzling soul, funk and R&B album complete with horns, funky rhythms and grooves beyond all boundaries. While this album doesn't have as much political content as some of his other work, the theme of caring for each other and helping each other is strong. "Autobiographical Notes" is a collection of mostly folky miscellaneous tunes he's collected over the years that never seemed to quite fit the project he was working on at the time, and it definitely shows another, and perhaps more personal, side of Willie. With this double CD featuring soul, jazz, funk, rock and folk, this wildly eccentric album embodies the best of Willie Murphy and is sure to be an instant classic.

We'll also hear new music from another outstanding Redhouse Records' artist, The Pines. From Iowa and operating out of MN, The Pines new album "Tremolo" is definitely going to be in my Macedelic Music Awards Top 10 of the Year (that's right, the REAL MMA's will be back agian this year :D).

And we'll hear a song from The Brother Burn Mountain's debut release from a few years back called "The Blood of a Thousand Clouds." BBM is one of the most exciting bands I've discoverd since hosting Centerstage MN (they've been on 3 times) and they've got some gigs coming up this weekend in the area: Thursday the 19th at The Iron Horse in Nevis starting at 7. Friday, the 20th at Bensons in Walker at 7 and on Saturday the 21st they’ll be at Brigid’s Cross Irish Pub in Bemidji starting at 8.

And the show will end with a live/acoustic recording of Take Cover performing on Centerstage MN to help us get ready for our Thanksgiving Special next week: Turkeys will rain from the sky and the Cranberries will flow like blood as we give thanks to MN Metal :D

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.

Give to the Max

Tuesday, November 17th is "Give to the Max" day through www.giveMN.org.

Every donation made during Give to the Max Day will receive a portion of the
$500,000 match. This means the exact amount matched per dollar donated will be determined after Give to the Max Day concludes.

The match begins at 8am (CST) Tuesday and ends 8am (CST) on Wednesday.

If you missed our recent fundraiser, or if you're inclined to give an additional gift before the end of tax year 2009, Tuesday is a great day to do so. To give to KAXE, you may click here:

We encourage you to give to your other favorite non-profits as well. Remember, we're all in this together!

Thank you!

Monday Morning: November Bird Talk

by Scott Hall

Loons are still around. Harry Hutchins and his son, Tyler, heard some while deer hunting last week. This Monday morning, DNR wildlife biologist, Pam Perry, tells us more about them and Winter owls, and gives us a few bird feeding ideas going into winter.

At right is a picture of an Acorn Woodpecker sent by Sandy Roggencamp. It was posted on the MN Ornithological Union's web site after one was spotted last week in Crow Wing State Park south of Brainerd. It's two thousand miles away from where they are usually seen in the American Southwest and Mexico. Laura Erickson has more on the Acorn Woodpecker this Monday morning

A Canoe Grass Revival on Centerstage MN

by Doug MacRostie

Tall people can make good music too, and it's wrong of you to think otherwise!!! Case and point is Pat Surface - as you can see in this picture, even on my tip-toes with my neck stretched out I barely reach his shoulders, hehehe. He has been making music for over 30 years, developing his own blend of acoustic styles. I have met Pat many times (there's something to be said for an established musician who still stops in to give the station his new CD by hand :D) and I might go so far as to say he is THE friendly giant - with an obvious passion for music, love and life. I'll be talking with him tonight on Centerstage MN.

Pat Surface and the Boundary Water Boys' 6th CD is called Canoe Grass Revival, a mix of original and interpreted tunes presented in a 100% recycled package. Hailing from the Ely area of the Great Northwoods, Pat and the Boys' signature sound of "Canoe-Grass" is a mix of folk, blugrass, swing, celtic and more. The music is very true and authentic, heart-felt and positive.

I've also got new music from The Marc Gartband tonight, the uber-new release is called "I Am a Fool For You." Marc Gartman is the singer/songwriter and one of the banjo players with Duluth's Two Many Banjos. But, when he plays guitar instead of banjo it becomes The Marc Gartband. Marc is one of my favorite MN songwriters and we'll also hear from another new project he's doing called Little Grey House - that new CD is called "Howlin' Moon" and we'll hear from both those releases to start the show.

I've also got new music blues and R&B legend Willie Murphy and we'll hear from the debut self-titled release from Marvelle. And we'll hear a new voice to MN's jazz scene: Nancy Harms debuting tonight on Centerstage MN.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.

Board Games are on the Rise!!!

by Heidi Holtan

Tomorrow on the KAXE Friday Morning Show we're going to be talking about board games. In recessions, board game playing and purchasing tend to go up. In the first part of 2009 board game sales have been up 10%. Apparently people are doing more "staycations" and are nesting at home and getting to know their friends and families better. (I'm assuming arguments are included in getting to know people better!)

Tim Walsh is back on our show tomorrow morning. He's the author of "Timeless Toys" and created the game Blurt as well as Tri-Bond.

So what's your favorite game? I asked around KAXE and here's what we came up with...

Scott Hall: bananagrams
Jennifer Poenix: Scrabble
Linda Johnson: Scrabble (WITH DICTIONARIES AND A 2 MINUTE TIME LIMIT)
Mark Tarner: Trivial Pursuit
Maggie Montgomery: Monopoly
Chad Brandt: Sorry
Doug MacRostie: Aggravation
Dan Houg: Scrabble

and me? BOGGLE, definitely BOGGLE. Though I can never find anyone to play it with me.

Fran Tarkenton on the Morning Show this Thursday

by Scott Hall

Vikings Hall of Fame QB, Fran Tarkenton, is our guest Thursday morning at 8:10. Fran starred for the University of Georgia, MN Vikings and NY Giants in the 1960s and '70s. When he retired in 1978, Fran had passed for over 47 thousand yards and 342 touchdowns - NFL records at the time. He led the Vikes to three Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1986. Fran has a new biography, "Every Day Is Game Day".

Tornado Bob's Forecast, November 11-17

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Big Weather Picture: Nov. 11-17
Warmer than average temperatures will continue for the next week. Today (Nov. 11) and Thursday will have warm, cloudy, and windy weather with chances of rain, mostly in northwestern Minnesota on Thursday. Highs will be in the upper 40s to near 50 with lows near 40. Rain chances will continue Friday as a cold front enters the area and temperatures drop. We'll have slightly cooler weather this weekend and into next week with highs mostly in the 40s and lows dropping just below freezing.This mild weather pattern is likely to persist most of the winter. I certainly hope I'm wrong! For the time being, the large scale pattern looks unfavorable for wintry conditions through November 24.
Posted by Ski Talk at 6:16 AM

Phenology poetry from Ms. Hagelie's 4-5-6 graders at the Emily Charter School

Each week on phenology talkbacks with John Latimer, we get to hear students from around the region call in their phenology sitings. One of the regular contributors is from Ms. Hagelie's class at the Charter School in Emily. This week we got a treat of poetry inspired by white pines. Enjoy! (Thanks to Eli Sagor of My Minnesota Woods.org for the photos)

White Pine
White Pine of beauty,
Sticky sap and big pine cones,
Your beauty is so grand.
Roots that go so far,
Green needles against blue sky,
The king of trees is pine.

Written by:
Zinnia

White Pine Big Tree
It has rough bark,
It is the biggest tree ever.
It has lots of needles,
It also has big branches.
It has no leaves.

Written by:
Dawson

Old White Pine
Tall, thick, round, wide, rough,
Soft, pointy, odd,
Old White Pine

Written by:
Charles

White Pine
The White Pine is mossy,
It is hard.
It has thick branches,
It is tall and wide.
It has many branches,
Its needles fall off.
It has indentations,
Some branches are cut off.

Written by:
Ally

The White Pine
Its bark is rough,
Its rather tough.
Its tall and round,
Weighs more than a pound.
Its full of moss and needles,
Home to birds and beetles.
Its bark is as brown as a penny,
It is loved by many!

Written by:
Justine

Our White Pine
The branches are long.
It has lots of pine needles.
Trunk is really wide.

Written by:
Annie

White Pine
The big White Pine towers over the rest.
It’s a big rough and tough tree.
It’s bark is rough, it’s needles pointy,
It’s one great tree!
The branches twist and turn,
Our tree is a White Pine.

Written by:
Nasha

White Pine
So sweet and fine,
You’re the big White Pine.
You’re the biggest I can see,
You are bigger than those other trees.

Written by:
Riley

Monday Morning On KAXE: Learning Ojibwe at the Bug O Nay Gee Shig School

by Scott Hall

The Niigaane Ojibwe language program at the Bug O Nay Gee Shig school is six years old and still growing. We'll talk with the Director of the program, Leslie Harper, this Monday morning at 7:20.

Also, save money with The Northern Cheapskate (6:55) and a new video game review from the Binary Boys (7:55).

Our Professor of Pop Culture, Jack Nachbar, previews and reviews the classic movie, "The Westerner", starring Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan (right). Brennan won an Oscar for his portrayal of "the hanging judge", Roy Bean. The film was made in 1940 and will be shown at The Edge Center for the Arts in Bigfork this Wednesday night at 6:30. Before retiring in the Bigfork area, Jack was a professor of Pop Culture and Film Studies at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Monday at 8:10 or, if you can't listen to these segments, check them out at our archives at kaxe.org.

And Tornado Bob with the weather at 8:45

Dr. Michael Fox and Raw Dog Food

This morning we had our monthly chat with Dr. Michael Fox - he's an animal behaviorist, veterinarian, author and syndicated columnist. And he's as straight a shooter as they come.

Here's links to a couple of things that he mentioned...

DogLeggs - if your dog has raw elbows (maybe from hardwood floors) check this out.

There's a MN based company that makes raw food for dogs (thanks to Jess from the Crow Wing Food Coop in Brainerd for mentioning this today).... Dr. Fox endorses them.... it's called Restoration Raw Vet Recipe.

Tune in the first Friday of the month at 8:15am for Dr. Michael Fox answering your pet questions on KAXE!

Cakes on Realgoodwords this week!

This week I had the chance to talk with NPR producer and cake guru Melissa Gray. Her new book is called "All Cakes Considered". Not only did I enjoy it, but my coworkers did - because I decided in order to be fully "prepared" for this interview, I needed to make a cake at work and see what the response was.

The response was "mmm" and "buttery" and "so moist" and "pass the whipped cream" and "who ate all the cake?"*

The recipe I chose was "The Barefoot Contessa's Sour Cream Coffee Cake". Here's the recipe:

YOU'LL NEED: A 10-inch tube pan

FOR THE CAKE:
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 extra-large eggs
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups sour cream
2 1/2 cups cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

FOR THE STREUSEL
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsps ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp cold unsalted butter cut into pieces
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

FOR THE GLAZE
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
2 Tbsp real maple syrup

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.

2. Cream the butter and the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment for 4-5 minutes until light.

3. Add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla and sour cream.

4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With teh mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Finish stirring with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed.
Melissa's note: Don't worry about sifting - dry whisking will work fine

5. For the streusel, place the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt and butter in a bowl and pinch together with your fingers until it forms crumbs. Mix in the walnuts if desired.
Melissa's note: You can also use a wooden spoon if you don't want to use your fingers.

6. Spoon half the batter into the pan and spread it out with a knife. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup streusel. Spoon the rest of the batter in the pan, spread it out, and scatter the remaining streusel on top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.

7. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Carefully transfer the cake, streusel side up, to a serving plate.

8. For the glaze, whisk the confectioner's sugar and maple syrup together, adding a few drops of water if necessary, to make the glaze runny. Drizzle as much as you like over the cake with a fork or spoon.

Heidi's notes: KAXE staffers couldn't wait the 30 minutes for cooling - and we didn't even take it out of the pan, we just spooned our warm pieces out. Also some (scott) didn't think the frosting was necessary while others (jennifer) did.

Do you bring cakes/cookies/treats to your workplace? What goes over the best?

If you missed the interview, you can hear it here!

*apologies to John Latimer and Mark Tarner who missed out. I'll try another cake on a Tuesday John, I promise.

The Urban Hillbilly Himself on Centerstage MN

by Doug MacRostie

Did you know that there is a strong following of Americana and traditional bluegrass/folk music in Budapest, Hungary? Neither did I until I started prepping for an interview for Centerstage MN. I'll be talking with Erik Brandt of the Urban Hillbilly Quartet about his new solo CD "Sometimes," recorded during his year spent in Budapest. He performs primarily original music described as "Jayhawks-evolving country-folk" and performs both around MN and nationally/internationally. His new CD includes some of the top acoustic musicians in Hungary, and the time Erik spent there spurred a flow of new music and inspired him to finish some previous songs that he "couldn't finish in the U.S." Eric has been playing with the UHQ since forming 1995 & they've put out 8 records. With this being his 2nd solo album, it's his 10th full length record to date and I'm looking forward to talking to him about it.

Plus I've got new music from Willie Murphy's "A Shot of Love in a Time of Need" and Pat Surface and the Boundary Water Boys' "Canoe Grass Revival."

With over 30 years of writing, performing, recording and producing, Willie Murphy is one of the most solid pillars in MN music. Throughout the 70's and 80's Willie and the Bee's defined live R&B/soul music. His new CD is a double disc - the first being a collection of flying R&B tunes, the 2nd with more of a folk-flare.

Hailing from the North Woods of MN, Pat Surface and the Boundary Water Boys have been blending folk, bluegrass, swing, celtic and more for 6 albums now, and Pat will be my guest next week on Centerstage MN.

I'll also mix in Iron Range rockers The Tisdales and Aaron Kaercher from Ely.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.

$45,550 - Thanks So Much!!!

Our first ever 6-Day fundraiser was a wonderful success. Listeners from all over showed their support and got us within a few thousand dollars of our $50,000 goal and thanks to everyone who helps keep community radio possible in Northern MN - we can't do it without you! If you didn't pledge yet, do it now and help us make our goal, Do It Yourself and call 218-326-1234 or 800-662-5799, or Pledge Online! And an extra-big thanks to all the volunteers who came to answer phones, make food and play music - you're the backbone of this place - not just during fundraisers but day in and day out people from all over the area come in and make KAXE something special and unique.