Wisconsin Summer Cheese Board with Beer Boiled Brats

I just got back from a week in Northern Wisconsin at my family’s lake home.  While my intention was to stay a bit connected on my social media platforms, once there on the lake, I only wanted to be there, totally present with family and nature.  I unplugged.

Northern Wisconsin holds many memories for me growing up.  Summer weekends were often spent on the lake, enjoying nature, easy meals with family and friends, and just being away – a change of scenery, even if only for the weekend.  Life seemed uncomplicated, easy, and so perfect.  Summer vacations in Northern Wisconsin are my favorite to recharge, connect with myself, family and the great outdoors.  What can I say, I love Wisconsin in the summer.

Now as  an adult, mother, and wife the weekends up north are at least a week long, coming all the way from Georgia.  My hope is that my daughters are creating the memories that will compel them to want to return year after year to unplug, relax, enjoy family, nature and of course reminisce about the summer of 2017, kayaking on the lake, watching eagles over head, and eating the bounty of Wisconsin produce, beer boiled brats and lots of CHESSE.

On our way north we stopped in at Madison’s Dane County Farmers’ Market, held Saturday mornings 6:15 am – 1:45 pm in the summer season. The market was overflowing with green beans, carrots, sugar snap peas, lettuces, tomatoes, strawberries, cherries…..CHEESE and so much more. This farmers’ market wraps around the entire Wisconsin State Capitol and usually takes us at least an hour to walk and discover all the amazing vendor offerings, my market bag was so heavy at the end!

Once at the lake, I put together a summer cheese board with all our farmers’ market purchases; including Cave Aged Chandoka and Goat Cheese Curds from LaClare Family Creamery and St. Dorian from Capri Cheese, Door County Cherries, organic strawberries, carrots, sugar snap peas, grape tomatoes with basil and slice beer boiled brats.