BLOG: Not another boring weekend?
Has this ever happened to you on a date with a friend, a loved one or a roommate?
You: So where are you from?
Them: Logan (or Cache Valley).
You: Oh, cool. Well I’m not from here. What are some fun things to do in Logan?
Them: Uh, I don’t know.
I hate that. You’ve been here 18 to 20-odd years of your life and you don’t know what fun things there are to do? How sad. This is the first of many columns that I hope to write in order to inspire and show you that there is so much to do in Logan and its surrounding areas. These will be ideas for dates, group activities or suggestions of how get yourself out of the house. As an extra, added bonus I will provide recipes or food quirks that will spice up your weekend.
For my first suggestion, and probably most important, I challenge you to explore. Look around you. Utah, and Logan especially, is surrounded by mountains, lakes, parks and rivers. I’m originally from Illinois, and we sadly have no mountains but that does mean our winters don’t stay till May, like they do here.
Nonetheless, I am jealous of the natural landscape Logan and the surrounding areas have to offer. These are the last few days of summer, so take a hike, go swimming, rock climbing, tubing, tree climbing, etc. I could go on and on. If you are willing to drive an hour at the most, then drive toward Bear Lake, and you will see over two-dozen places where people have stopped to hike, fish, rock climb and view the mountains. And at Bear Lake you can swim, go boating and eat extravagant chocolate raspberries.
Be one with Mother Earth and get to know her — maybe even take some of her home with you. I mean, it is hunting season, so if possible go hunting with some friends. If deer doesn’t interest you, then you can go fish many of the rivers or lakes Cache Valley has to offer.
While we are on the subject, I could go for a great deer steak. My first food advice is how do to a good marinade. This weekend you can barbecue either the hunted deer, caught fish or go to a butcher shop like Horlachers — just off Main Street and 700 North) to purchase steaks or chicken that you can put in a marinade.
There are three simple rules to remember to put in your marinade. So first you’ll want oil, don’t be shy with it. The oil will keep moisture in your meat. Vegetable oil is tasteless and will be plenty fine for the cheap college student but specialty oil such as olive oil will add flavor.
The second important factor is acid from vinegar or lemon juice. This will help tenderize your protein and add flavor, but use caution. Too much can “cook” the meat and then when you start to grill, it will become tough and undesirable.
Last, is flavor. Use your creativity with liquids, spices, herbs and vegetables. I heard once that ribs marinated in grape soda are fantastic. Leave your meat in the marinade for a few hours or overnight to let the flavors soak in.
I hope this will help you enjoy Logan more, as well as have a fantastic barbecue. So after reading this, close your laptop, call a friend or hot date, and tell them the plan for your adventure in nature, and how you want to marinade some steaks for a fantastic barbecue. Until next time, enjoy life, laugh a little more and share memories with loved ones and strangers.
— Quince Van Orden graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in culinary arts, in St. Louis and loves the great outdoors. He can be reached at q.c.v@aggiemail.usu.edu.
