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Our version has a sort-of Super Bowl tie-in

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One thing I love about a seaside vacation is seafood.

So, here it is winter in Ohio – no sea in sight. What’s a guy to do?

Here’s my answer:  Create Icon Monopoly Clam Chowder.

It’s so easy that after creating it, I wondered why it took me so long to realize that I don’t need the seacoast to enjoy it.

The only decision need prior to creating your own Icon chowder is – which version, Manhattan (with tomatoes) or New England (no tomatoes).

In honor of the approaching Super Bowl, I chose New England. Here's what you need:

And you don't need to tip anyone

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Why order out when you can make it yourself?

Have you ever craved sweet and sour shrimp so much that you decided to try creating it from scratch?

Be prepared for a pleasant surprise. We did. It worked.

It worked so well we made it again. Like most surprises, it’s easier to create than you think. The second time is even easier.

In fact, our recipe, from start to sit down, goes faster than ordering and waiting for the delivery. And you don’t have to tip.

Here goes:

Try the Icon Cranberry Faux Apple Pie

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As a sometimes impulse shopper, cranberries call me from their seasonal spot on the grocery shelf usually in mid-December. This year I answered the call.

But, because cranberries grow up in a bog you don’t just pop them into your mouth like candy or popcorn. They apparently need to be baked to eliminate the bog effect.

And unless you act decisively, the bag of berries ends up in the back of the ‘frig until Easter.

Not this year.

Visions of a cranberry-based pie danced in my head as I held the two-cup bag of Michigan bog boys.

A pie can't distinguish between over-ripe fruit and ripe fruit

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The Iconoclast baker saw that pears were on sale over the weekend.  The price was right because the pears were pretty darn soft.

However, knowing that a pie can’t distinguish between over-ripe and ripe fruit, four large, over-ripe, red pears went to the Icon kitchen.

To make things interesting we also bought 2 large apples that weren’t too soft or too stiff.

Here’s what happened next.

• Peel four large pears and slice into small chunks
• Peel two large apples and slice into small chunks
Mix the slices

In a separate bowl add:

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Want to win a Bluffton Icon cap?

The Icon wants to know what viewers think of when you think of the Icon.

To discover the answer, for the next six weeks, the Icon tosses out a weekly question for viewers to ponder.

The viewer offering the best answer for each week’s question will win this week’s cap.

Here’s this week’s question:
"If the Icon was an animal, what kind of animal would it be? Please offer a brief explanation of why you think the Icon is the animal you mention."

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Three fantastic pie recipes

This year's Bluffton Relay for Hope pie auction set a record with 28 pies sold for a total of $1,877, according to Esther Spaeth.

Kathy Miles’ cherry pie won first place, Jamey Miles (son of Kathy and James) was second with a caramel pie. Brent Warren was third with old-fashioned all American apple pie. All three are from Jenera. 

Judges were Jeff Stratton and Matthew Gillett. The auctioneer was Dave Warren.

First Place Winner
Kathy Miles’ Cherry Pie
Double crust pie dough

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