Some Like it Hot

*edit* Shari’s blog is Meandering Missive, and it is now a live link!*
I got this from Shari at Meandering Missive I thought it was quite interesting, but at least I have Cappin’ Sparrow on my blog! *swoon*

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I know it isn’t about food, but it was just an excuse to post the picture…

We headed north, and decided we had to stop and see Mackinac Island. This Island is known for having no cars, and fudge. There are many things to see and do on this island, but we did a very quick tour.

The downtown is littered with hotels, and pubs. The streets don’t smell so great as we have horse drawn carriages, and well you can’t control where the Horses decide to do Number one…They do clean the streets regularly. The main road is the most crowded, and the other roads are a lot less crowded. You can rent bikes, or get a ride on the horse pulled carriages.

The fudge is outstanding, and a little pricy, but they have so many different flavours. You will however have to decide which stores to go buy your fudge from, and it is a hard decision. Don’t get me wrong they have other sweets for sale too, if you are not a fudge lover.

Click on the thumbnail to make the picture larger

Here is Mackinac bridge Macinac bridge figures and facts!

A picture taken on the Ferry to the Mackinac Island

A deserted looking street; don’t let it fool ya!

This is a picture of one of the beautiful buildings on the island.

I believe this was at Joanne’s fudge shop.

A break from the Michigan posts…

I am so lucky. DH made me the most awesome lunner, dinch, or whatever it is called the meal between lunch and dinner. I made a fake raita (didn’t have all the ingredients, but it was tasty) and a salad with shaved carrots, vine ripened tomatoes, spinach, cracked black pepper, and DH made Grilled Tilapia, and home made Nan Bread, for the first time in his life. OH YEAH BABY!

Yeah, um the nan bread was all a surprise, and it was suppose to be for lunch, but DH misjudged how long it was going to take him to make it all. The nan was buttery, crunchy and soft. This description does not do any justice to how delectable this bread was. Oh, if you’re wondering; no we do not have a Tandoori oven, but DH slapped them on the grill.

Now instead of eating everything separately I made myself a “nan taco” with the spinach salad and pieces of grilled tilapia. Oh my goodness it was outstanding. The nan was warm, and the salad cool; the contrasting temperature was nice! The bread’s nice a crisp exterior and chewy interior, contrasted nicely to the sweet ripe tomatoes, crisp pieces of carrots and spinach, and the smokey grilled fish all made a gang buster taste combination. You could taste everything individually but they also melded together.

You are wondering where the photographs are, and well…Ummm Did I say that it was supposed to be for lunch and we didn’t eat till 4:30 pm? Yeah you couldn’t take my food from me if you tried, or stop and take a photograph.

So, it is another day in Mid Michigan, and stomachee were grumbling and DH and I went in search for food. We decided to go to the Jack Pine restaurant in Harrison for some grub. Sorry this picture does no justice to this small restaurant, but it is pretty small place.

Dh and I ordered Ham, and eggs with country potatoes and homemade toast. Threw in a cuppa’ jo and we were set.

Don’t let this fool ya, Dh and I had a hard time finishing up this delictable brekkie. Oh yes, lets just say I could have eaten toast and I would have been happy! The toast was outstanding, not to mention everything else. The ham was nice and warm, and not too salty which I dislike. Potatoes were great, as they crunched when you bit into them and were all fluff in the center. What a way to start your morning.

DH and I drove out into the back roads to get some photgraphs, when DH decided I would really enjoy going to a Amish furniture store! Oh yeah. We went to Benchley’s Amish furniture store, and I wanted so many things!

This is a close up of an amish buggy for display at Benchley’s. I did have another picture to share, but most Amish don’t like their stuff photgraphed and I did not feel right posting it online. ( The Online Amish Police are Big Brother… Just kidding. )

I’m so aorry I could not show you the furniture at Benchley’s because I think the hand crafted solid woood furniture were gorgeous, but photography is not permitted inside the store. If you happen to be in Clare Michigan ask around for directions to Benchley’s you won’d regret the visit.

One last stop, we stopped in Midland for some bakery bread. It is MIL’s favourite bakery for bread like comestibles, and bought a white country round, and a cheese loaf. The cheese loaf made the best grilled cheese sammiches…No pictures as there were ravenous homo sapiens with big fangs roaming about trying to steal your cheesy yumminess.
But I will leave you with a picture of the case where they displayed their breads. You will have to excuse us as we came late and most of the bread was sold out.

If you wondering what this bakery is called, well I forgot, and I will have to ask the MIL.
Also the FIL and MIL are now on High speed internet! HI!!!!!

Until next time I can untangle my fingers and post, have a great day folks!

DH and I took a red eye from SFO to Cincinnati for a two-hour lay over, and flew into Grand Rapids Michigan. Arriving there just around six pm. in time for supper. We stopped by Carrabba’s Italian grill. (Sorry I did not take photographs the camera was packed I had been up for way too long on 2 hours of sleep.) We had eaten there with my in-laws before, and I was looking forward to a tasty meal. I do believe this is a chain restaurant, which at the time I did not know.

The interior of the restaurant is dim, and cozy with a bar area near the entrance, and tables, and open kitchen to your right. We were seated at a booth, and given fresh warm bread and herbs and olive oil for dipping. The bread was delicious and chewy and I could have made a meal out of the bread a lone but alas I needed more sustenance.

The menu is short but varied.

Carrabas Italian Grill’s menu
I ordered the breaded grilled fish with tomato vinaigrette, vegetables on the side, and a salad starter. DH and my Father in Law (referred as FIL) ordered the lentil soup, and Chicken Marsala, and fillet grilled steak respectively. My Mother in law (MIL) ordered the special which was agrilled chicken with a butter sauce. ( I may be wrong as I was tired when we ate, but the food was good!)

The meal was wonderful. The salad was crisp, delicious, and I admit I ordered the dressing on the side. One for health reasons and as I do not trust most people to dress the salad lightly.) Everything in the salad was fresh, and none of the wilted slightly old taste you get in some restaurants. The lentil soup smelled wonderful, and felt creamy to the tongue, but the lentils were not mushy. The only down side is that FIL thought it was too spicy, and Dh and I thought it was too salty.

The entrees arrived and we were blissfully in heaven. FIL’s steak was cooked to perfection, and tender with a some chew which made you want to eat more. The steak also came with a dipping sauce that was quite delicious on everything! My fish was delicately spiced and the breading had a nice crunchy exterior, and the interior was light and moist. The tomato vinaigrette was disappointing as it disappeared altogether. That was my fault as I switched the sauce from a butter sauce. MIL’s chicken was tender, and delicious with a hint of spiciness, and ther was a butter sauce that made the dish more decandent., but DH’s Chicken Marsala won the prize. The chicken was moist and tender, and covered with mushrooms and of course the sauce. The sauce was not over powering, but married well with the chicken enhancing the flavour. The sauce was dark and silky with mushrooms studding the sauce, and I will have to practice in making such a sauce!

Everyone left the restaurant full and satiated. The only problem was we had a two-hour car trip left to go, before I could hit the hay. **YAWN**

Carrabba’s Italian Grill