A part of the Battle Creek city water system has been shut down for repairs, and customers in the affected area are advised to boil the water before using it for human consumption. That includes drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation.
Go here to read the rest: New boil-water advisory for part of Battle Creek
In a restaurant, chefs are trained– from day one– to follow one simple rule: Do not waste food.
Restaurants are in business to make money and restaurants cannot stay afloat if they throw away a great deal of food.
I am not referring to spoiled food or food from customer’s plates (thank goodness), but I am talking about the so-called scraps that most people throw out every day.
When you cut onions, save the skins and ends. Save every part that you would normally throw away. Do the same with every other vegetable you process in your kitchen. Save all of the ends and all of the scraps in a brown paper bag in your refrigerator.
In classic French restaurants, throwing away onion skins is a serious offence. You could actually lose your job!
The same goes for bones of any kind or even lettuce scraps.
Save everything that is not rotten or spoiled, “scrap” or not! Then, once or twice per week (depending on how much vegetable scrap you accumulate), you throw it all into a pot, fill the pot with water, and boil everything for three to six hours.
When you are finished, drain all of the water from the scraps, using a colander, and you will have stock.
If it’s just vegetable scraps in your pot, you will have a big pot of vegetable stock. If you’ve thrown some bones or shrimp shells in there, you will have a stock that tastes like the scraps from whatever protein or proteins that you used.
The stock is full of vitamins and nutrients; the very same nutrients that would normally go in the trash as “scrap.” You may not want to eat a leafy carrot top, but there is nothing wrong with extracting all of the flavor and nutrients.
So what can you do with the stock, now that you have made it?
1. You could make a delicious soup for starters. You could add noodles or beans or whatever your heart desires; the world is your oyster.
2. You could thicken it and make a sauce. Gravy, for example, is nothing more than stock that is thickened with flour and butter (or pan drippings). Add a little red wine to the gravy and now you have a fancy French brown sauce, good enough for any steak.
3. Most importantly though, you can use it in recipes instead of water. When you boil pasta or make a rice dish for your family, why not boil in stock? The pasta or rice will absorb all of the nutrients and flavor that are in the water and your family will be healthier for it.
I realize that most people don’t like the idea of making soups and gravies, but everyone needs to use water to cook with.
Why not take those carrot tops that you were going to throw away and make a nice carrot stock? Then use that beta-carotene rich stock to boil your children’s macaroni and cheese noodles. You’ll be getting them all of their vitamins and they won’t even know it.
Plus, you’ll be saving a ton of money in the process.
The author is a former chef who currently resides on Mackinac Island and operates: http://mackinacpubcrawl.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_C_George
Read more from the original source: How to Make Nutritious Soup Stock and Save Money Too!
MUSKEGON — Muskegon has celebrated fireworks, music, airplanes and motorcycles through a series of successful regional festivals. Outside of two tall ship festivals more than a decade ago, Muskegon’s water and maritime draw has not been part of the local festival lineup.
See original here: Boating enthusiast wants to put Muskegon Lake on the destination map
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Officials in Battle Creek say a portion of the city’s water system has been shut down for improvements or repairs.
Read more here: Boil water advisory in Battle Creek
By Cedric Agravante
It’s not often that you head out on a vacation planning to hit up the local farms, but in Michigan you might just want to. Michigan is one of the top apple-producing states in the U.S., and is known for being home to hundreds of farmers markets and cider mills. Just about any region in Michigan will have a farm or mill for you and the family to stop in for a bit. Enjoy fresh apple cider and tours of working farms to find out where these fruits come from before they hit your local grocery store. Of course, because there is much more to do than visit apple farms, your Michigan family vacation will be jam-packed with fun for everyone.
Michigan Coast Dotted with Over a Hundred Lighthouses
Michigan is the only state in the United States to be bordered by four great lakes. Because of this, its coast is dotted with over a hundred lighthouses, all with unique features and some with very interesting back stories. Though many of the lighthouses are still in use, others have been abandoned and others still are in the process of renovation. Though you may not be able to tour all of them, the few that do offer tours or that have museums are usually worth stopping to see. Even if you just stop for a few photos, lighthouses make fantastic pictures, especially when you can tell admirers that you took them yourself.
Stop at Any One of Fifty Wineries and Vineyards
To continue with some of the agricultural gifts that the state of Michigan has to offer, be sure to make a few stops at any one of its nearly fifty wineries and vineyards during your vacation. Some offer tours of the entire process from harvesting the grapes to the final product, while others are simply tasting rooms showcasing some of the magnificent wines that Michigan has to offer. Even if you are traveling with children, it’s still a great place to stop. They may find it very interesting to see the acres upon acres of perfectly lined-up vines and to see machinery that assists in the process.
Several Amusement and Water Parks to Choose From
After you’ve dragged your precious little angels through apple farms, countless lighthouses and a handful of wineries, it may be time to do something special for them. Michigan has several amusement parks and water parks to choose from, depending upon where you are. Of course the water parks will only be operational during the warm summer months, but if you’re in Michigan during this time, have at it. There is the A-Maze-N Mirrors in Mackinaw City in which you will find yourself mystified and maybe a little lost in a – that’s right, maze made of mirrors. In Ossineke, stop by the Dinosaur Gardens to see a reproduction of nearly thirty prehistoric birds and dinosaurs. Even play a little miniature golf while you’re there.
Pop into One of Michigan’s Casinos
If your particular Michigan family vacation does not include children, or if you find yourself child-free with a few hours to spare, you might decide to pop into one of Michigan’s casinos and try your hand at some cards, slots or a roll or two of the dice. Detroit has three casinos in the city itself, and there are several other throughout the state. If you’re not much of a gambler, you can still enjoy the food and entertainment, much like Las Vegas but on a much smaller scale. Now that you have an idea of what Michigan has to offer, start planning your vacation accordingly, and don’t forget to take lots of pictures!
About the Author: Visit Vacation-Fun.com to learn more about Michigan family vacation and Bahamas fishing vacation.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=210944&ca=Travel
See the original post here: Michigan Family Vacation: More Than Just Apples And Lighthouses
The Lake Michigan shoreline is only a short distance from Historic White pine Village, which lies a few miles South of Ludington on Lower Michigan’s Western coast. The “village” is a collection of twenty-five historic buildings and sites that are open to the public for self-guided tours. Combined, these buildings contain thousands of artifacts from days-gone-by, including signs, tools, musical instruments, furnishings and other items. The village also maintains the records for the County Historical Society and will research those records for specific information upon request.
Like all good villages, this one has a Chapel, and it features an organ built in the 1860s. The Chapel is available for rental for private weddings, baptisms and memorial services. There is a one room school (built in 1895) that can still be reserved for classes and otherwise is available for tours; and a town hall (1879) that houses an old fashion ice cream parlour.
The Rose Hawley Museum contains many artifacts including music instruments, tools, housewares, toys and an 1800 vintage camera. Nearby is the first county courthouse which was built in 1849 and moved in the late 1900s to White Pine Village. This was the first frame building in the county and it was constructed from lumber found washed up on the lake shore. Michigan supplied a lot of lumber to the Chicago area in the 1800s, most of which was delivered across Lake Michigan. A number of shipwrecks occurred and there was also the normal loss of a small amount of cargo. This salvaged lumber is what the courthouse was constructed of.
A short stroll away, the Abe Nelson Lumbering museum contains a collection of lumbering tools and memorabilia from the last century. The museum building is in the style of the great lumbering camps that once dotted Michigan’s forests and helped rebuild Chicago after the great fire.
The Burns Farmhouse is an original farmhouse from the 1880s complete with furnishings. The Jorissen Barn has been relocated nearby and is an authentic barn from the early part of the century that was built using only wooden pegs to secure the main beams. The farmstead setting also houses the cooper shop and a learning skills center.
Wm E. Anderson’s Hardware Store is an exact replica of a turn-of-the-century hardware that operated in Ludington for many years. The store and the inventory on the shelves has been recreated from photographs of the original store.
There is so much more to see than can be described in a short article. A visit to Historic White Pine Village will be a fond memory. This stop probably would not be as much fun for very small children as a trip to the beach–which is only a few miles away–but adults and older children should find a lot to enjoy and learn about.
Billy Oatey grew up in Northern Lower Michigan and has enjoyed hiking and fishing in many places within the State. In his travels around Michigan, he often carries mugs of coffee or bottled water and has seen first hand how disposable plastic bottles are ruining the wild parts of our world. He now sells stainless steel water bottles and travel mugs at his blog http://stainlesssteeltravelmug.org.
The average person can find it difficult to do anything for the ecology, but using recyclable and reusable bottles and cups is something everyone can do easily.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Billy_Oatey
Read the original: Michigan Vacation Spot – Historic White Pine Village
We were thinking about going to Muskegon Michigan to check out the Michigan adventure amusement park but, I am not familiar with Muskegon or Muskegon Heights. I Have heard that Muskegon Heights is like the ghetto . would this be a decent vacation spot for a few days. Nice beaches? amusement and water park? Anyone ever been there and where is the best place to stay?
Best reply by Xeod:
Muskegon is a typical “rust belt” Michigan city that grew up not as a enchanting tourist town but, rather, as an industrial, working class city. It’s not as bad as Detroit, but it is not high on the list of tourist destinations. Michigan Adventure amusement park is actually located about 15 miles North of Muskegon, near the town of Whitehall. It’s not a big park like 6 Flags or Cedar Point, but it is a pretty good value with both the water park & the amusement park. There are 3 State Parks in the area and all feature great beaches on Lake Michigan. There are several franchise hotels & motels in the area but I, personally, would avoid those in and near the city. You might want to consider staying in Grand Haven, a nice tourist town South of Muskegon or Whitehall, North of the city, and make day trips to the amusement park, beaches, etc.
Read the original question here
Thinking about a vacation in Muskegon Michigan?
I would like to travel in Michigan, but I’m not sure where to go. Where are some good resorts, amusement/water parks, national parks, hotels, pretty much anything fun and memorable. I am open to any ideas/suggestions!
I was thinking of Boyne Mountain too, does anyone have any reviews of it?
Best reply by j:
Mackinac Island is a quaint, quiet place that’s great for spending a relaxing weekend. With no cars, etc, it’s almost like traveling back in time.
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Where is a great place to vacation in Michigan during the summer?
in Detroit Michigan/ surrounding Detroit area that has a water front / or is near water?
My sisters birthday is in 2 weeks and i want to make reservations at a nice restaurant for her birthday. She really likes water so im trying to find a restaurant near the Detroit River … but i cant figure out any names of the restaurants. Im trying to find some stuff on google … but im not really having any luck. I thought there would be some kind of list or something ? that shows restaurants that are near the Detroit River / or any water.
Also, if you live in the Detroit area … please make some suggestions!
**Money is not an issue
thanks in advance!
Best reply by Paras:
try information on your phone or your yellow pages. Its that old outdated thing that used to list addresses and phone #s, before google came out.
Read the original question on Yahoo! site
How can i find a restaurant …?
