Pancakes

When Katie lived in Grand Rapids, we would go out for breakfast at a really cool little diner. It was within walking distance of her house if it wasn't raining. Wonderful, wonderful food. One of my favorites was pancakes with granola and bananas. Sounds weird, but the crunch was so good. I have gotten close to the original recipe.

I make pancakes, used blueberries in them today. The original has banana slices in it, I put them on top, and shake some crunchy cereal on them. Cover with syrup and whipped cream if you are feeling naughty. I don't have any Reddi Whip so settled for sugar free syrup. Didn't have granola so I used Cinnamon Pecan Special K. The possibilities are endless.

A picture of Sean and the kids in Milwaukee for Melissa's wedding last weekend.

Oprah's Top Sandwich

On Saturday, Cyndi and I went into Ann Arbor for lunch at Zingerman's Delicatessen. I have been hearing rave rewiews about this place for years. It is always crowded, and since it is across from the farmer's market, there is never any parking. We arrive in the area just as a angle parking slot across from the deli opens up. Cyndi declares it the "koenig spot" and she slips her pick up in quickly. Since U of M was out for the holiday weekend, the crowds were minimal. The line went around the corner and half way down the block. Only took 15 minutes to get in the door.

Recently, their sandwich, Lisa C's boisterous brisket sandwich, was named on Oprah's show as one of the top ten sandwichs in the US. And Zingerman's served everyone in her audience a sandwich. Since Cyndi had made us brisket on Thursday, we opted to split a Zingerman's Reuben ($12.50), it was huge and served on hand sliced Jewish rye bread. Also split a side of potato salad, that was almost as good as Cyndi's home made. This corned beef sandwich is their number one seller, and they have 7 different corned beef sandwiches, not counting the rachels and other variations. Cyndi's favorite has corned beef with chopped liver with leaf lettuce and Russian dressing.

This whole operation is expertly run, there is a gate keeper that offers free side dish samples and lets you into the store when there is room. Exellent marketing scheme. Two people take orders and explain the process. Then you go pay and find a place to sit. The main building is an historical building, built in 1902. It houses the sandwich making area and store. There is a large patio dining area, another old two story building with a pop/coffee/tea serving bar, and seating on both levels. There is a tiny old house that seems to be a gift shop, it wasn't open. In back there was a large tent for seating also. There were at least 100 people sitting out side. When your order is up a college student brings it out on a tray and hollers "lunch for Cyndi O" or whatever. Takes good lungs to work there. It was a beautiful, sunny day so this was great people watching.

We had new pickles with our sandwich, as opposed to old pickles that are more salty. And we got a jumping ginger cookie, most excellent, tasted like homemade molassas, except better with more ginger. I bought some bagels and raisin pecan bread for breakfast. And now I am hungry for it.

There was a lovely Jewish family in front of us in line, from western PA. In town for a wedding, I am guessing. Cyndi told them a funny joke, but I am sure they thought we were rubes. I regretted not wearing all my gold jewerly and diamonds. Grandma thought I was sadly lacking.

www.zingermansdeli.com The deli will overnight you the makings for 4 of the Rubens for only $100.00. Such a deal!

The Southern Shopping Swing

Had mixed results shopping yesterday. The Hancock fabric is being remodeled and didn't have a lot of fabric. However, Toledo has a very nice Steinmart Store. Talented buyers. They had five different styles of chairs that I loved for the game table in the living room. All in a soft red with bluer undertones. So it goes very well with the navy fabrics. I chose the parsons style, I love them. The fabric is a brushed microfiber. Also found matching pillows. They were quite cheap so a good way to decide if I like the whole concept.

Today we are going up to Ann Arbor to Home Goods, looking for a table, and JoAnn ECT. for curtain fabric. I have two plans to make it work. Surely one will be doable.

We are going to nap lunch at the deli that was featured on Oprah's top ten sandwiches show recently. I think the name is Zingermans. Or Blimpy's, featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives.

Sadly, our favorite coney dog place was demolished for a new Costco. We went to a new place that was rumored to be the same, totally not. The hot dogs were good Michigan dogs, the sauce was ok. Cyndi, Sher and I shared an order of coney cheese fries, and left half the order. The fries were limp and greasy. Cyndi had a serious digestive melt down. bummer

Brisket Heaven

So here we are in Milan, Michigan, apparently the northern center of smoked brisket, right here at the Osterhout Ranch. Wyman and Cyndi made the most delicious brisket for us yesterday. It was smoked for two hours in a wonderful rub, then slow baked for 3 hours. She also made red skin sour cream potato salad, drunken carrot/raisin salad, and a delightful key lime cake for dessert. She invented the drunken salad, soaking raisins in rum (heated in the microwave), mixed with shredded carrots. The dressing is mayo, vinegar and poppy seeds. Most excellent.

It is spring here in the south (of Michigan) the trees are all leafed out, iris are blooming, corn is up. It is sunny and warm. Life is good. Wy and Paul are going fishing on Lake Erie, Cyndi and Sherri and I are going shopping in Toledo. A delightful city full of the worlds best coney dogs.

We will be looking for the elusive, yet perfect, window treatment for my living room. I only work with experts.

Off to Milan, Michigan, of course!

We are going down to Milan, Michigan, to visit with Cyndi and Wyman until Sunday. They qualify as some of our oldest friends still living. A great honor all around. Milan is just south of Ann Arbor, and north of Toledo. Cyndi is a power shopper and we have plans. Paul and Wy are going fishing on Lake Erie and golfing too. Doesn't look like there will be time for Cyndi and I to whip their butts in pinochle. We haven't found time to do that in years. Those two have gotten way too wily. Pet and horse photos later.

Our lake neighbor, Jean Villa, has been up all week. We have had some happy meals together and shopped and watched American Idol last night. I just tried to download the song David Cook sang with ZZ Top. It's not on Itunes and none of the Idol songs are available for downloading right now. Lucky for me I still have the TiVo version. It rocked. This was the first time I followed Idol or watched the last show. Very good entertainment. Jean says it was different/better this time.

Not A Nurse

Steff came home to have three wisdom teeth pulled on Friday. As many of you know, a painful, drug filled occasion. She couldn't swallow, eat, drink, sleep, etc. I was sympathetic for hours . Which used up all my sympathy supply for the next 15 months. I didn't think to keep track of her pain pills. I kept forgetting to make more ice. Not a nurse bone in my body. Sorry, Steff. I did make turkey veg. rice soup. And homemade bread. Easier to remember cooking.

We went to Bob's Bar in Clare on Saturday night. I was tired of all that cooking and nursing. I had Alaskan whitefish, it was very good, mild and tasty. And Jean Villa was at the lake this weekend. She came over for dinner on Thursday and Friday night. We had a great time, she has the best stories! Which she needs to record or write down. Her and John both have had very interesting lives.

Misty Lake Morning

Absolutely beautiful this morning on the lake. We love the reflection of the trees. It got down to 38 degrees today, May 15, Andrea's 30th birthday. Happy Birthday Baby Girl! We even had a frost warning. The fish are jumping like crazy out there. A very large bass just jumped out of the water. I saw a fat gray possum waddle through the yard about 6:30 am. Orioles, cardinals, indigo buntings, gold finches and grosbeaks are feeding. Some Canadian geese are floating across the lake. Pileated woodpeckers have been working on Pete and Brenda's bass wood tree and really hacking away at a tree stump in the yard too. Good work guys.