SPRING REALLY?

The calendar says it's spring but it's 11 degrees this am and there was a little snow-again-  last night. Spring should look like this, but maybe next month.  There are things to do inside though-Hidden Lake Gardens here in the Irish Hillswww.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu  has their SPRING bulb show thru March 24 in the conservatory(it's beautiful) and next weekend is the EasterEgg-stravangza.
Ann Arbor is finishing their Film Festival this weekend also www.visitannarbor.org and April 5 & 7 is their FoolMoon & FestiFools BIG street party.
Closer to the Irish Hills is the town of Tecumseh's www.downtowntecumseh.com  Downtown Divas at Dusk Event- March 28 5-9. Grab your sisters, daughters, moms, and enjoy special promotions, refreshments, prizes and just plain FUN!

 Spring is coming-the Sandhill Cranes are back, the Turkeys are out and about and we have a flock of 30-40 Cedar Waxwings. This area is truly a bird-watchers paradise.
One other event this weekend here in the Irish Hills, is Cherry Creek Winery's 10th anniversary celebration. Saturday March 23 11-6 enjoy food tastings, entertainment and discounts .http://.www.CherryCreekWine.com

March IRISH MONTH!

Bet you didn't know that in 1995, the U.S. Congress designated March as National Irish-American Heritage Month, and since we live in the IRISH HILLS, I thought I should write a little blurb.
Irish immigrants made their way all over the state of Michigan during the mid-1800s. The work they did was as varied as where they settled. They worked for lumber barons or the growing railroads, and were sometimes paid with land, hence the Irish settlements north of Grand Rapids, and those near Ann Arbor and Jackson, where they could do farming, which many had done in Ireland. Others worked as miners, longshoremen, and fishermen.

The IRISH HILLS of Jackson and Lenawee counties is so named because the rolling landscape reminded those fleeing the potato famine of home. And, you can kick off ST.Patrick's Day by Experiencing the IRISH HILLS! Visit the Hills March 9-10, 2013, and partake of the TASTE OF THE IRISH HILLS. There are 17 restaurants participating  and tickets are $15 and includes both days. Check www.brooklynmi.com for details, and  look for discounts on lodging Saturday night. Spring is right around the corner and this would make a nice getaway.

Fat February

It's nearly over! Never realized how much high calorie eating is packed into this month. We start with the Super Bowl, then Chinese New Year, and on to Valentine's Day. There's snacks, candy-chocolate, and DESSERT, after your romantic meal with your Valentine.

Then there was Fat Tuesday and paczki"s(700 calories a bite-not quite), and king cake.

Well, this is the last Holiday-President's Day, and since cherries are a tradition for this holiday, I will post a recipe in their honor.

CHERRY SCONES  (betty crocker)

heat oven to 400*

2 cups white whole wheat flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup cold butter,cut into 8 pieces

1/2 cup dried cherries

1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

1 egg beaten

1 tsp vanilla or almond extract    1/2 cup whipping cream

In lrg bowl, mix flour,sugar,baking pwd,salt. Cut in butter until mixture is fine crumbs. Stir in cherries,chocolate,egg,extract, cream, until dry ingredients are moistened. Place dough on lightly floured surface & knead lightly 10 times. Pat dough into 8-inch circle on ungreased cookie sheet.Cut into 8 wedges with knife dipped in flour but don't separate wedges.Bake 18-20 minutes until lite brown. Remove immediately from cookie sheet and separate wedges. Serve warm.

Only 390 calories per serving-a fitting end to February-don't you think?

Cheers for February-Cherries, Hearts,Chocolate

February is National Cherry Month, and we usually think of cherries as red-bright red tart cherries, dark red sweet cherries, but there are also yellow sweet ones. Michigan growers provide more than 70% of the nation's tart cherries, and Traverse City is the cherry capital of the world!

And, who chopped down the cherry tree? was it George Washington? I think so.

February is a very important month-Valentines Day, President's Day, and now Cherries. And your health tip of the day-tart cherries are loaded with antioxidants, they have anti-inflammatory properties, and help fight heart disease.Dark chocolate, cherries, what a month!

FOOD FRENZY

I was invited this past week to a food show in Saline, Michigan, which was held in a most magnificant building. For me, the beauty of the building almost overshadowed the food show. It was the Stone Arch Arts and Events building.

This show was all Michigan-made products and some vendors came quite a distance -Kalamazoo, Alpena, Adrian, Michigan. The products ranged from beef and pork, poultry and eggs, to barbecue sauce, salsa, herb teas, and pie. 2 products that caught my interest was Hickory sirup-ever heard of it?-made from Hickory tree bark and sweetened with sugar beet sugar, and very tasty dbrereton@comcast.net; and an Artisan Bread Mix which comes from Tecumseh,Michigan, right here in Lenawee county.www.easyartisanbread.com. I have a package of Old World Rye Bread Mix  and a Whole Wheat mix to which I am going to add cinnamon, raisins and a little sugar. The vendor had samples at the show and that was very good, as was the pizza flavor.
Another vendor was Mrs. Glee's Foods www.mrsgleesfoods.com , which was Gluten free foods. He had pastas, flours, and many mixes-cookie, crackers, pizza, just to name a few.
As you can tell, I was impressed, and it was well worth our time. That was the day of one of several Michigan snowstorms to hit us lately, but I'm glad we went.