Happy Belated Birthday Detroit!

I knew long in advance that yesterday was Detroit's 323rd Birthday, but I got caught up in another project and let a birthday post fall through the cracks.  So I'm writing a belated post today instead. 

Detroit was founded in 1701 by French Explorer, Antoine de la mothe, Cadillac.  The City has had it's ups and downs in history, but it's presently experiencing a comeback and amazing renewal.

It was once known as the Automobile Capital of the World with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler headquartered in the City.

Detroit loves its sports teams... Detroit Tigers [baseball], Detroit Pistons [basketball], Detroit Lions [football], and Detroit Red Wings [hockey].

Authentic snack foods made in Detroit are Better Made Chips, Faygo Soft Drinks and Vernor's Ginger Ale [great for ice cream floats], and Popcorn from Detroit Popcorn Company. Detroiter's also love Sander's Bumpy Cake and Hot Fudge Ice Cream Puffs, and if you want more substantial food, an iconic Detroit Coney Island Dog, or a slice of Buddy's Pizza is a must.

The Whitney Restaurant [where I work as Tea Director] held a Birthday Party Celebration yesterday in the garden, with a menu of Detroit's classic foods, complimentary gift bags of "Detroit Snacks", free Birthday Cake, a live DJ with Detroit-curated music, and a meet-and-greet with Daniel Crawford, author of "Detroiter at Heart".

The birthday party celebration is over, but the 3-course Detroit Classic menu is still available through July 28th.

Starter Course:  Chef Milos' famed Golden Mushroom Soup or the classic Hudson's Maurice Salad.

Entree:  Better Made Chip Chicken; Carl's Chophouse chargrilled Delmonico; Vernors glazed Salmon; or a twist on Mousska celebrating Detroit's Greek heritage.

Dessert:  Bumpy Cake or Coconut Cream Pie reminiscent of Darby's, a long-gone Detroit Restaurant.

I'm ending this post with the reminder that Christmas is exactly five months from today!  How can that be???

Checking In

There haven't been any blog posts in 12 days primarily because nothing much has been happening to write about.  But I wanted you to know I'm alive and well.  Life continues with my job two days a week that is going well.  I watched the Republican Convention on TV all three nights last week, followed by J.D. Vance's Netflix movie, "Hillbilly Elegy." Unbelievable, yet true!  I don't know how someone who endured so much dysfunction and abuse as a child was able to rise above it and make something out of himself in adulthood.  And yet I do - God, grit, determination, a good wife and probably some therapy.  Amazingly, through it all he was able to forgive his mother for the huge role she played in the dysfunction and abuse and love her in spite of it.  

Hubby and I went out to dinner on Sunday with some good friends after church.  The food and fellowship was great, and the Chinese restaurant helped me stay on my plant based fiber food menu [Chicken Subgum].

You may remember I purposefully began plant based fiber food menus on May 28th [for optimal gut microbiome] and I'm still staying with it.  Some days contain more fiber foods [fruits and vegetables] than others, but at least I'm conscious of its importance and am sticking with it.

As you know, I enjoy cooking and find it hard to resist cookbooks.  I ordered a new cookbook that arrived last Friday.

I'm a fan of Natasha's, who is a self-taught cook.   I've received her cooking e-mails in my inbox for a long time.  Her family fled Ukraine in 1988 to avoid religious persecution, and Natasha proudly professes her faith in Jesus Christ.  I'm anxious to sit down with the cookbook and a cup of tea to go through it.

Since yesterday was a low-key day, I spent a good part of the afternoon preparing dinner.  I got a recipe for Pasta with Spinach, Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions on the Internet and decided to give it a try.  The recipe began with making the caramelized onions - about a 30 minute process. The Internet is full of articles about the health benefits of onions.  The unsung hero is high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, while low in calories.

The recipe called for farfalle pasta, but I had whole wheat orzo in the pantry, so I used that instead.  We liked the recipe a lot and it made enough to enjoy for two nights.  I paired it with another recipe I found on the Internet - Crispy Parmesan Baked Cod.  The 'crispy' is obtained by mixing whole wheat Panko breadcrumbs with a little Parmesan cheese, butter and lemon juice, and sprinkling it over the cod before baking.  It's delicious.  I've found that Costco's wild caught cod is better than what I was buying at the fish market.

I also roasted a sheet pan of cauliflower and chick peas.  Really got my plant based fiber in last night's dinner!  ;-)

And as always, tea is a part of my day.

As Seen From My Window

We've lived in our house 46 years [1978] and over time tree roots broke the drain tiles that run along the back of our property line and our neighbor's.  We weren't having any water problems, but our neighbor was.  City Engineering came out to access the situation and concluded the drain couldn't be repaired and would have to be replaced. 

When I opened the blinds in the spare bedroom this morning the men were already at work digging up the old drain tiles [with the assistance of machinery] and putting the new line in. This was a work day for my hubby - during the summer he's part of a General Motors retiree mentoring program for high school students - so I took photos throughout the day to send him via text messages.

I'm glad I don't have a flower garden along the fence line because it would have been dug up today.

Moving right along...

Almost done in our yard...

They said they'll level the dirt and put grass down when they're finished, and everything should look as it was before.  We'll see...

While they were working outside, I was busy working inside on my Shutterfly album.  Below is a screen shot of the front and back cover of the album taken from my Shutterfly project page. The album begins with the first of three all-family vacations to Mytle Beach, South Carolina, so it seemed fitting to put the Atlantic Ocean on the cover.  

When I called work today to get a guest count for tomorrow's Mansion Tea they told me 140 guests had reservations.  That's a lot for a Friday.  Afternoon Tea is alive and well in 'The D'.

Keeping in Touch

This will be a short post as I'm working on another Shutterfly album and the coupon expires this Sunday, but I do want to keep in touch.

Yesterday when I was in the grocery store I passed a tea display and couldn't resist stopping to take a picture.  I've never heard of Twisted Tea before but I love their advertising display - America Parties with Tea.

My son, Jeremy, sent a text and photo of Ellie yesterday modeling the outfit we gave her for her birthday, and saying she loves it.   The background wall mural is in Portland, MI [about an hour from Zeeland] and is advertising Courageous Coffee Cafe & Bakery Shop.  It was painted in August 2023.  The City is by the Looking Glass River as seen in the mural.

Granddaughter, Tiffany, sent a photo of her family taken in California on the 4th of July.  

Lastly, I'm still on my quest to consume more fiber foods, so yesterday's dinner was a Swiss Cheese, Broccoli, Mushroom and Bacon Quiche served with a Spinach Strawberry Salad [which I recently provided the recipe]. Today's menu will be Chicken, Tomato and Cheese Quesadillas with a Romaine Garden Salad.  A quick easy meal so I have more time to spend working on my Shutterfly album.

A blog reader from Kansas recently wrote me and while sharing her interest in travel stated she has been to 49 states.  That made me wonder how many states I've been to and I came up with 38.  Not sure if I'll ever get to all of the other 12 remaining states but I hope to get a few more crossed off before my traveling days are over.  Do you know how many states you've visited?  According to a 2022 YouGov poll the average American has visited 17 states and Washington D.C.   Only 2% have visited all 50 states.  

Take care, and Michigan readers stay dry as today promises to be a wet one!

 

4th of July Birthday Celebration

As promised, I'm sharing photos of granddaughter Ellie's 12th birthday yesterday.  Every year her maternal aunt hosts a 4th of July gathering at her home [she has a huge backyard with a pool and all kinds of play equipment for children], and a birthday celebration for Ellie and her two twin cousins who have July 6th birthdays are part of the festivities.  The yard is better equipped and more private than going to a park.

~ Ellie and her Dad ~

Grandson, Landon, is 15 years old and almost as tall as his 6' 4" dad!  

Opening presents is always the fun part of a birthday celebration.  Ellie has 18 first cousins on her maternal side of the family, and most of them were at the gathering.  That's cousin Stella curiously waiting to see what's inside Ellie's package.

~ Ellie with Dad and Mom ~

Cake Time!

After the fireworks last night they came over to our house to spend the night before heading back home to Zeeland this morning.  It was a fun day.

Happy 4th of July!

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy 4th of July as we celebrate our Nation's Independence and 248th Birthday.  I'm proud and thankful to be an American.

I smiled when I read the subject heading in an e-mail from The Cultured Cup this morning.  It said, Red, White and Brew!  And I have indeed brewed this morning.

We will be going to a family gathering later today where we'll be celebrating our youngest grandchild's 12th birthday.  Pictures will be forthcoming, but for now I'm off to my kitchen to put together a large pan of mostaccioli to take to the outdoor gathering.  Mother Nature is giving us a beautiful day.

A Recipe With a Memory

Many moons ago - 47 years, 1977 - we rented a cottage on West Traverse Bay in Traverse City, MI for a family vacation.  Our two oldest children, Lori and Steve, still remember it.  In 2011 we went back for another all-family vacation in Traverse City, with the kids all grown up and families of their own. Steve wanted to see if we could find the cottages, and we did!

2011 vacation.  As you can see, I gained a 'few' pounds since 1977 and the family expanded from two kids to three with spouses and seven grandchildren.

Back to the 1977 vacation... my hubby's aunt Dorothy lived near Traverse City on Long Lake, so we went to visit her.  While there I got her recipe for Sweet and Sour Cabbage.  She passed away in 2004, but her recipe lives on.

It's been a long time since I've made it, but now that I'm trying to increase my daily intake of veggies and fruit [and hubby's also], I decided to make it for dinner last night along with stuffed peppers.  No fancy staging for the photo below, and as you can see I still use my cornflower Corningware that I received for a wedding shower gift 58 years ago!

Of course I had to look up the nutritional value of both foods.  ;-)  Purple cabbage is richer in beneficial plant compounds than green cabbage and its health benefits include reduced inflammation, a healthier heart, stronger bones, improved gut function and protection against certain types of cancers. 

Since it is high in fiber, some people with sensitive digestive tracts might limit intake to avoid gas and bloating.  It can also disrupt thyroid function in some people and interact with blood thinners, diabetes drugs and acetaminophen [pain relievers].  All these disclaimers remind me of the precautions printed on drug prescription printouts.  You read it and are afraid to take the medication.  If you don't have any of the conditions for potential problems, this is a good recipe to try.

Sweet and Sour Cabbage

                        1 medium firm red/purple cabbage

                        6 sliced of bacon

                        1 medium onion, chopped [I used a purple onion]

                        1 teaspoon salt

                        1/8 teaspoon pepper

                        1/2 cup water or vegetable broth

                        2 cups peeled, cored, and grated apple

                        1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

                        1/4 cup brown sugar

Remove outer leaves of cabbage and hard core.  Cut into quarters and finely shred.  Cook bacon until crisp.  Remove from drippings and cook onion 2-3 minutes in drippings.  Add cabbage, salt, pepper and water [or broth].  Cover tightly and cook over low heat 10 minutes.

Add grated apples, vinegar and brown suger.  Cover and cook 10-15 minutes longer until liquid is absorbed.  Crumble bacon into cabbage.  Makes 6 servings

Nutritional facts about red bell peppers:  They are the most nutrient-dense of the bell peppers, as well as the sweetest, because they've been on the vine the longest.  Green peppers are harvested earlier before they have a chance to turn yellow, orange, and then red.

They're classified as a fruit and not a vegetable.  Who knew?!

I also learned that paprika is a dried and powdered form of bell peppers.

They're loaded with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, B6, C, E, K1, Potassium and Folate, and a good source of fiber.   They have no risk factors unless a person is allergic to them.

I stuff the peppers with ground chicken instead of beef, and use brown rice instead of white rice.  So yummy!

And as always, drink tea for good health and well-being!

Last Day of June

You haven't seen a post since last Tuesday because not a lot has been happening, but I thought I'd chime in on this last day of June with a little bit of this and that.

The third June birthday in our family was granddaughter Brianna's.  She turned 28 yesterday. Her only sibling, Brooke, flew to Nashville to celebrate with her.  They are six years apart in age, but very close.  Happy Birthday, Bri!  She texted this pic today.  The heart around their faces is my addition.  

If you are a Downton Abbey fan and don't already know, a third Downton Abbey Movie is currently being filmed at Highclere Castle and will be in theaters in September.  Save the date!

The Bridgerton bandwagon continues to expand beyond Bath & Body Works, Republic of Tea and Williams & Sonoma.  I don't follow Antique Farm House on Facebook, but some of my friends do so maybe that's how the advertisement for their new Bridgerton Collection made its way into my Facebook feed.   Or maybe it's because I used Google to research the history of King George III & Queen Charlotte, the Netflix Bridgerton series and the Regency Era. Who knows, but Antique Farm House said their new line of home decor products, "Whispers of Lady Whistledown", was inspired by the new season.

I welcomed June researching recipes to boost my "Belly Biome" and while I haven't made the ideal suggestion of consuming 20 different plant foods every day, I've greatly expanded my veggie and fruit diet repertoire.  I've enjoyed researching the nutritional values of foods and June is ending the same way it began - looking for new recipes to try.  

Several fruits and veggies fall in the 'superfood' category and one of them is Spinach.  Popeye the Sailor, a fictional cartoon character, first appeared in a 1929 comic strip. His Paramount theatrical shorts appeared in 1933, and in the late 1950's he began airing on TV.  I grew up watching his TV cartoons and I can still remember how his arm turned muscular with great strength after popping open a can of spinach and devouring it [by sucking it through his pipe], proclaiming "I'm strong to the finish 'cause I eats me spinach..." and Brutus was defeated every time!

I must confess, spinach has never been one of my favorite veggies until I read why it's a superfood.  It's loaded with vitamins A, B, C, E and K, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium plus other nutrients, and there's a whole list of benefits and support it provides for the human body [too many to list here].  So I decided to give it a try again.  I found two different spinach salad recipes in my cookbooks that are delicious.  I didn't take pictures after I made them, but I will provide the recipes here.  While spinach is very healthy, moderation is key because eaten in excess the oxalate found in it can increase the risk of kidney stones. It can also interfere with blood thinner medications.   I'm not on blood thinners so that's not an issue for me, but I am cautious about kidney stones.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Dressing Ingredients:

                        1/2 cup white sugar

                        1/2 cup olive oil

                        1/4 cup distilled white vinegar

                        2 Tablespoons sesame seeds

                        1 Tablespoon poppy seeds

                        1 Tablespoon minced onion [I used dehydrated]

                        1/4 teaspoon paprika

                        1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Salad Ingredients:

                        1 quart strawberries - washed, hulled and sliced

                        10 oz. fresh baby spinach - rinsed, stems removed and dried

                        1/4 cup slivered almonds [I used oven roasted]

Whisk together sugar, oil, vinegar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, paprika and Worcestershire sauce, and chill.  Combine prepared strawberries and spinach in a large bowl and add almonds.  Pour dressing over all and toss to coat.  Can chill before serving, but I didn't because my spinach and strawberries had already been refridgerated and were chilled.

Classic Apple-Spinach Salad

Dressing Ingredients:

                        1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

                        1/2 cup white sugar

                        1/4 cup vegetable oil [I used olive oil because it's healthier]

                        1/2 teaspoon salt

                        1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

Salad Ingredients:

                        10 oz. fresh spinach - washed, stems removed and dried

                        1 red apple, cored and chopped [I didn't peel mine and any apple will work]

                        1/2 red onion, quartered and thinly sliced

                        1/2 cup toasted pecans - toast in 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.  

                                                               

Combine vinegar, sugar, oil, salt, and dry mustard in a jar with lid and shake vigorously to combine.   Toss prepared spinach, apples, and onion slices with salad dressing in a large bowl.  Sprinkle with toasted pecans and serve.  I didn't use candied pecans, but I think they'd be an even better option than toasted pecans.

I promise you, both of these recipes are winners/keepers.  Let me know if you decide to try them.

 

Another Railway...

My church just concluded VBS [Vacation Bible School] on June 20th.  It was titled Rocky Railway.  Over 40 children attended and learned about Jesus.  I remember attending VBS when I was a child, and I'm glad the tradition still continues.

The theme reminds me of an old song - Life's Railway to Heaven - written in 1890 and published in 1909.  It's a favorite among country and bluegrass music performers, and the lyrics are very true.

[1]  Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer that's brave;

       We must make the run successful from the cradle to the grave;

       Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels, never falter, never quail;

       Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.  [Refrain]

[2]  You will roll up grades of trial, you will cross the bridge of strife;

       See that Christ is your conductor on this lightning train of life;

       Always mindful of obstruction, do your duty, never fail;

       Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail. [Refrain]

[3]  You will often find obstruction, look for storms and wind and rain;

       On a fill or curve or trestle, they will almost ditch your train;

       Put your trust alone in Jesus; never falter, never fail;

       Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.  [Refrain]

[4]  As you roll across the trestle, spanning Jordan's swelling tide;

       You behold the Union Depot into which your train will glide;

       There you'll meet the Sup'rintendent, God the Father, God the Son,

       With the hearty, joyous plaudit, "Weary pilgrim, welcome home."  [Refrain]

Refrain:

       Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us, till we reach the blissful shore,

       Where the angels wait to join us in Thy praise forevermore.

On another subject... My granddaughter, Marissa, celebrated her 29th birthday yesterday. Below is a picture of her and my daughter when they went out for her birthday dinner.  Happy Birthday, Marissa!

Michigan Central Train Station

We only had 105 guests for tea last Saturday, so when I got off work my hubby and I drove over to the newly restored Michigan Central Train Station for a self-guided tour.  It's just 2.5 miles from The Whitney.

It recently opened to the public on June 6th after a $950 million, six-year restoration project by Ford Motor Company who purchased it in 2018 for $90 million.  Effective June 21 thru August 31st admission is free on Friday's from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

I was so anxious to see it.  The last time I was there was June, 1964 to see my girlfriend [on the left] off to California.

'The Station' [as it is called] was closed in 1988 due to decades of declining rail travel, and it sat vacant for 30 years experiencing severe neglect, decay, and vandalism.  It became a symbol of Detroit's urban decay and blight.  In 2013 the Detroit City Council ordered its demolition, but it was saved thanks to several factors, including being on the National Register of Historic Places.  

It's located in Corktown, Detroit's oldest neighborhood.  Irish immigrants, primarily from County Cork, Ireland, settled there in 1834 giving the area its name.

Saturday was a hot, humid, windy day, but it was air-conditioned inside the 'The Station' unlike when it was first built.

The green space in front of 'The Station' is Theodore Roosevelt Park.

There she sits in all of her restored glory.  Origionally, the Beaux-Arts building was designed with a three-story depot with ten gates for trains and a 15 story tower for more than 500 offices.  

A limestone sculpture in front of the side entrance.  A quarry in Indiana was reopened to excavate the same  limestone that had been used over 100 years ago in the initial construction of 'The Station'.

The main front entrance was closed for the tour so we entered from the far left side.  The guide referred to it as the 'welcoming room', but it was either the men's or ladies' waiting room origionally.   I read it will eventually be an event space.

An informative video played every two minutes before entering the Grand Hall.

Eventually there will be restaurants in 'The Station', but none are open now.   There were food trucks outside, but no food or beverages were allowed inside.  All beverage containers had to be checked outside before entering.  

Below is the Grand Hall [main lobby/waiting room] with its 54-ft. Guastavino tile vaulted ceiling. Warren & Wetmore of New York and Reed & Stem of St. Paul, Minnesota - the same architectural firms that collaborated on New York's Grand Central Station - were commissioned for Michigan Central Station.  

In the Grand Hall was a long historical display board for visitors to read and view photos.   As you can see, a lot of other people were there for Saturday's tour too.   

Three new massive chandeliers were recreated in a Beaux Arts architectural style to match ones seen in original constrution drawings and historical photos.  They hang in the Grand Hall. 

'The Station' was modeled after Rome's public baths with marble floors, bronze chandeliers, and Corinthian Columns.  It opened December 26, 1913 as one of the country's most spectacular transportation terminals.  At its peak, 'The Station' saw 4,000 passengers daily.

Below is the [north] main entrance into the Grand Hall, but it was locked on Saturday. Origionally benches for travelers to sit on would have been in this area, but now it's a large open space.  It showcases the marble floors beautifully.

 The origional beautiful windows opened for air flow, but I don't think the replacements do.

Ticket counters in the ticket lobby, and one of two large clocks on the ground level.  The ticket lobby was between the Grand Hall and the Main Concourse.

~ Replicated clock above the ticket office ~

~ Main Concourse ~

~ Train Gates ~

~ An amazing Lego recreation of 'The Station' ~

Original walls in the entry/exit with graffiti painted during its abandonment remain to retell the history of 'The Station's' past life.

Thank you Ford Motor Company for saving this beautiful iconic building from demolition. Since 2018, more than 3,000 skilled tradespeople have spent 1.7 million hours to meticulously return 'The Station' to its original architectural grandeur.   

If you're a local reader, I hope you will make plans to see this magnificient piece of Detroit's history and future legacy.  I saw a lot during last Saturday's tour, but I missed some things, so want to return again before August 31st.