I have done fat Tuesday posts in the past and to be honest not much has changed. I had a lemon filled paczki this morning for breakfast. Not great for my diet, but it was delicious!
Fat Tuesday is the last night of feasting before the ritual 40 day fast of the Lenten season. Are you giving anything up for Lent? I’m not per se but I am working hard right now a better physical, more healthy me. So that was my last donut for a long while, I’m glad it was a good one lol!
Having a crazy life moment as I realize my first born…my BABY…is turning 21 tomorrow!!
Happiest of birthdays babe!
Sometimes it’s just nice to be in your kitchen. After a quick inventory I realized I had everything I needed to make a homemade marble cake with a light fluffy vanilla frosting. I literally had everything! Who can resist that!
This delicious cake is moist and not to heavy the vanilla and chocolate flavors are perfect together and the light marshmallowy frosting adds just enough sweetness. And I’m here to tell ya making a cake for no real reason other than just to have some cake is awesome!
Here’s what you need:
Cake
2 1/4c. Flour
1 2/3 c. Granulated sugar
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
2/3 c. Butter or Shortening
1 1/4c. Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
5 egg whites
3 tbsp cocoa powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
Preheat oven to 350°F Grease and flour a 9 x 13in glass cake pan.
Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder in a large mixing bowl add butter milk and vanilla mix on medium speed till well blended. Add egg whites and mix on high speed 2 minutes scraping the sides of the bowl as you mix. In a medium bowl reserve 1 2/3c. batter. Pour remaining batter into the cake pan. Add cocoa powder and baking soda to reserved batter mix well. Spoon onto the top of the vanilla batter and use a butter knife to swirl together for marble effect. Bake 40-45 minutes.
Frosting
2 room temperature egg whites
1/2 c granulated sugar
1/4c. Corn syrup
2 Tbsp. Water
1 tsp. Vanilla
In a large mixing bowl mix egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Set aside. In a medium sauce pan stir together sugar, corn syrup, and water. Heat to a boil covered. Uncover and boil 4-8 minutes or until candy thermometer reads 240°F. On medium speed slowly pour syrup mixture into the egg whites and mix until glossy peaks form. Add vanilla and mix well. Place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
Cool cake completely before frosting. Enjoy!
@tour_the_town visited local favorite Bone Island Grill recently for a quick lunch.
Bone Island Grill is right around the corner from us and is a favorite fun local hangout. It’s a surprisingly big place seating as many as 170 guests! This is a family friendly warm tropical themed restaurant and bar. They serve breakfast lunch and dinner. They host many special events throughout the year. And offer an outdoor patio as well as conference hall space for private parties.
It was a quiet lunch hour when we visited but the staff was friendly and lunch was delicious!
I enjoyed the pecan chicken salad, the sweet pecans with the perfectly cooked warm chicken on fresh greens with vinaigrette was delicious!
Owned by Karen Drushal and Frank Slaby, Bone Island has played an important role in our community often contributing to various charity events and organizations in the area. They even offer a loyalty program and loyalty fundraising program! We highly recommend that you visit during one of their themed events like retro weekend, slaby-fest, or just a week night of DJ Bingo! Stop in for a visit and try the fish tacos! They’re fabulous too! Enjoy!!
If you’d like to know more or see they’re specials visit them on Facebook! Or instagram! @boneislandgrille
Follow us on instagram for more behind the scenes photos! @tour_the_town
What better stop after the Jackson Coffee Co. than the Jackson Candy Co.! With Valentine’s Day right around the corner this is a must!
Jackson Candy and Fudge Factory on East Michigan Ave in Jackson is a one of kind experience! The minute you walk in it feels like you’ve travelled back in time! The sweet smells…the glass cases full of great handmade candies and fudge…the train running along the ceiling around the room! It’s amazing!
T
hey feature fine chocolates and handmade fudge. Along with old fashioned candies, popcorn in a ton of flavors, salt water taffy, and even some sugar free options!
If you’relooking for a unique Valentine’s Day gift choose a heart shaped box and fill it with all of you sweethearts favorite treats!
Bring the kids for taste test of handmade fudge, let them play in the silly mirror, and make a new Valentine’s Day tradition shopping with the Jackson Candy and Fudge Factory!
For more information visit their website http://www.jacksoncandycompany.com
You can also find them on facebook and instragram!
One tip for your trip! Parking can seem tricky but there is a large lot just across the street behind the hardware store!
We had a great time find more behind the scenes photos on our instagram page @tour_the_town
Enjoy your treats and shopping for your Valentine!
Snow days are great! Am I right!? With the wind blowing and the snow coming down Amber and I headed out for a days of pics, coffee, candy, and maybe a quick well deserved lunch! We laughed, posed, and all in all had a great time!
Our trip started off with a slow drive to Ella Sharp park for a few pics. We were met by an indecisive squirrel who danced in front of my stopped vehicle trying to decided which snow bank looked less menacing. It was pretty entertaining. A few quick pictures and we were off to downtown!
Once there we grabbed a couple more pics and laughs and headed to Jackson Coffe Co. For a wonderful warm up!
Jackson Coffee Co. Opened it’s doors September 2006 and have made quite a claim to fame in the Jackson MI community. Their locations are a reflection of the community with photos, art, music and more all from local artists and other area businesses. The crown jewel is the downtown coffee house location! This beautifully restored location in the downtown business district is beautiful and easy to get to! The perfect stop before any major …or minor downtown event or excursion. Right away when you walk in you’re hit with the fantastic aroma of fresh roasted coffee! The decor has a fun nostalgic feel and the staff was super friendly and informative!
There are two levels to the cafe’ the lower level with a long counter space for a fantastic street view or a roomy upstairs with seating and a small stage where they host live local musicians on Friday nights. They even offer a conference room area for satelite meetings or small group gatherings.
So what makes Jackson Coffee Co. the best? They slow roast small batchs of perfectly selected beans from some of the best growers in the world! It doesn’t get any fresher than that! But it’s not just coffee they also offer tea, smoothies, and snacks!
If you’d like to try it for yourself visit them at their downtown location on the corner of Mechanic st. And Cortland Ave. Or visit their website at http://www.jacksoncoffeeco.com
@Tour_the_town visits Jackson Candy and Fudge Factory next, just in time for Valentine’s Day! Stay tuned, and get out and enjoy your own hometown…or ours!
@Tour_the_town had an educational afternoon today! Now, I’m not much of an astronomy buff but I enjoy sciency things and when I heard that the Hurst Planetarium was hosting a grand re-opening event today, just days before the Blood Wolf Super Moon Eclipse, I thought what a perfect time to feature them here!
Named after Peter F. Hurst the planetarium was part of a project started in 1967. It was added to the Ella Sharp Museum grounds, and based in part by the nation’s excitement over the growing space program. In July 1969 during the Apollo 11 moon landing, attendance at the planetarium soared. Officials estimated that more than 15,000 visitors, including 11,883 students, used it that year.
The planetarium is a museum focal point surrounded by amazing art and near the rose gardens.
The planetarium underwent a huge facelift in 2018, making it more accessible for families and the handicapped. They upgraded the interactive projection system in the dome observatory room. And will be adding some new interactive displays to other areas of the building.
Tonight’s Grand Reopening included a few words for the Museum board and from Tony Hurst the son of Peter Hurst namesake of the planetarium. They performed a ribbon cutting and showed us the technology of the new system and I have to say it’s pretty amazing!
The Hurst planetarium holds viewing events on Thursday and Sunday evenings. You can find more information on their website. http://www.hurstplanetarium.org
Or
Find them on facebook http://www.facebook.com/hurstplanetarium
They are hosting a special event on Sunday January 20th from 9p-12am this will be an opportunity to view the Blood Wolf Super Moon Eclipse! Hope you enjoyed our visit as much as we did! Touring our town is so much fun! Follow us on instagram for behind the scenes photos and more!
