Savory Skillet Pork Chops

What you need:

• 4-6 Pork Chops
• 1 pkg Onion Soup Mix
• 1 small can Tomato Paste
• 1 1/2 C water
• Dash of Basil
• 1 T cooking oil
• Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Put 1 T of oil in skillet and cook pork chops for a total of 5 minutes, flipping the chops once.
2. Remove pork chops. Add the package of Onion Soup mix, Tomato Paste, and 1 1/2 C of water, salt and Basil. Bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to a simmer, add chops and cover.
4. Cook approximately 20-25 minutes.

The tomato really brings out the flavor of the pork chops. It is just a very simple way to cook up a great tasting meal. Add a side of mash potatoes and some rolls or homemade bread for an all around meal.

Farmer Jake's Breakfast Skillet

This is a quick and hearty breakfast that we have been making for years. We never gave a name to it, but thought that the above name would do it justice. Enjoy! What you need:

• 1lb. Pork Sausage
• 3-4 medium potatoes
• 1/2 small yellow onion (chopped)
• 4-6 eggs
• Salt & Pepper

Directions:

1. In large skillet, cook the sausage and onion.
2. Remove sausage and onion mixture. Shred the potatoes into hashbrowns and cook in the skillet with the sausage drippings.
3. When the hashbrowns are to your liking, add the sausage and onion mixture back in the skillet. Scramble up the eggs and create a hollow in the center of the skillet. Pour in the eggs and slowly mix them in with the sausage, onion, and hashbrowns.
4. Scramble entire mixture together and serve when eggs are done.

Total Cook Time: Approximately 30-35 minutes.

Bear Cave in Buchanan

Bear Cave is the only cavern in the Great Lakes area. It was formed in "tufa rock" which is a secondary limestone. It is estimated that this particular bed of rock is at least 25,000 years old and is resting on a glacial drift deposited during the last ice age approximately 50,000 years ago. Along the 40 foot winding stairway that leads visitors through the cave you will see stalactites, petrified leaves, and other peculiar shapes. The metal oxides of native ores color the entire cave. The cave measures 15 feet deep, four to six feet wide and 10-15 feet high.

The cave holds quite a bit of significant history. It played a significant part in the Underground Railroad during the period of slavery. In 1875 the "loot" from an Ohio bank robbery was "deposited" in the cave. This became the inspiration for the 1903 silent film The Great Train Robbery. The film is now considered a silent film classic and was the precursor of the thriller movies of today.

The area surrounding the Bear Cave is rich in tree-covered hills, deep ravines, wildflowers, and the grand St. Joseph River. Most likely, there are hundreds of "Bear Caves" all over the globe, but this cave is unique to Michigan and holds a distinct history.

If you go: Bear Cave is located 3 miles north of Buchanan on the Red Bud Trail. It is located within the Bear Cave Resort (a condo-style resort on 4085 Bear Cave Road). The cave is entered through the gift shop. It is open from May to October and there is an admission fee. Call 269-695-3050 for hours and other information.

The Leetsville Shoe Tree

Hundreds of lost soles (ooh, pun number one) have made their way to the branches of a big maple tree on the west side of U.S. 131. When the maple sheds its leaves each fall the shoes, sandals, and work boots numbering around 100, become the new foliage. The shoes are hanging there throughout the year, but are more apt to be seen after the leaves have fallen from this mighty maple. It takes some real sole-searching (ouch, the puns are killing me) to get to the origination of this mysterious maple malady. We came upon the tree in a way that I am sure most folks do. We were taking U.S. 131 south as we traveled home from northern Michigan. We topped a hill just south of Leetsville (between Mancelona and Kalkaska) and in the valley below on the west side of the road we saw a very peculiar looking tree. We pulled off the road for a closer look and some pictures. Needless to say, we were not the only ones to do so at that time. There must have been six or eight other vehicles that stopped to gaze upon this roadside oddity.

Now, back to the origins of the Leetsville Shoe Tree. Some locals say that is all began with just a pair or two thrown upon the maple's branches. Possibly as a prank of some sort by some road weary travelers who needed an excuse to stop and get some fresh air. Others think that it began with the nearby Kalkaska High students tossing their shoes upon the lofty branches just for fun. Regardless of the reasons, the shoe tree most likely began like all other shoe trees. One or two pairs were thrown up in the tree and when they were spotted, others joined in and now there are nearly a hundred shoes in the tree with some almost 70 feet high.

If you go:

Just south of Leetsville (between Kalkaska and Mancelona) on the west side of U.S. 131.