Strawberry Butter

The next best thing to having strawberry freezer jam just might be Strawberry Butter. Try it on homemade bread, toast, or bagels.

1. 1 pint Michigan strawberries
2. 1/2 pound Michigan butter, softened
3. 1 cup confectioners sugar

Place ingredients in food processor or blender and process until smooth and creamy. Chill. Serve on a bagel or favorite bread.

Recipe via the Michigan.gov website.

Belleville National Strawberry Festival is This Weekend

If you haven't any plans for the weekend (besides visiting dad) you might want to head on over to Belleville and take part in the National Strawberry Festival. The festival stretches over three days, June 16-18, with the midway kicking things off early on Thursday, June 15. There will be a parade, music, arts & crafts, rides, and of course - strawberries. Belleville takes great pride in hosting the National Strawberry Festival in this their 30th year. There are too many events and activities going on to list here.

For more information check out their website at www.nationalstrawberryfest.com.

Get directions to Belleville via Google Maps.

Strawberry BBQ Sauce

In continuing with the strawberry-themed recipes this week, I came across this sweet and hot Strawberry BBQ Sauce. This would be good on pork or chicken, but I am sure it wouldn't hurt to try it on whatever comes to mind. I have had great success with a cherry bbq sauce on pork and chicken so I would think this will be a similar sauce.

• 2 cups fresh Michigan strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1/3 cup strawberry preserves
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 large clove of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh, chopped ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated lemon zest
• 1 scallion, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Makes 2 cups.

I do not care for the taste of cilantro so I will definitely be leaving that out. Other than that, it looks delicious. I received a bbq sauce making kit for my birthday and I have been itching to try it out. Since this is the season for strawberries I might as well give this one a go.

Recipe via Michigan.gov website.

Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City is Expanding

Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City just announced they are expanding their indoor water park and adding condominiums as well. A 41,000 square foot expansion of the indoor water park will more than double the current 38,000 square foot water park. The water park expansion will be located at the site of the current outdoor pool area (which will be relocated). Construction will begin this fall with completion hopefully by next June.

We just stayed up there a week ago and had a great time as always. I can't imagine what they will be adding to the water park. There was already more than enough to keep the kids happy and busy so doubling it should theoretically double their fun :).

The Traverse City Great Wolf Lodge has a pretty cool website. Check it out.

News of the Great Wolf Lodge expansion courtesy of the Traverse City Record Eagle.

Fly the Flag With Pride

Today is Flag Day. You don't hear about it much these days. About the only thing the press seems to grab hold of for a story around Flag Day is whether or not Congress should pass an amendment banning the desecration of our Nation's colors. If you have a flag, raise it up today of all days. Honor those that have purchased our right to freedom at the highest of costs. Lets raise our millions of flags today in defiance of those that wish to taunt us with burning 'Old Glory.'

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

To the Top of 'The Mighty Mac'

One of the first stops on Susan Agers summer trip around Michigan was to the top of one of the 552-foot tall towers that hold up the Mackinac Bridge. She received over 1,000 suggestions from readers on where to go in Michigan this summer. You can follow her travels at her blog www.freep.com/gosusan. You can still keep giving her suggestions via her blog. I don't know exactly how she is choosing from such a plethora of options. It has to be difficult to trim down the list and experience a tiny bit of what Michigan has to offer this summer.

I look forward to her the rest of her Michigan trips and will keep you updated on the interesting locales she visits.

Read her first-person account of going up the tower and the beautiful scene she took in at the Detroit Free Press. It had me feeling claustrophobic as she entered the "coffin-like" elevator and weak in the knees at the thought of only having a 42-inch high railing keeping you from falling off of the 552-foot high tower.