Yooper shows how to cook on your car's engine

I am not sure whether to put this in the Recipes, Travel, or Michigan Oddities category. This is a video from an Upper Peninsula television show featuring a local man and his love of cooking meals on his manifold. It's a bit campy, corny and unintentionally funny. I loved it!

If the video player does not show up you can view the video directly here. All Things Michigan and Gift Baskets From Michigan LLC are not responsible for content at YouTube beyond the video this link is directed to.

Meth Awareness Website Launched by Michigan

The state of Michigan's Office of Drug Control Policy has launched www.michiganmethwatch.org to help raise awareness of the epidemic that Meth use has become. Information on community groups in your area is available as well as events across the state to further educate Michigan residents about the dangers of Meth and what you can do to help prevent the spread of Meth use.

Indian Summer Salad

I was given this recipe at my wedding shower. It is cool and refreshing - perfect for the "dog days of summer." Jello:

• 2 pkg. orange jello
• 2 c. boiling water
• 1 (6 oz.) can frozen orange juice
• 1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple
• 1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges

Topping:

• 1 pkg. instant lemon pudding
• 1 pkg. dream whip
• 1 1/2 c. milk
• (or use 1/2-3/4 tub of whipped topping and a little milk instead of dream whip and milk)

Directions:

• Mix all jello ingredients together. Chill until firm.
• Mix topping ingredients together. Spread evenly over jello.

Blueberry & Vanilla Custard Pie

One of my favorite ways to create new recipes is to combine the best parts of tried-n-true recipes. I combined parts of the Rustic Fruit Tart and the Blueberry Custard Pie to create this recipe. What you need:

• 1 ready made pie crust, unbaked
• 4 c. fresh blueberries, divided
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 Tbsp. corn starch
• 1 (3.4 oz.) box instant vanilla pudding
• 1 c. heavy cream
• 1/2 c. whole milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

• In a small bowl, combine 3 cups of blueberries, sugar, and cornstarch. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Bake at 450 for 35 minutes or until crust is golden and blueberries are bubbling. Allow to cool.
• In a medium sized bowl, combine pudding, heavy cream, milk, and vanilla. Beat on high for about 45 seconds or until well blended and thick. Spread over cooled pie.
• Top with remaining blueberries.

Places to Beat the Heat in Michigan

Today is the first of August and we are in the midst of the "dog days of summer" here in Michigan. The weatherman said that with the humidity the actual temperatures across Michigan were in the triple digits. It is supposed to be another scorcher today. I had a friend in Lansing who used to say, "it's not the heat, it's the stupidity." Of course that is a take on the popular phrase, "it's not the heat, it's the humidity." I prefer his line. People do stupid things when it gets this hot.

So, to help folks avoid doing stupid things in this heat I have some suggested places for you to go to stay cool.

• Take a dip in Lake Superior (66 degree water temps near Marquette)
• Visit your local library
• Hang out at the mall
• Stand in line at the Secretary of State office
• Become a volunteer greeter at Wal-Mart until the store manager asks you to leave
• Eat lots of ice cream at your local dairy bar :)
• Watch movies at your local movie theater (it's always too cold there so it should be nice)