Easy Eggplant Parmesan

I decided to plant eggplants in my garden for the first time this year. I chose Fairytale Eggplants. They are only about 4 inches long and 1 inch in diameter and are purple with white stripes. I came up with an easy eggplant parmesan recipe that my family loves. We always serve it with spaghetti. What you need:

• 1 large eggplant or 4 Fairytale eggplants (or however many you want)
• 1/2 c. melted butter
• 1 c. Italian bread crumbs
• 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese (or cheddar or parmesan cheese)

Directions:

• Slice eggplant into 1/2 inch rounds. Dip in melted butter. Cover with bread crumbs.
• Cook in a frying pan (sprayed with cooking oil) over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and tender.
• Serve with spaghetti and garlic toast.

Get your copy of 'A Face in the Rock'

If you cannot find a copy of A Face in the Rock at your local bookstore and they are unable to order it for you then use the link below to purchase it at Amazon.com. They have a paperback version available for $16.95. A Face in the Rock - Loren Graham

I have not yet checked at our local bookstore, Lowry's Books & More, but I know that if it is not in stock Tom Lowry can easily order it for me and have it in a matter of days. I did notice that it is not in their online store so it most likely is not in stock there.

I am quite intrigued by this book after finding out about the possibility of it being made into a movie. It seems to be a rather sad and yet compelling story of the passing of the Ojibwe's nation and culture. Of course, I read everything I can get my hands on that involves Michigan history so it was a no-brainer that this would interest me.

One of the six most sought after Great Lakes shipwrecks found

Last Friday, Michigan Shipwreck Research Associates announced that they had found one of their six most-sought-after Great Lakes shipwrecks. Off the shore from South Haven and under about 230 feet of water they located the Hennepin. Despite its wooden hull, the Hennepin remains in favorable condition due to Lake Michigan's cold fresh water. Built in 1888, the Hennepin was converted into a self-unloader around 1901. As all Boat Nerds know, the self-unloader is the prototypical Great Lakes freighter on the lakes today.

In the 1920s the Hennepin was only used as a barge and towed due to its unstable hull. On August 18, 1927 she sunk in a squall midway between Chicago and its destination of Grand Haven. Attempts by the crew to save her were unsuccessful and all escaped safely aboard the tugboat.

Check out some underwater footage of the Hennepin shipwreck from WWMT Channel 3. The video is a little over two minutes long and provides some real neat shots of the wreck.

For some ultra clear underwater photos of the Hennepin head over to www.michiganshipwrecks.org. I am amazed at how well the wood has stood the test of time these 79 years.

Via WWMT News 3 out of Kalamazoo

Michigan gas prices week of 8/21/06

Despite all of the talk and speculation recently about if (they say definitely) and when (could be a year from now) gas will hit $4 per gallon, the average price of gas in Michigan has dropped from last week. Today's current average price of gas in Michigan is $2.88. At our local gas station they lowered their price down to $2.81 for regular unleaded yesterday afternoon. One month ago the average price of gas in Michigan was $3.047. Average Michigan gas prices a year ago were $2.705 for a gallon of regular unleaded. Kind of surprising that right now we are only averaging $.18 more per gallon than a year ago. Seems like it would be a lot more than that.

Gas price data courtesy of AAA's Fuel Gauge Report.

Get your free Michigan state map

Did you know that you don't have to stop at a rest area in Michigan to get a free state map? Yep, simply visit MDOT's (that's Michigan Department Of Transportation for any out-of-staters reading this) website and place your order right here for a map of Michigan. You don't even have to pay for postage (maybe Governor Granholm could plug some holes in the budget by charging $.37 for a stamp ;) ). Another crazy thing. You can order as many maps as you would like. Although, someone in Lansing might get suspicious if you place an order for 1,000 maps so you can use them to wallpaper your den.

Hmm, now there is an idea. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how to make our basement a bit more cozy.

The theme for this year's map is "Michigan - A State for All Seasons." On the back of the map there are color photos of different Michigan locales during our four seasons. Yes, Michigan does actually have four seasons. I know this is contrary to the folks that think Michigan only has two seasons - Winter and Construction.

Oh, a couple more little known fact for you. Did you know that Michigan first began providing maps back in 1919? Today, MDOT prints up about two million maps each year for distribution.

Michigan book, 'A Face In The Rock' might become movie

Crews from Back40 Films have been filming and scouting locations near Sault Ste. Marie for a possible film adaptation of Loren Graham's 1995 historical novel, 'A Face In The Rock.' The book is about an Indian, “Powers of the Air,” who was the lone survivor of a battle between his Ojibwe and their hated rival, the Sioux. He was sent back to tell his tribe of the tribesmen being wiped out in the battle. The novel receives its name from a carving of "Powers of the Air" created in a sandstone rock on the shores of Lake Superior in 1820.

The face in 1960
The Face Today Pictures courtesy of www.afaceintherock.com.

I have never heard of this book before coming across this article in The Mining Journal. The story has me intrigued and I have added it to my list of books to read.

You can find out more about the movie at www.afaceintherock.com.

Loren Graham is holding a book signing tonight from 4-7 pm at Falling Rock Cafe in Munising. The film production team will also be giving a brief presentation and their ideas for the film.