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Gourmet Michigan products in unique gift baskets. Great tasting jams, dried cherries, chocolates, caramel corn, Michigan fudge, and much more.

All Things Michigan

Michigan travels, events, photos, and more

Michigan senator wants yard waste back in landfills

Andrew Norton

State Senator Patty Birkholz has introduced a bill that will bring yard waste back into state landfills 13 years after yard waste was banned. She claims it will help create methane (quicker than current garbage residing in landfills) which can be harnessed for power. Since we still see fit to import trash from Canada I just don't see the benefits (nor any actual scientific data) to back this bill.

Community compost piles and individual compost bins are the way to go (in my humble opinion). I use a mulching blade on our mower and I don't even have to worry about raking grass. It all goes into the ground to become nitrogen and help feed the lawn.

For more information on how to compost, what to put in compost, etc. see The Lazy Man's Guide To Compost.

Detroit Red Wings win Stanley Cup!

Andrew Norton

This is from the Detroit News. Last night the Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 to win the Stanley Cup. I'm still short on sleep after watching their 3 Overtime loss Monday night.

Tons of fun and another championship for the city of Detroit.

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Explore your local Farmers' Market this summer

Andrew Norton

Help support local growers this summer season by shopping at farmers' markets across Michigan. Don't know where the nearest farmers' market is? MSU has partnered up with Michigan Farmers Market Association and the Michigan Food & Farming Systems to create a website that lets vendors find a place to sell their homemade/homegrown goods as well as lets potential customers find farmers' markets.

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Andrew's Easy Iced Coffee Recipe

Andrew Norton

When I was a kid, nothing could quench my thirst on a hot summer day like a drink from the hose or an ice cold glass of lemonade. As an adult and parent of two busy kids - nothing quenches my thirst and gives me some much needed energy like a high octane iced coffee. As a parent of two kids, I also don't have a lot of time so in order to enjoy an iced coffee I improvise a bit from what some might consider the proper way to fix iced coffee.

What You Need:

  • Brew up a strong batch of coffee. I have a coffee scoop that I use where normally I put one scoop in for each cup of water. When I brew coffee to have as iced coffee I make it strong by adding an extra scoop or two.
  • Coffee syrup (Torani is my favorite brand) or good old chocolate syrup if that's what you have handy. Yesterday I made a caramel chocolate iced coffee that was out of this world. Just add the amount of syrup that suits your taste buds.
  • Milk - the amount is up to you. It also depends on the size of your glass. I tend to make a giant quart-sized iced coffee so that requires a bit more milk than a regular glass.
  • Ice, of course. I don't have the time to crush and blend my ice/drink in the blender so I just drop in a bunch of ice cubes. Not using the blender also saves on cleanup time, too ;) .

All you need to do is brew up the coffee (let it cool for a bit), grab a glass, add the ingredients, stir and enjoy!

Bonus Tip - if you think of it, the next time you have some coffee leftover in the carafe fill up an empty ice cube tray and make coffee ice cubes. Then, the next time you make an easy iced coffee you don't dilute your wonderful drink with regular ice cubes. I'd like to thank my wife for that idea. :)