13 minute read
FUN & ICE CREAM AT APPLE KNOCKERS
Summer Food
FUN AND ICE CREAM AT APPLE KNOCKERS
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BY RACHEL KIRTLEY, THE KALAMAZOO FOODIE
Summer is in full swing, and the hot temps have us
craving ice cream! Kalamazoo and the surrounding areas have many amazing places to grab ice cream this summer. One of our personal favorites just so happens to be right here in Vicksburg.
Apple Knockers in Vicksburg is family-owned by Paula and her two daughters, Angela and Rita. Located in the historic village of Vicksburg, Apple Knockers has been a local favorite since 2009. They offer 50+ flavors of ice cream from Plainwell Ice Cream, made in Plainwell, Michigan, and Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream, made in Shelby Township.
In 2012 MLive.com conducted a statewide search for the best ten ice cream parlors. Apple Knockers is proud to have been voted the third best ice cream parlor in the entire state of Michigan! They offer hand-dipped scoops and baby scoops if you are looking for something lighter, cake or sugar cones, in a plain dish, or regular and large waffle cones and bowls. You can also get shakes, malts, smoothies, root beer floats, old-fashioned sodas, specialty sundaes, or a summer classic, the banana split!
DELICIOUS FOOD. The menu reflects an array of homemade family recipes, from their Mean Jean Pasties and Mamma’s Mac n Cheese to traditional comfort food like their ¼ pound all-beef hot dogs and hamburgers. Their pasties are made from a Yooper Family Recipe! They offer them in Beef or Chicken, and you can get them to go. The only question is, do you prefer ketchup or gravy?
If you are in the mood for something different, Apple Knockers offers several styles of hot dogs, from chili cheese to Flint-style dogs, plus hamburgers, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken salad, pretzel poppers, spicy fried pickles, and more! They also offer kids meals. And last but not least, if you aren’t in the mood for ice cream, they offer other options to please your sweet-tooth, like frozen, dipped bananas, pecan bread pudding, caramel apple nut pie.
You can walk in to order, or order online or call ahead for curbside pickup.
Pasties are a pot pie without the pot, basically a handheld pie.
I took my mom, sister, niece, and nephew, and they had a blast! We tried their chicken salad wrap, burger, spicy fried pickles, pretzel bites, Chicago dog, chicken bites and waffle fries, and of course, some ice cream cones and sundaes! Everything was delicious, and I can’t wait to get back there to try some more menu items.
There are a few tables on the inside, but their adorable patio is our favorite. It is set up like a pirate ship with beautiful flower beds, a captain’s wheel, and plenty of picnic tables for seating.
Apple Knockers is the perfect spot for lunch or just to grab some delicious ice cream on a hot summer day! Fun for kids and adults alike.
Rachel Kirtley
Rachel has worked in all levels of the food industry for over a decade. She is currently a Social Media Influencer, Content Creator and Restaurant Reviewer. You can visit her at thekalamazoofoodie.com.
220 W. PRAIRIE ST VICKSBURG, MI
SREFRESHING ummer Cocktails
FROZEN GIN & TONIC
1/4 cup cucumber, sliced 4 oz gin 2 oz fresh lime juice 4 oz tonic water 2 oz simple syrup 2 ½ cups ice
First, squeeze the limes for the juice and slice about five 1/2” thick pieces of cucumber. Next, add all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth!
MERMAID LEMONADE
1/4 cup blue curaçao 1 cup white rum 2 cup lemonade 4 lemon slices 8 maraschino cherries
THE HURRICANE
2 oz light rum 2 oz dark rum 2 oz pineapple juice 1 oz orange juice 1/2 oz fresh lime juice 1 Tbsp simple syrup 1 Tbsp grenadine Garnish: Orange Slice and Cherry
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a hurricane glass then garnish with orange slice and cherry and serve.
Put 1/4 cup ice in each glass, then add a splash of blue curaçao, 1/4 cup rum, and another 1/4 cup ice. Pour over 1/2 cup lemonade. Skewer a lemon slice and 2 maraschino cherries on a paper umbrella or toothpick and garnish drinks before serving.
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GOLD
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
BY DOUG MITCHELL
Gold has been used since ancient times. Because of the malleability and durability of gold, it is a perfect suitor for jewelry-making; when pure gold is exposed to air, it cannot be oxidized.
However, the jewelry we love and wear isn’t usually made of 100% pure gold. The other metals used to create our favorite hues and tones are what make our most sacred pieces vulnerable to oxidation and tarnishing while also increasing the strength and durability for long-lasting wear. When shopping for jewelry, there are some standard terms we know and love. For example, when you hear the word “gold,” you know that piece is going to be rich in value. But when a jeweler starts talking about different karats and even platings, how do you know which one is right for you?
We’ve got the inside scoop, and we’re here to have you feeling like an insider in no time!
PURITY: STAMPING AND KARATS
Pure gold is found within the earth. While not usually found in large quantities, it is often mined, panned, and sifted from soils. Pure gold has impeccable malleability, making jewelry made from pure gold a poor candidate for longevity. Pure gold is not strong enough to hold the intended shape and will not prevent the gemstones from falling out. Most gold used for jewelry is actually a gold alloy with other metals added to strengthen the metal or change the color. Metals used to increase the strength are copper, silver, zinc, and nickel. The percentile of metal added will determine the karat of gold. There are different markings on jewelry to indicate the purity of the metal used. There are also different markings depending on where the jewelry was created. There are two main markings you will find: US and European.
US KARAT MARKING EUROPEAN MARKING
PURITY/ % OF GOLD
24K 1000 100% 18K 750 75% 14K 585 58.35% 10K 416 41.6%
T-F 11a-5p & Sat 10a-3p uniqjewelry.com
Some other gold-jewelry terms you may be familiar with are gold-filled and gold-plated. If you love the look of yellow gold, but don’t love the price, these options may be a good alternative for you. While both of these jewelry types signify that the piece is not solid gold, they are different in the way they are created.
GOLD-FILLED
To make gold-filled pieces, the core metal is sandwiched between two layers of gold alloy, which is then heated and passed through a roller several times - a process that both bonds the metals together and thins the sheet out.
GOLD-PLATED
To make gold-plated pieces, an electric current is used to negatively charge the base metal and positively charge a solution containing gold ions. The positive gold ions are attracted to the negative charge of the core metal, slowly forming a layer of gold on top of the core.
COLORS OF GOLD
YELLOW GOLD
Alongside different purities, there are also different colors of gold we’ve come to know and love. For example, different purities of yellow gold will change the appearance due to the varying amounts of added metals: the more pure yellow gold, the brassier the appearance.
ROSE GOLD
A popular gold choice currently hot on the market is rose gold. The gorgeous pinkish appearance of this metal is achieved using varying amounts of iron and copper. As a result, some rose gold appears pinker while others have more of a blush-pink appearance.
WHITE GOLD
White gold, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated. It is similar to yellow and rose gold in the way that metals such as palladium and nickel are added to achieve a more “white” appearance; however, in most cases, to finalize the look and give it the bright-silver appearance white-gold lovers are looking for, the jeweler will dip the piece into rhodium for a long-lasting finish.
There are so many metal options for the jewelry pieces we adore. Although the price may vary depending on purity, the value of the piece is dependent on you! Each piece you wear tells a story. Knowing differences in colors, purity, and plating will help you find the perfect fit for your style.
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| RESTAURANT REVIEW |
For this month’s review, I ventured out to an establishment that has repeatedly been recommended and highly praised, KITCHEN HOUSE, a locally focused and Italian-inspired restaurant located in Richland. Upon arriving, a very friendly hostess seated our party, and I had a few minutes to admire the small but electric restaurant. A large chalkboard on the wall explained where many of the food items used in their dishes are sourced, and I was delighted to see many local farms listed. There was an inviting bar on one side of the room, which featured an impressive wine rack that took up a half wall and contained a large assortment of wines. I ordered a glass of red wine and scanned the menu to figure out my dinner. My husband was my dining partner, and we decided to start with the FRESH MOZZARELLA & PROSCIUTTO. While I was unsure how they would be presented, all of the ingredients sounded like something we would enjoy. A short time later, I was delighted to see pieces of prosciutto wrapped around melted mozzarella, with delicious crostini and a mound of heirloom cherry tomatoes topped with balsamic on the side of the plate. We each took the crostini, placed the cheesefilled prosciutto on it, then topped it with the tomatoes. It was heavenly! I have been thinking about this plate ever since our meal. I had a tough time deciding on my main entrée. I watched as other tables had huge bowls of pasta that looked amazing, so I almost went that route but ended up going with their CRISPY CHICKEN THIGHS AGRODOLCE.
I also had heard that their MASCARPONE MACARONI AND CHEESE was worth ordering (award-winning in fact!), so I ordered a side of that as well.
My husband went with the 12OZ NEW YORK STRIP, and because we can never resist them, he ordered a side of FRIED BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
We were incredibly impressed when our meal was served! My chicken thighs were so exciting. My plate had three large chicken thighs that sat on a large bed of Brussels sprouts bacon slaw. The chicken was crispy and had an excellent sweet and sour taste to it. It was tangy, but added with the slaw made it perfect. I could totally see how their Mac and Cheese won the award for the Kalamazoo area’s best. It was creamy, rich, and full of incredible flavors. The “side” was large enough that I could have easily had enough for a whole meal. My husbands’ steak was so enviable. Large and cooked to the perfect medium-rare, it was served with fingerling potatoes, artichokes, red onion, and feta. I tried a bite, it had incredible flavor, and it literally melted in my mouth. Delightful! The side of Brussels sprouts was so huge, it would have been enough at least for a family of four to share. They were just crispy enough and had tiny bits of prosciutto mixed in and were topped with balsamic to add just a touch of sweetness. Trust me when I say this was a fantastic dinner. It is for sure one of my favorite finds in a long time. The service was excellent, the food was elevated, yet the atmosphere was comfortable and casual. The prices were reasonable, and the amount of food we got on each plate was incredibly impressive. We each took home enough food for at least one more meal each. Visit Kitchen House in Richland. I promise you will not regret it!
Elizabeth Precopio
Elizabeth Precopio is a hairstylist by day and 24/7 food enthusiast. She visits restaurants in the Kalamazoo area and blogs about her experience at feedmekzoo.com
