Coffee and nuts from Michigan

This was supposed to have been posted last night around 9 pm, but my internet connection chose that time to conk out. I cut my losses and went back to work in the woodshop until 10pm. Got up at 5 am to get back at it and just now (it's 6:30 am) remembered that I didn't get this posted. For some of the best coffee roasted right here in Michigan you have got to check out Leelanau Coffee. They don't ship it unless it was roasted 36 hours ago or less. My favorite blend this time of the year is their Christmas Eggnog. Oh man, is it good. My favorite anytime of the year is Manitou Blueberry - when it's brewing it smells like you're baking blueberry muffins. So good.

For one of the largest assortments of nuts from around the world as well as excellent chocolates you need to check out White Pigeon's own claim to fame - The Tasty Nut Shop. It's been in business on U.S. 12 since the 1920s. They don't have a website, but you can call them and they'll ship your order just about anywhere. The number is (269) 483-7566.

Quick Tip to Better Tasting Coffee

I finally found a couple of minutes to read one of my favorite newsletters. It is a monthly newsletter from the Leelanau Coffee Roasting Company and it usually includes their monthly specials on coffee or information on current events in Glen Arbor where they call home. This month's newsletter featured a quick and easy tip to better tasting coffee and a cleaner coffeepot. Simply run 10 cups of vinegar (yep, do not dilute it with water) through your coffee maker followed by at least two pots of water to get rid of any lingering vinegar. Also, do not forget to clean the lid to your coffeepot as well as the spigot where the coffee comes out of the coffee maker.

One tip I would like to add is that you might also want to have a paper filter (if your coffee maker uses those) in place to catch any hard water deposits that the vinegar cleans out. A pleasant scented candle might be in order as well as your kitchen will quickly smell like a pickle factory.

P.S. If you love coffee you really should stop by the Leelanau Coffee Roasting Company when you are in Glen Arbor (in the Sleeping Bear Dunes area) or you can place an order at their store online at www.coffeeguys.com. I have a lot of favorites among their different coffees, but one of my top favorites would have to be the Manitou Blueberry. You can really taste the blueberry flavor, but it does not take away from the smoothness of the coffee.