Harbor Fish Market & Grill Baileys Harbor WI

We decided to spurge one night and picked the Harbor Fish Market & Grill in Baileys Harbor WI.
I feel you need to eat the food that is local to get the full experience so this was our attempt. 

The scenery was beautiful in the sunset.  We were in the yard overlooking Lake Michigan.  We arrived at 6:30pm and were seated immediately. 

We ordered some locally brewed beers from the Door County Brewing Company.  We ordered the Polka King which is a flavorful beer and it looks darker than it taste.  It is brewed with pale chocolate malts & English hops.  I could taste the chocolate but it was in the background and didn’t over shadow the beer.  The Polka King Beer was named after a local guy who got his license taken away too many time so he would drive his tracker to the bar with a portable boom box playing polka music.  He would but his boom box on the bar counter and everyone would enjoy is music.  This beer was named in memory of him.  Long live the polka King.  The link below will lead you to the webpage of the Door County Brewing Company.

Door County Brewing Company Polka King Beer

We ordered the Oysters for an appetizer and they were so buttery and cheese.  They had garlic, butter and parmesan cheese all melted together in the oyster shell.  I would order that again in a minute. 

 

Our main meal was the Blackened White Fish. It has a spicy Cajun flavor and was cooked perfectly. It was peppery flavored but not so much you miss the fish all together. The sauce on the fish didn't have much of a flavor but was ok.  We chose a baked potato and they gave us some broccoli slaw shredded Brussel sprout mix that was cooked and had light bacon flavored vinaigrette on it. I love all the levels of flavors that this meal combined. The potato was a potato and nothing to write home about. We split a meal so they divided it for us on two plates but charged us an extra $5 for the second whole baked potato and a serving of slaw.

 Two drinks an appetizer and the meal came to about $65 without a tip.  Was it worth it?  I don't think so because it took us a few hours to be served dinner and we always felt forgotten at the back of the yard.




They offered a Lobster boil dinner which included craw fish, mussels and looked kind of interesting. They cooked it out back in a large pot over an open fire. It was very fascinating to watch the whole process. We didn’t pick that option because it was the most expensive meal on the menu for about $50

 

All in all the dinner was not worth the money we spend and I would not have gone back. The service was horrible. The young couple that came in about 20 minutes after us got there meal before we did. That kind of thing really seems to bother my husband. It was very cool that the server told us the whole story of the Polka King Beer.  We went on a brewery tour with the Door County Brewing Company and they told us that story.  That review will be next week.

We kept thinking we might have had more fun if we would have gotten a few pieces of smoked fish and sat on the beach for dinner.That option would have been a lot more affordable.





Enjoy







Harbor Fish Market & Grill Website

Harbor Fish Market & Grille

Distinctive Waterfront Dining in the Heart of Door County

8080 Highway 57 | Baileys Harbor, WI 54202

920-839-9999


harborfishmarket.bh@gmail.com

Door County Wisconsin Trip

We took a trip to Door County Wisconsin last week on a limited budget. I will share the places to visit in Door County Wisconsin and the deals we got and what was worth the money we spent. We ate and drank for a limited amount of funds so follow the posting and find out what worked.

We stayed in Bailey Harbor at the and the views were amazing. We visited free parks to see the sights and visited many landmarks on a budget in Door County WI.

Over the next few weeks I will post what to do and see in Door County WI.   Activities and places to visit in Door County WI with little or no money.  I will share what to see in Door County WI and what you don't have to take the time to see.



When touring Door County I found that no one really has the time to explain what they offer for meals or coffee. I would imagine that over 1/2 their business comes from people who have never been in there restaurant so that should have been a necessity. It was frustrating that I didn't know the cafes served Latte's before I bought plain coffee, I thought was the only coffee they had. The one complaint about the trip was that I didn't even find one average tasting cup of coffee. I paid anywhere from $2- $7 for a cup and yes even the $7 wasn't very good but the best out of what was offered.




Enjoy






Door county website

Town Hall Bakery and Cafe Jacksonport Wisconsin Door County

Breakfast at the Town Hall Bakery and Cafe -Jacksonport Wisconsin - Door County. 

The Town Hall Bakery in Jacksonport Wisconsin, Door County has been serving delicious food for over 24 years. Owned an operated by Krista Olson and Don Jervis, the Town Hall Bakery and Cafe in Jacksonport, WI Door County began small and now serves daily breakfast and lunch, along with beautifully decorated baked goods, pies, and cakes. We are famous for our cherry pies, caramel rolls, skorpa, scones, cherry oatmeal cookies, granola, and cakes. We also provide music, art, and theatre to the local community.

The building in Door County that houses the Town Hall Bakery and Cafe in Jacksonport WI was built in 1890, and is a historic landmark in Jacksonport Wisconsin.

We stopped to just get coffee and the cafe was adorable with its vibrant tablecloths and its mismatched chairs. It was like stepping back to a forgotten era. The pastries looked wonderful and very fresh. I ordered a 12 once coffee which was a whopping $2.50, too expensive I thought for what ended up being so so coffee.

We didn’t have time to have breakfast so I cannot say how the food was but the atmosphere was nostalgic and it retold the story of a simpler time. Well worth a stopover if you are in the area.


When touring Door County I found that no one really has the time to explain what they offer for meals or coffee.  I would imagine that over 1/2 their business comes from people who have never been in there restaurant.  It was frustrating that I didn't know this cafe served latte's before I bought plain coffee, I thought was the only coffee they had. 

 The one complaint about the trip was that I never even found on average cup of coffee.  I paid anywhere from $2- $7 for a cup and yes even the $7 wasn't very good but the best out of what was offered.

 


Town Hall Bakery, Jacksonport WI,  Door County

Our hours for the 2015 season are daily:
breakfast & lunch: 7:00AM to 2:00PM
Coffee, cookies, treats, and more: 7AM to 5pm (sometimes later!)

6225 Highway 57, Jacksonport, WI, 54235 (920) 823-2116


Town Hall Bakery Jacksonport WI Webpage



Enjoy

 

Chicken Chow Mein

Chicken chow mein is an easy recipe to make from scratch and taste devine. This is one that my mom made when I was a kid and it still brings back my childhood today.  This recipe is not true Chinese food but our American Chinese Cuisine Invention. 


History of Chow Mein



Chicken Chow Mein



Cook chicken with celery, onion and seasoning per package directions. ( temp 170)

When it is cooked add mushrooms, stir fry vegetables, bamboo shoots, and bean sprouts. You can add or omit any of the ingredients about or omit if you don't like them. Some options are broccoli, snap peas, peas, carrots and corn.

Cook until the chow mein is tender or cooked. Add beef or chicken broth as needed to cook veggies. Once the chow mein is done add cornstarch a teaspoon at a time until it is thick like gravy. Don't add too much because you want it like gravy consistency.

Pour the chicken chow mein over fried rice, white rice or chow mein noodles. Season with soy sause as desired.

Enjoy

 

 

 

Spicy Bloody Mary

Spicy Bloody Mary

This is a great bloody mary recipe and takes only a few items. You can make as spicy as you want and either add vodka or not.  Great for all those summer BBQ Parties. 

I start mine with a short glass but you can use a tall one if you like.

The items you will need for sure are tomato juice of any kind and celery salt. Two must haves of a good Bloody Mary, everything else is optional.

 

If you want salt on the rim of your glass of your bloody mary. Get the rim wet and dunk into course salt. I skipped that step because I am trying to watch my salt intake.

Put in a few ice cubes and put in tomato juice to about 1/3 of the glass. I use a  spicy mix of tomato bloody mary mix. You don’t have to use expensive Bloody Mary Mixes. You can use any kind you have on hand.

I then put a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce, tabasco sauce and hot sauce. More if you like super spicy Bloody Mary or omit if you don’t.

Now for those of us over 21 you can add a shot or pour of any flavor vodka that might go with tomato. (Bacon flavored vodka works well)

I put a few sprinkles of celery salt then add more tomato juice and another layer of spicy stuff if you want.

Stir and add olives, cheese sticks, beef sticks, pickles or celery. Then a dash of celery salt on top of the ice.

I will add olive juice too if I have olives on hand.

You don’t have to wait till you have all ingredients to make this Spicy Bloody Mary drink just use what you have in the refrigerator.

Enjoy




Vodka drink recipes

Tuna Cakes

Tuna Cakes

These Tuna Cakes turned out amazing. This recipe was inspired by my brother’s suggestion to come up with a recipe to use all those cans of tuna in the pantry. I think it may be a reason to go buy more tuna fish.

I started with two cans of tuna fish in a large bowl but it is fine to just half the recipe for just one.

I diced up very small celery, yellow pepper, onion, and one whole jalapeno (about 1/2 cup total). Add this to the tuna and stir. Next add 2 eggs, sriracha sauce to taste (omit if you don't like hot and spicy), finely shredded cheese (whatever amount you want), whatever seasoning you like and then bread crumbs or some other crumble mixture. (crackers, pretzels, bread crumbs, or crumbled potato chips) I used seasoned stuffing that I finely ground in the food processor. Use enough to make the patties stick together. They will be kind of crumbly but squeeze them together good.

Heat a pan with a little oil or nonstick spray. Drop in the tuna cake patties when the pan is hot and cook on that side a few minutes. You can make then whatever size you want, small for an appetizer or large for dinner. Try not play with the tuna cakes too much because they will fall apart. Flip very carefully and cook on the other side a few minutes. Shut off stove and sprinkle with cheese and let melt. I used mozzarella but you can use whatever you like or have on hand.

When the cheese is melted on the tuna cakes they are ready to eat. Very quick meal with a very inexpensive high protein product.

Enjoy



Tuna's health benefits

Goulash

Sometimes in the summer time we can crave some comfort foods because we are just making quick meals or grilling and this is one of my favorites.  This is a recipe that my mom made on a regular basis and I still love it today. It is one of the best comfort foods of the past. You can make it a variety of ways so don’t worry about following the recipe just sub out what you don’t have in the cupboard for what you do. 

Cooking is not a science so don’t worry about measurements either.  Here is the recipe.

 

Goulash

I started the goulash with a pound of ground beef and fried it up with some peppers, onions and celery. You can add or omit any of the veggies above or use any type of meat you would like.

I added some frozen meatballs I had in the freezer too and cut them in half. When that was warm I added some spaghetti sauce, can or two of tomatoes. Now you can use whatever red sause or tomatoes. Tomatoe paste, puree or any other will work.   A can of spaghetti sauce works well because it has lots of seasoning in it already. You can add salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, oregano, basil or just some Italian seasoning to the goulash. You can add any other seasoning you like. Let it simmer for a bit so the flavors of the old fashion goulash can get happy together.

Boil some noodles for the goulash recipe. This choice is up to you so whatever you have you can use. I used egg noodles but the original goulash recipe my mom made called for plain macaroni.

When they are done add them to the sauce and toss. Heat up the goulash and it is ready to serve.  Add some cheese on top of the goulash when you dish it up. This is wonderful old fashioned goulash.

Enjoy
 

Mamas Hamburger Macaroni Casserole Goulash Recipe

Potato Skins

I peeled the potato skins from the potatoes that I boiled for potato salad. I kept these when I would have normally thrown them away. So I took all the potato skins and put them in the refrigerator. I cooked up crispy potato skins.

Potato Skins


I took a bunch of the potato skins and put them on a greased on a large cookie sheet pan.

I toss the potato skins in olive oil and season them well. I used salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika, garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and celery
salt to season.

I bake the potato skins on 400º for about 40 minutes flipping every 10. Bake the potatoes until brown and cripy. Top with shredded cheese when it comes out of the oven. Top with all your favorite toppings. I added some sour cream and parmesan on top of the potatoes and they were wonderful.

Enjoy




Potato Nutrition Information

Lunch at Mugsleys Pub Bethany Missouri

We ventured to Lake of the Ozarks last weekend to spend the weekend with my brother who just bought a cabin at the 60th mile marker of that lake.

 

We stopped for lunch at what looked like a dive bar.  Mugsleys Pub in Bethany Missouri.  We were pleasantly surprised, the food was very good and the waitresses were a lot of fun.  The meals were all under 8 dollars.

 

 

We started with Mugsleys pub's hot pepper cheese curds which were spicy and worthy of much acclaim.

 

I ordered The Tenderloin Sandwich at Mugsleys Pub was more like a cube steak on a bun but it was very tasty. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mugsleys Pub Bacon double cheese burger looked amazing.  Greg my brother ate it in record time. Too bad there was no prize for that.

The fish and Chips platter was very good but it took longer for the fish to cook so we were done with our sandwiches before my brother Doug got his meal.  It was a light white fish which he said was very good.  the steak fries were crunchy but not too done.  All in all he said it was worthy of the wait.

 

 

 

 

 

The only complaint I had at Mugsleys Pub in Bethany Missouri was the waitresses were also the cooks and smoking while cooking and serving.  I am just not used to that because smoking is not allowed in most bars and restaurants in Wisconsin which is my home town.

 

Overall this Mugsleys Pub in Bethany Missouri was a very good call and they had many antique beer signs to keep us busy while the food was a cooking.

 

Enjoy

Mugsleys Pub
1605 Fuller St, Bethany, MO 64424
(660) 425-4444

Mugsleys Pub Facebook page





























Mugsleys Pub Facebook page

Sautéed Radishes

This was a first for me to actually saute radishes.  I have eaten them raw but never cooked.


I did two batches because I heard putting some chopped up mint on them was very good but I didn't like it so just went with plain radishes and onions and butter. 



 The radishes were fantastic cooked with just some onions and butter leaving out the mint.

Sautéed Radishes

 

 

I cleaned up some fresh radishes.  Sliced them into a pan.  Added some chopped onions and butter. 

 

I let the radishes cook about 10 minutes and added salt & pepper to taste.  They were out of this world.

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy

 

Roasted radishes lemony herb butter

Cheesy Mashed Potato Muffins

These Cheesy Mashed Potato muffins were very easy to make and take to a pot luck because they are bite size. 


Cheesy Mashed Potato Muffins

I mixed up about 3 Cups of leftover mashed potatoes with 2 eggs, 2 TBS hot sauce, 2 TBS chives and 1 Cup cheddar and 1 Cup Parmesan cheese. I added to the cheesy mashed potato muffins 1 or 2 TBS of the following Italian seasoning, chili powder, paprika, celery salt, salt and pepper.

Put them in a muffin tin and baked for 40 minute.

 

 

 

They came out full of flavor and were great for on the go meals.

 

 

 

Enjoy

Meatballs

Meatballs

This recipe is so easy and tasty you will never buy pre made meatballs again. They can be kept for a week in the refrigerator and up to a year in the freezer.

Put any amount of ground beef in a bowl to make the meatballs. I used 3 pounds because I will separate the beef to cover a few meals. If I am going to cook one meal I will usually cook 2 or 3 other things at the same time. This saves me time during the week of preparing other dinners.

Next I add everything from veggies to seasoning. I put in mine a bag of onion soup mix, some garlic, ½ cup per pound of any mixture of diced onion, green and yellow pepper, a jalapeno, some Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Mix these ingredients well with your hands yes I said your hands. Take off your bling and get your fingers in there and mix everything up good. It can be very liberating. Just remember to wash your hands good before you touch anything else.

At this point I made 4 hamburger patties and wrapped them until later in the week and I fried up a little less than a pound for another meal that week.

With the remainder of ground beef I added 2 eggs and some type of crumbs. I took Friday nights toasted baguettes and put them in the oven to toast them even more. When they were done I put them in my food processor to make my own bread crumbs. You can use crackers, chips, pretzels, oatmeal or whatever you have in the cupboard. Just grind them up into small crumbs.

I then will roll my meatballs. They can be as big or small you would like. Unless I am making cocktail meatballs I will make them big. Cook them on 350 degrees for 10 minutes then I will flip them or they will burn and cook for another 10 or 15 minutes or until the internal temperature is 160 or above. If they are small meatballs they may not take as long to cook. Keep an eye on them to not overcook them.

I feel a meat thermometer is a must because you don’t want to over or under cook you meat products.

You can make as many as you want for future meals because they freeze really well. If you freeze them put them on a plate or baking sheet in freezer until they are frozen then put them in a freezer bag. That way they won’t stick together and you can just use one or two meatballs at a time. They are good 6 months to a 1 year.

Some will stay in the refrigerator after being cooked until Spaghetti night then I will just add them to some sauce. That recipe is to follow. Don't forget the infamous meatball sub.


Enjoy

Beef Cabbage Stew

This is a wonderful pot of Beef Cabbage Stew that can be very low in calories and fat if you want it to be or you can add some protein and make it heartier. It is up to you and I will give you variations that can make that happen.

Beef Cabbage Stew

I started this beef cabbage stew with a huge soup pot. I put in the bottom a few cans of diced tomatoes, any flavor you want. I added the tomatoes with green chilies variety for spicey hot.

I then added green pepper, onion, celery, carrots, broccoli, snap peas, green beans, and some tomato purée. You can omit or add any other veggies you would like. I let this cook for a while until all the veggies were cooked.

I added some lean ground beef and more sauce if needed. I didn't want mine to be soupy but it needs to have enough liquid to cook veggies. You can add some rice if you want or beans would be great too at this point. If you want to keep the carbs low just omit the rice. It works well just with the veggies and cabbage.

I added some sausage so my husband would not feel like he was eating diet food.

When that was hot though I added about ¼ of a head of cabbage chopped. I added that and cooked covered for another 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.

I uncovered the beef cabbage stew and let some liquid evaporate if it is too watery. It should not be like soup but the consistency of stew. It works great for lunch the next day.  The beef cabbage stew is a wonderful way to get vitamins and can be very low in calories.

Cool and server.

Enjoy



Health properties of Cabbage