Michigan Finds (Stevensville. Orangeville, Lansing)

We took Shirl (our camping trailer) out for a short midweek adventure - the goal being Lansing Michigan, one of 8 state capitols we haven't visited.

On I-94 we saw several billboards for Bit of Swiss, a bakery, and being Swiss herself, SueF suggested a stop. Good thing we had Google Maps, because once you get off the interstate, there's no signage, and even with Google Maps we nearly drove past it. The place has a restaurant and a winery, but we were there for the bakery.


Sandwich with rye pictured

We bought a chocolate chip pudding cake (rich but not that special), a cheese croissant (wonderfully flaky and outstanding swiss cheese in it), and their signature Tosi rye: relatively fluffy for a rye, great salt crust and toasts up very quickly. Over the next two and a half days we devoured more than half of it in breakfasts and lunches.

Dinner that night in Yankee Springs Recreation Area campground was pizza done over coals: One chimney of coals spread out, grate right above, pizza on foil with a foil tent over it. The dough didn't rise as much as expected so it was somewhat crackery, but very tasty. Toppings included roasted red pepper, artichoke, sauteed mushrooms and pepperoni.


Campsite -- best one we saw in the Deep Lake campground


That's about a 14"-er

Lansing is a pretty hip town. After visiting the capitol Thursday morning we walked around old town, and downtown. Among the places visited were several bookstores, game and collectible shops, and The Peanut Shop, which roasts and fries nuts. We got their second-highest grade of mixed nuts (I forget the superlative adjective), some jelly pumpkins for an upcoming party, and cheddar jalapeno toasted corn (unlike corn nuts, does not feel like eating your own teeth).

Back at Yankee Springs, we needed to actually register our car (unlike the camping reservation we couldn't do it online) so drove to the main (more crowded) campground. Just outside of it is a gourmet shop, Tom's Meat Market, the likes of which I'd have been very happy to find on our longer trips: a real meat counter (everything from $3.95 pork cutlets to $30+ wagyu steaks), smoked meat and fish (I got some whitefish salad for Friday's breakfast), baked goods (SueF got a scone for her breakfast). Lots of produce, frozen foods, jarred sauces, jerky, etc. They'll also process deer.

Bit of Swiss
4333 Ridge Rd, Stevensville, MI 49127
http://www.bitofswiss.com/

The Peanut Shop
117 S Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48933
http://www.lansingpeanutshop.com/

Tom's Meat Market
11080 Gun Lake Rd, Middleville, MI 49333
http://tomsmarket.biz/