Cheff Jeff

Hey all,

I had a great time at the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Expo at the Midwest Center in Milwaukee.

My friend Sandi and I worked with fondant, made bread baskets, plate torts and an awesome Cuban breakfast sandwich. For sure I'll be serving that tasty morsel at the Inn very soon.

I can hardly wait to try everything out on my Pampered Chef kitchenware. I still can't believe how my cooking ability has increased since I started using the cookware and stoneware!

Anyway, I got to meet the incredible Chef Jeff Hendersen from the Food Network Show "The Cheff Jeff Project." Talk about a great story, and an incredibly moving and motivating speaker. I was "touched." I'm not usually into autographs and pictures but I haven't been touched by someone like Chef Jeff in such a long time! I have tried a few of the recipes out of my "signed" copy of Chef Jeff Cooks, and they work in well with my type of cooking. Check him out at http://www.chefjeffcooked.com/. Sooooo worth the trip to his web site.

One of the other things I did was play "Hell's Kitchen" on the Wii. That I did not learn, in fact, even though I got a "prize," I should have been gonged, or at least boo'd off the stage to put myself out of my non-Wii-playing ability misery. That's me burning up the kitchen. good thing I don't do that in real life.

On other fronts...

Working on the "Spa" on the first level of the Inn. Coming along well. Used cement for the first time...thinking I could make a fire pit next!

Had great guests last weekend! Stayed up chit-chatting over wine 'til the cows were on their way home. I love being an innkeeper!

Heading to see Doc Feldman in Miami for a 6 month checkup. Can you believe it? I am doing awesome I have to tell you. VERY LUCKY! I have a new lease on life since the ankle replacement.

Speaking of...Scott and I are new puppy-parents. Here name is Lucky. We'll pick her up on our way home from Florida in a few weeks. Look for pictures and her story coming soon.

See ya! Tia

P.S. My creme filled plated dessert tart (seen in the picture) was made in one of the hand's on classes at the WRA Expo and it was super tasty.

Brrrrrrrrrrr...Titanium is COLD

Hello-
Long time, huh?

I'm doing GREAT!! Yesterday I had two hours that I almost forgot I had received a complete ankle replacement. I can't believe how good my ankle feels. OK, the real truth-I still have pain but am able to handle it quite well with Ultram. Cold, and today is what...-14?, is tough on it! Titanium gets pretty darn cold so I may have to invest in some battery-operated socks! I have a brace that I will have to wear for a full year at least, then in many activities for the rest of my life. I still walk with a strong limp but I get better every day, and I think I may not even have a limp sometime down the road! Isn't that exciting!!!!!! Next doctor's appointment isn't for 2 months.

We have had many guests at the Inn since my surgery. You should have seen me cook and serve my gourmet breakfasts. I had chairs with wheels strategically placed in several rooms. I could launch myself quite a distance across our beautifully restored hardwood floors. The kitchen tile was a bit different. It was like driving down Manitowoc road in Bellevue or riding a horse with one short leg. I haven't actually ridden a horse with one short leg but I think it would be quite similar to the repeated de-dunk, de-dunk, de-dunk on Manitowoc road. Anyway, I served some kick-butt breakfasts to guests from Maryland, La Crosse, Green Bay and Oshkosh and had a blast! I love being an Innkeeper!



There is an eagle in Algoma. I watched it for a while for the second time last week. How amazingly majestic! I took some great pictures of Mr. Eagle (I'm not familiar with eagles so it could have been a Mrs. and I apologize to those eagles that I may have offended)and the Algoma area blanketed in frigidness. Hope you enjoy them.

Remember my beautiful and serene (though not for long) Belle Isle Micro Spa?? Well it is so ironic...They are suing me for breaching the lease. My oh so humorous husband compares it with getting run over by your boss in the parking lot at work and then being fired for not being able to work. I think that's pretty funny though also pretty accurate. Remember all the crap that I had to deal with there? 'Nuff said!



I am getting back to another love...My cooking shows. I'd love to host a show for you at Belle Isle Inn or at your house. I'm also doing cooking overnighters for a great winter get-away for you and a few friends. How fun!! I am so excited at how Pampered Chef has helped me in the Inn's Kitchen. My newest creations use the deep covered baker for 30 minute Rouladen and the 10 inch cookware pan for my sauteed pears in toffee sauce. Yum Yum! Did you know that you can order cookware and get recipes?

Scarecrow Fest

It's happening isn't it...FALL. Color change, Halloween and Festivals, like Scarecrow Fest
When I think of scarecrows, I think of the Wizard of Oz. And when I was a kid, I was terrified of that movie. I HATED IT! But I think this year, it's about time I get over the "Wizard Fear", and I have just the ticket! I'm going to make a scarecrow for the Scarecrow Festival here in Algoma in a few weeks. It will be the last "hurrah" before I get my new ankle on the 17th.
From what I understand Scarecrow Fest is a really cool event where you can enter your scarecrow for a chance to win prizes. Everyone comes and checks out the entries, eats chili, has refreshments and a ton of fun. I hear there was even a jellyfish scarecrow one year and another year someone taped up her husband to create a see-through shell for her scarecrow. My brain is working overtime right now, thinking of something to do. I love projects. So put it on your calender, October 4th and 5th at Garden Angels, located just south of Algoma at N6695 Hwy 42. (Check out the Chamber of Commerce for more information.) In fact spend a night at the Inn with my husband and I. We've decided to stay open after my surgery. Belle Isle Inn will offer a re-construction special, you know, instead of a pardon our dust deal, we'll have a pardon our continental meal deal (since I won't be doing the four course breakfasts for a good 6 weeks until my cast is off.) My husband can take care of us. He is such a good guy, my husband, and a great Innkeeper!!

I can hardly wait to get my ankle fixed. I just need $6000.00 and I'm not kidding. Things always have a way of working out don't they? Speaking of...We had a wonderful experience at Lakeside Community Church on Sunday. We've been looking for a church since we've moved to Algoma. Several people told us to give it a try and I'm glad we did. We were welcomed with open arms, and it felt really good. The upbeat music, gourmet coffee,and the message about humility were all wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I'm going to make something to bring to church next Sunday. Some YUMMY Breakfast thing like the cranberry bread pudding I made this week.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot... I want to leave you with this one...

Reuben Dip

1 small can Bavarian sauerkraut, 1/2 brick of cream cheese, four oz sour cream , four oz Renard's onion white cheddar, 6 oz home made corned beef and some fresh ground pepper. Place sauerkraut and sour cream in a pan on medium. Add cream cheese and melt. Add cheddar in small chunks and melt. Grind in pepper. Keep warm. Toast10 slices of buttered rye bread with caraway in toaster or regular oven until golden. Cut immediately into points with a pizza cutter. P.S. The Pampered Chef Pizza cutter is the best I've ever used. Honest. Enjoy!

Algoma B&B has an Evening at The Belle Isle Inn

Belle Isle Inn hosted a Pampered Chef tasting party, complete with White Peach and traditional Sangrias made with VonStiehl Wine, an artichoke dip breadbowl made with fresh Renards parmesan and a CCQ made with Renards Edam, Swiss and co-Jack. What fun we had! I'm hoping to have another one before my surgery so you'll have another chance to join us at the Inn.

If you couldn't make it DON"T WORRY!! You still have time to take advantage of both the summer and fall specials for a few more days. Just go to www.pamperedchef.biz/jennykennedy and place your order. Give me a call at 920-737-7733 if you need some help. Also...If you book a party with "yours truly" for September, you will have a chance to receive 60% off a piece or a full set of the Pampered Chef Cookware. Madonna LaFond of Green Bay booked a party to take advantage of the great deal. HOLY COW!!! And yes, because we had such a blast last night, I have decided to be a consultant so I'll be doing Madonna's party. Barb Clark from the Stone House Stay in Algoma booked a party at Belle Isle Inn for early October. It is nice to be able to offer my facilities for parties since my Kitchen was made for cooking!

I own and use alot of PC's stuff and have always loved both the durability and the various options for each piece of kitchen ware. (Funny, I had never been to or hosted a party.) The Pampered Chef features are really a chef's dream! Being in the "Algoma B & B" business, loving to cook and pamper people seems to be a perfect fit with PC.

The food was so great I had to promise the guests that I would post the recipes on http://www.belleisleinn.com/. Jenny Kennedy did and incredible job with a hands on demonstration so we could not only see, but feel how the tools worked. A couple glasses of Sangria, some awesome food, and as you can see, a lot of laughing completed the first of many "Evenings at the Belle Isle Inn."