Tuesday, 24 April 2012

John's Place Family Restaurant - Oldcastle Restaurant Review




Food:   

Between the two of us – I had the Club Sandwich and my friend had the Gyro.  Both were excellent, the club came with the choice of a grilled chicken breast or turkey meat (the real meat, not the sliced deli meat) with the choice of whole wheat or white and a side of fries and coleslaw.  The club was made the way a club should be made, and the fries were simply delightful – the coleslaw was more vinegary then creamy, bland yet good.  Though I didn’t try my friends gyro – he said it was delicious. I also had a coffee with my meal, the mug stayed full and the coffee was fresh.




Presentation:  simple – what you would expect

Staff: our waitress was pleasant and courteous



Atmosphere and Aesthetics:

            Interior:  typical country style restaurant – see pics.
            Exterior:  clean next to mechanics garage – plenty of parking.

Cleanliness:  seems to be kept clean






Would I Recommend to a Friend?

Yes – I thoroughly enjoyed the meal, priced well for what you get with the portions not leaving you on a empty stomach.  Just remember to bring cash as they do not accept any cards.  (though there is a ATM machine in the diner)


Address and Contact Info:

7450 Walker Rd.
Oldcastle Ontario
N0R 1L0
(519) 737-6773 ‎


April 2012 - Warren Rutgers Monthly Newsletter


Monday, 9 April 2012

Krista Whaling Photography - Warren Rutgers Business Review



I recently had the opportunity to get my business pictures done with Krista Whaling of "Krista Whaling Photography"!





I have nothing but good things to say about her - she made me feel comfortable when taking the pictures, and her editing skills were great as well.  She was patient and professional, taking many photos to make sure we had choices to pick our favorites.  Browsing through her website, I see that she has the experience and expertise to get the job done - whatever that may be, from weddings, family photos, or photos of your children.  She has the talent to deliver the professional photos your looking for.





I would definitely recommend Krista for your photography needs!

Contact Krista Whaling @

Phone: 519-322-6936
 Facebook: www.facebook.com


Sunday, 8 April 2012

Minute Maid Wine Recipe





Making Minute Maid Wine Coolers is fun and easy, tastes great and you may already have all the tools in your kitchen to get started!

Tools Needed
  • 5 gallon food grade pail or 5 gallon glass carboy (23 L)
  • Air Lock
  • Stir Stick
  • Food grade siphon hose (4-6ft)
  • Measuring Cup
  • hydrometer (optional) but very helpful

Ingredients
  • 14 Minute Maid frozen juice concentrate (Choose your flavor; Peach, Mango, Raspberry, Grape)
  • 3 kg white sugar
  • 3 oranges
  • 5 tbsp Yeast Nutrient (buy at any wine making store)
  • 1 tbsp bakers yeast
Cost of Ingredients should be (depending on where you live) $12 USD for roughly 30 bottles of wine when you are finished.
40 cents a bottle of wine, sign me up!



1 and 5 gallon Glass Carboys

5 Gallon Food Grade Pail - note air lock attached on top 

2 L plastic pop bottles - give the option of second fermentation or fizz (such as the carbonation in soda)
READ ME FIRST: Cleanliness is very important in successful wine making. A solution made with potassium metabisulfite powder is common amongst many wine makers to sterilize all tools and bottles before wine ingredients and wine come into contact with them.

Directions
  1. Clean and Sterilize all tools
  2. Add 14 Minute Maid Frozen Fruit Concentrate (Flavor of your choice) to 5 gallon pail
  3. Add white sugar
  4. Add hot water to pail, stir mixture until dissolved, add enough water to make 5 gallons
  5. (Optional) if you have a hydrometer, use to determine desired alcohol content, add more sugar for more higher alcohol content. *** NOTE: to much sugar and you will kill of the yeast, I recommend staying under the 15% alcohol mark ***
  6. Cut up oranges, squeeze juice into pail as well as whole cut up orange pieces
  7. Add 5 tbsp of Yeast Nutrient
  8. COVER WITH LID AND AIR LOCK AND SET PAIL ASIDE AND WAIT 24 HOURS
  9. After 24 hrs, put 1 tbsp of bakers yeast in small cup, add warm water and stir, wait few minutes, then add to 5 Gallon pail with wine mixture, stir.
  10. Store wine mixture in pail in area that is roughly 70°F for 2 months or (When hydrometer reads 1-3% alcohol). YOU ARE NOW READY TO BOTTLE AND DRINK!!
  11. CLEAN AND STERILIZE 12 2 L plastic pop bottles. Siphon wine into bottles, keeping end of siphon hose above sediment in pail (about 1-2 inches from bottom of pail).
  12. Tighten tops on bottles and set aside at room temperature for a few days. What should happen (Definitely will happen if using a hydrometer, and bottled at 1-3% alcohol stage) is that your plastics bottles will firm up. This is cause by secondary fermentation happening within the bottles, what happens is that a natural fizz will occur in the bottles, as the gas has no where to escape, hence Minute Maid Wine Coolers. Refrigerate wine coolers, and share with friends and family time and time again. 

 Future Wine Recipes - Dandianna and Pear





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Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Hickory Knob - South Carolina - Warren Rutgers Review






Accommodations

Over the years we have stayed in both the one bedroom cabins and the apartment style cabins. The one bedroom cabin is your typical "hotel" style room, with two queen beds, a washroom, television and some rooms come with a bar fridge. The apartment style cabins are larger having a bedroom with two queen beds, washroom, living area with a pull out couch (for additional sleeping), television, dining area and full kitchen (fridge, stove, microwave).

All the rooms are generally outdated (eighties), minor maintenance issues (such as paint, or loose ceramic tiles). The rooms are clean when you arrive, but are not cleaned during your stay. The one bedroom cabins have a small deck off the back of the room which has a nice view of the lake within the trees; the apartment style rooms do not have this deck, but still a similar view from the windows. The rooms are situated within the large surrounding trees which are nice for those who appreciate nature, you will also see dear in the evenings and other local birds and animals. Parking is close to both style rooms, making it easy to unpack/pack luggage for you trip. All and all the room's suit their purpose, to get a good night's sleep, keep food and beverages cold and get cleaned up. They are not fancy, just functional.

Across the street, is a large practice green, where you can hone your chipping and putting skills each night, or have some golf skill contests with friends? This green is generally a bit slower than the course, though suits its purpose for entertainment. After a long day of golf, you can come here, have a few beers and work on your game.

    
 
Food & Drink

If you purchase the golf package, every morning you get breakfast voucher. The voucher allows you to eat a breakfast buffet at the main building. The buffet is simple yet good and includes; scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, french toast, hash browns, melon, grapes, fruit salad, cereal, ice tea, juice and coffee. With the variety, I am sure everyone can find something they enjoy to start their morning.
The apartment style cabins all have BBQs (you will need to bring charcoal), stoves and microwaves. This allows you to potentially cook whatever you are use to eating at home, if you do not feel like cooking, the main building also has a diner at night. You can order off the menu, or take part in the diner buffet. The prices are very reasonable, and found the food to be simple as well as tasty.
If you associate golfing with drinking, here is the place to do it. We have found that the course does not mind that you bring your own beer onto the links, but if you need to purchase it there, the price is ridiculously cheap at $10 for six beers and a bag of ice. The rules are very relaxed here; we have brought wine, beer, and liquor onto the course, making for an afternoon golf party which pairs well with a warm South Carolina sun.

Note that McCormick South Carolina is a dry county on Sundays, so if you plan on having a few beers on Sunday, make sure you pre plan your day as you will not be able to buy alcohol at stores or at the golf course, though you can still consume at your leisure. 


As Hickory Knob is a state course within a state park, respectively, the course is not in the pristine shape that you might find in private courses. The layout of the course is challenging (recommend playing from the back tees to get full challenge). There are many water holes, large hills and elevations, tall trees that are thick and impossible to fly over and difficult to get through, and bunkers are well placed.

 

The use of a golf cart is recommended (especially if you plan on playing 36 holes per day), as there are many hills to walk up and down.
Hickory Knob is great place to start your season, you will hopefully leave all your bogeys, double bogeys tough lies, punch out shots, and every other bad shot that is magnified here, and set yourself up for a great season when you get back to your home course.

    

Address

1591 Resort Dr.
McCormick, SC 29835
Phone: (864) 391-2450
Toll Free: (800) 491-1764


Prices

Our visits are generally in early spring. Per person, we generally pay around $350 (US Dollars) for seven rounds of golf, four buffet breakfasts and four nights of accommodation, a very reasonable price for what you are getting.

To find out exact pricing contact Hickory Knob