Lunch at the WaterWheel Cafe Bakery Bar in Milford, Pa.

Milford is one of the most historic and scenic towns in our area of Pennsylvania. The WaterWheel Cafe has all the charm that you would expect from a building that houses a more than 100-year old grist mill. The menu, however, is anything but old. It is a la minute with everything prepared fresh from the highest quality ingredients. 

We have had breakfast here in the past and lunch. I suggested we stop here with our grandson Brandon on the way to the cottage. We arrived at about 12:30. We were able to be seated immediately but before long all the tables were occupied. The restaurant has two rooms in the front of the building and a bar farther back. A deck offers the opportunity to dine outside. You will see the bar if you go to the restrooms or to see the millwheel. 

I ordered a cappuccino and a chicken salad sandwich on a semolina baguette, Brandon ordered the Hereford beef burger which comes with a choice of cheese and Al had the roast beef sandwich on rye bread. The roast beef is cooked in house and was a beautiful medium rare. 

The cappuccino was perfect, it had a lot of firm foam. I love semolina so it added to my delicious chicken salad sandwich made with grapes and walnuts. Brandon scarfed down his burger and it was cooked perfectly and Al enjoyed the roast beef. The hamburger was served with thick ruffled potato chips  and the sandwiches were served with a delicious macaroni salad.  

You just can't leave without getting something from the bakery. It was calling my name. Since it was so busy, we decided to take the dessert to go, to free up our table. I got a delicious bar made with chocolate pieces and coconut, Brandon got a lava cake and I chose a cinnamon horn for Al. We had them as our evening snack. 

You know how sometimes things look really good but the taste is not as good as it looks, that is NOT the case here, everything tasted just as good as it looked. Oh YUM. 

I highly recommend the WaterWheel Cafe but not if you want to eat and run. This is a place to come and savor your meal. Service is not too slow but it is not quick, it takes a little time to prepare and serve this much deliciousness. I was a little disappointed that they ran out of the sweet potato soup made with coconut milk but I can understand why it would have been popular, it sounded so good!!

You will notice there are no pictures of our dessert, we ate it before I remembered I wanted a picture!!

B.D. Beans Cafe Belleview, Fl.

Getting a good cappuccino when I am in Ocala has turned out to be harder than I ever anticipated. Most Italian restaurants in the area don't serve it. It is very disappointing. Luckily for me, my sister-in-law Colleen took me and Al to B.D. Beans Cafe when we first came down to Ocala three years ago to visit them. It has become my go to place!!

To say that the decor is eclectic is a colossal understatement. Some of the items are almost bizarre but somehow it all works. When Kathy came down to visit us, it was one of the first places I took her, I love have lunch there. 

They do serve breakfast and I have promised myself that we will go there this year to eat breakfast but to date, it has only been lunch. They are open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m.. to 3 p.m. Don't wait too late however, to go for lunch. We arrived at about 2:50 one day and if we hadn't been friendly with the waitress on previous visits, wee would not have been able to eat. As it was, something were no longer available so plan ahead and come early. 

On the lunch menu everyday are two homemade soups and a delicious quiche. These change daily. I am in love with their corn chowder when they have it. The rest of the menu is salads and sandwiches. I love Jude's Strawberry Summer Salad and the chicken and egg salad, haven''t tried the tuna yet. 

When it comes to sandwiches, they are all delicious. We rotate what we order. 

As I have stated earlier, I come here for the cappuccino but they have a full menu of smoothies if that is what you are looking for. 

What I love about B.D. Beans Cafe is the location. After I eat lunch, I shop at the local artist co-op which is next door. 

Mount Clair Family Restaurant Dumfries, Va.

We were traveling up I-95 headed to my friend's house in Virginia and we felt the need to stop for some late lunch. We got off in Dumfries exit 152 and within a minute or two spied Mount Clair Family Restaurant. We decided to give it a try and it turned out to be a very good choice. 

The menu is extensive and is reminiscent of a typical diner, right down to the Greek dishes.

We decided to have the rotisserie chicken, It was delicious. Al had a leg with mashed potatoes and applesauce and I had a breast with green beans and coleslaw. Both were very good, think Boston marketplace good. 

Mount Clair Family Restaurant has some delicious desserts too. I couldn't resist taking a piece of their coconut cake with me. I was glad that I did !! Okay I forgot to take a picture before I started eating the cake lol. The picture speaks for itself. 

A fun way to serve chocolate milk

As you may know, I have lots of grandkids. Jack is our youngest grandson and on Tuesday's we pick him up from school. We are in Middletown for an exercise class at the senior center at 1 p.m. so it works out well. We pick him up shortly after 2 p.m.

Jack is 4 going on 5 and like any normal kid, is starved when he gets out of school. He loves chocolate milk so I decided to do something a little different to make having chocolate milk at grandma's fun and special. 

I save glass jars. I use them for many jobs around the house. I have shared already how I store fruits in the fridge in my glass jars. I decided to have Jack help me make chocolate milk for himself. 

I asked him to pick a jar. I then put chocolate syrup and milk in the jar and put the lid on. He shook it until it was mixed. I gave him straw and we carried it downstairs so he would have something to drink with his Ritz Crackers while watching TV. 

When he was done with all he wanted, we put the lid on with the straw bent inside so that it wouldn't spill but would be ready when he wanted more.  He thought this was a lot of fun and it was so easy to do. 

If you haven't been saving your empty jars, here is another reason to start doing so. 

Healthy Living: Five fruits you should buy organic

It is unfortunate that there are really more than five fruits you should buy organic. The reason for this is that fruits that are eaten without having a thick skin to protect them, are likely to have more than just a trace of pesticides. Testing is done every year to find out what percentage of the fruit being offered in stores and at farm stands have pesticides and also how much pesticide is present. It is a pretty daunting thought especially if you are serving the fruit to your children because of its high fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Apples

The old maxim is “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and while it is just as true today as ever, apples are one fruit that should be purchased organic. Apples were in the top five of the “dirty dozen” list in 2009, 2010 and 2011 according to the Daily Green. The USDA has identified 42 pesticides on the skin of apples. One alternative is to peel the skin off but many of the things that make an apple such a good choice are in the skin.

Strawberries

Strawberries are one of the super fruits but they are also loaded with pesticides. It is hard to imagine more than 50 different ones have been found on these juicy little fruits. Dr. Oz suggests soaking strawberries for two minutes and then rinsing them thoroughly. This will remove some but not all of the pesticides. The only way to be absolutely sure of not ingesting any is to buy organic strawberries. Dr. Oz suggests combining water, white vinegar, baking soda and lemon for the wash.

Peaches

Peaches are another of the fruit that ranks high for pesticide residue with over 60 different pesticides having been detected on the fruit. There is no way around it; organic is the way to go since the residue can seep through the skin. Peaches are also prone to fungus so are sprayed with a fungicide after they are harvested, not a very appealing thought in your peach cobbler or pie. A note to consumers, domestic peaches have a higher concentration of pesticides than imported peaches according to a recent report by the Consumer Health Organization of Canada.

Nectarines

Nectarines also have absorbent skins and if you can’t find them organic or can’t afford organic, peeling will help but not completely remove the issue.

Grapes

Grapes that are imported are worse than domestic though that does not mean that domestic grapes are safe, it just means that they are not quite as bad as for instance grapes imported from Chile. Grapes from Chile average 92 % contaminated and domestic grapes had only 65% per Inspiration Green’s review of USDA data. If you are feeling lucky you can take your chances, but organic is best.

Everyone knows that fruits are good for you and are part of a healthy diet. Buying organic fruit is expensive and not something that everyone can do. If you are willing to buy just a few organic things, these are the ones you should start with.

For some recipes using these fruits: 

Apple Pan Dowdy

Strawberry rhubarb upsidedown cake

Best Cooking Apples

Choosing the best cooking apples

As we get ready to head into the fall, it is time to start thinking about baking. Apples are one of the most popular fruits to use in cooking. However, not all apples are ideal for cooking. Each variety has its own flavor and texture. Some apples can hold up well to the heat required for baking, while others simply turn into applesauce. Choosing the best cooking apples is vital to the final result you hope to achieve.

Hundreds of varieties of apples are offered around the world. Some apples which are popular in Europe are not available in North America and vice versa. Here are a few suggestions for apples that are perfect for cooking your favorite dishes. I usually prefer Cortland since they have just the correct amount of liquid but many other kinds work as well. 

Cortland Apples were developed in New York in the late 19th century. They are a combination of McIntosh and Ben Davis apples. Thin-skinned and white-fleshed, they are very juicy and tart. According to the Farmer's Almanac,  this is one of the most popular apples for pies alone or in combination with other apples.

Jonathan Apples are delicious both baked or eaten straight off the tree and they have a storage life of 3-5 months depending on temperature and humidity levels according to Iowa State University. They have been popular for a while and are considered a classic. They have also been used to parent a wide variety of other apples. This dark red apple has a tart, crispy flesh.

Granny Smith Apples are Australian in origin and date back to 1868. It wasn’t until the 1960s that they came to Washington state, and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, they are one of the most popular varieties of apples in the United States and are as good to eat fresh off the tree as they are for cooking. Their bright green color makes them easily recognizable.

Gala Apples were developed in New Zealand during the 1920s and have only been around in the U.S. since the 1980s. They have pretty skin which adds great color in dishes like applesauce. Juicy but tart and firm they are ideal for drying, making cider and for eating raw. I used these in Florida since I couldn't find Cortlands and they worked quite well in a galette. 

Empire Apples are a great combination of Red Delicious and McIntosh. They were developed in New York in the 1960s and combine the best of both varieties. They have a crisp tartness but can hold up to long baking.

Golden Delicious Apples are not related to their red-skinned namesakes, they are a totally different variety of apple. With a mild sweet taste, bright yellow skin and texture that adapts well to just about any recipe it is placed in, they are a popular favorite. This variety was discovered in West Virginia in the early 20th century and is one of the most popular apples for eating and cooking.

Bramley Apples are the most popular baking apples in England. They have been around since the early to mid-1800s and have the perfect amount of tartness and texture. Unfortunately, they are not widely available in the United States. I love eating anything made with Bramley apples when I am in the UK but I have never seen them for sale in the U.S.

Calville Blanc Apples are very popular in France for baking and have been around since the 17th century. They are not the prettiest apples, being yellowish-green and bumpy, but they are consistent performers in the culinary world. This apple has the perfect combination of tart and sweet with a light yellow flesh.

These are just some of the apples that are available when you are in the mood to cook, bake, simmer or stew. You can use them alone or in combinations, it never has to be the same twice unless you want it to be.

Dining in Quebec City

Quebec City is a little piece of Europe on the North American continent. The cuisine is very reflective of that. You can find a wide variety of ethnic restaurants as well as French and also Quebecois foods being offered. I have been visiting Quebec City since I was a child and these are a few of my favorites.

Le Grande Cafe

This is a quintessential Quebecois cafe located on Grande Allee where the main occupation is people watching. You can sit at a table with an umbrella outdoors or if it is cold or rainy, indoors is simple and charming. The views outside are exceptional and preferred if available.

The food, like much of what you will find in Quebec City, is eclectic. You can have pizza or pasta, steak and frites or duck confit. Dishes ware offered with an oriental flare such as General Tao Chicken or Oriental Grilled Salmon. They also serve fondue both Chinese and the traditional Swiss.

The atmosphere, especially outdoors is perfect to appreciate the real Quebec with the views of the Parliament Building and the clip clop of the horse drawn caleche. It is a very good place to enjoy a relaxed meal.

Le Cachon Dingue

Located in the Lower City, this amazing bistro cafe offers great people watching with delicious food. From breakfast and brunch to lunch and dinner, you can enjoy any meal whether outdoors in the warm weather or indoors year round. The menu is diverse and offers crepes, mussels and frites and, of course, that popular Quebecois dish poutine.

This restaurant is a one of our favorites and is a must visit on every trip. Whether it is steak and frites, a tasty salad or a typical French sandwich you are sure to find something on the menu to please every taste. Children are always welcome and they have their own menu.

Au Petit Coin Breton

If you love a crepe, this is the perfect place to indulge that love. They offer the original crepe from Breton which can be savory as well as sweet. The kitchen is open concept and the waitress’ dress in traditional costumes. You will be amazed at the variety and number of items that can be folded into a crepe and yes they are folded not rolled.

You can have fresh vegetables in a Béchamel sauce or melted chocolate. If you are a purist and want just a crepe with real Canadian maple syrup you can have that too. If you would rather have a salad there are quite a few offered. The location is ideal too right in the middle of the shopping district on the Rue St. Jean.

These are just of few of the many restaurants that you can enjoy in Quebec City. We never tire of trying new ones and returning to old favorites.