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Mulberry, Indiana: Once the Wealthiest Town in the Country!

Jessica Nunemaker — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:24:36 +0000

Mulberry, Indiana is such a tiny little place now but would you believe that once upon a time it was the the second largest town in Clinton county? Furthermore, it was believed to be the wealthiest town of it’s size in the entire United States!

Of course, that was back in 1938, and I’m guessing that the slow-down and eventual end of passenger trains passing through might of had something to do with the current smaller state of Mulberry, Indiana.

I would love to travel back in time to Mulberry’s heyday – with the train and later bus station, I bet it was just a bustling little place! Even now there are a lot of really nice architectural details on some of the downtown buildings.

Mulberry is a bit quiet. On the corner of town in a really neat building sits Mulberry Package Liquors (the owner is a really nice guy), a resale shop (that actually had a sign on the door with the owner’s number so you could call him/her if they weren’t around and you felt like browsing!) at which there was the cutest polka dot dress ever in the window and I was really tempted to call…

Anyway, there was even a taxidermy! I know I sound rather excited about that but it’s been awhile since I’ve seen one and it was just a little unexpected. Really, I’m just glad to see any thriving businesses in a small town – especially in today’s economy!

I can’t forget what draws many people in to Mulberry from the surrounding area – Roberts’ South Fork Restaurant and Pub. And, yes, judging from the steady flow of people in and out, they do make a special trip just for the restaurant!

Yes, Roberts’ South Fork Restaurant and Pub is what brought us in, too, though more for the “restaurant” part of it than the “pub” part. I have a posting on Facebook to thank for guiding me here to this little place! I had asked, “Where’s your favorite place to eat in little Indiana?” and some nice little Indiana “liker” answered, “South Fork in Mulberry.” You’ll just have to wait to hear about our experiences and recommendations about that one!

For you American Idol lovers, Amanda Overmyer from Season 7, was an American Idol finalist who also happens to be from Mulberry, Indiana. I’d love to interview her for little Indiana!

Mulberry, Indiana may not be the bustling little place that it once was but it does have a restaurant (review shortly), some neat buildings, and is surely worth a walk-through at the very least. They had a really neat Post Office as you can see from the image to the immediate left. Hey, you might just fall in love and decide to move in! As always, there’s more to see on my Flickr Page!

Mulberry, Indiana; Clinton County

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Five Loaves Bakery in Francesville, Indiana: You Had Me at Homemade Chocolates

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:30:49 +0000

Part of the reason I love exploring little Indiana is that you just never know what you are going to find! That’s definitely the case with friendly little Francisville, Indiana and the Five Loaves Bakery and Cafe.

I love, love, love the furniture! Instead of the same seating – Five Loaves Bakery and Cafe had a variety of tables in different types of wood in all different styles. It looked so cute and felt so inviting! We sat down for a bit at a gorgeous Walnut set to enjoy the homey and inviting atmosphere.

I ordered a Peach Banana Smoothie, that was really good and bananery (yup, I made that up) and hubs ordered a Strawberry Smoothie – the most popular flavor according to the owner of Five Loaves. The kid requested the large frosted flower sugar cookie and mowed down before we remembered I had to take a photo! Oops.

I am so very glad he offered me have a bite – that sugar cookie was melt-in-your-mouth amazing! I begged the kid for another — thank goodness he likes to share!

Anyway, they’ve also got an absolutely fabulous display case with beautiful wood molding and trim that once was one of many such cases in the Gutwein shop across the street. She luckily got to keep it when she got the building. Now, let me tell you about the beautiful things on the inside of this case– like muffins, frosted sugar cookies, and homemade chocolates!

This is the first bakery I have seen yet that boasts homemade chocolates so after our initial order – we each bought one for the road! Chocolate vanilla cream for me and a dark chocolate coconut one for hubs. And it was good. Well, mine was, anyway. Hubs ate his without giving me a taste! The nerve!

To see more photos from Five Loaves Bakery and Cafe in Francesville, Indiana, you can simply head on over to my Flickr page to see a little bit of the inside the bakery – instead of just the food.

Five Loaves Bakery and Cafe
106 S. Bill St.
Francesville, Indiana 47946
219.567.2600

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Fair Oaks Farms Makes Me Jump for Joy

Jessica Nunemaker — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:30:39 +0000

little Indiana hit up Fair Oaks Farm in Fair Oaks, Indiana. This locally owned and operated dairy is massive – like 19,000 acres massive! As you can see from the video below it’s not just cows, cows, and more cows — it’s also a cheese shop, a children’s playground, 4D Video, toddler playground, barn tour, and birthing arena.

Stay tuned for plenty of Fair Oaks Farm fun! In the meantime, you can see me having fun, little Indiana style. Because, really, who can resist a giant bouncy pillow? Watch little Indiana heads to Fair Oaks Farms in Fair Oaks, Indiana on YouTube or below.

Butler U Made Everyone a Hoosier

Jessica Nunemaker — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:30:42 +0000

Hoosiers rocking a win? Oh, yeah! Basketball fan or not, Butler University fan or not – you’ve gotta admit that for a small Hoosier college to advance in the NCAA is exciting stuff! Congrats Butler University! Last Thursday? Everyone was a Hoosier.

A Slice of Pie Pizza: Garlicky Goodness

Jessica Nunemaker — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:30:53 +0000

I asked the owner of A Slice of Pie Pizza in Rensselaer, Indiana, “What’s good?” (there’s no playing around when it comes to food) His response? “Everything – or it wouldn’t be on the menu…but the garlic rolls are popular.” Garlic rolls? SOLD!

Let me just tell you now – these are addicting! Terribly, terribly addicting! Warm, buttery, melt in your mouth – and garlic, yummy, yummy garlic! Lucky for us, the kid couldn’t get through half of his (did I mention they are really big?) so hubs and I split it. Have I mentioned how I hate sharing food?

We had a half pepperoni (yay!) and a half mushroom and sausage pizza (boo!). Since it was around lunch time (I can’t believe we made it in somewhere at a normal time!) they had pizza by the slice – and some looked really good! We were so full from those garlic rolls, though, we hardly made a dent in our pizza! I had to grab a box to bring the rest home! Woot – cold pizza!

A Slice of Pie Pizza has a really nice menu – side items, salads, and pasta. The inside is so brightly decorated you wouldn’t believe what an improvement it is from what it used to be – an old and decrepit building! Bonus: inside is the cleanest and most spacious bathroom in town. Hey, that’s good to know if you have kids (and we do!).

Did I mention that they are across the street from a fun little park – and located right next to Ayda’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant? I am pretty sure I will grab a garlic roll from A Slice of Pie Pizza and a steak burrito from Ayda’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant and call it dinner. Does it get any better?

I will admit that I am on a mission to recreate these awesome garlic rolls at home. When I reach success – you’ll be the first to know! Until then…I will be forced to do lots and LOTS of research! And, no – I won’t be sharing.

A Slice of Pie Pizza
305B N. College Ave.
Rensselaer, IN, 47978
Tel: 219-866-8682

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Indiana Fun: Dartball

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:30:17 +0000

There is always something to do in a small town – like, Dartball! I know, I know – I had never heard of Dartball, either — that is up until two months ago when somehow I ended up on a team (boy do I bet they regret that move!).

Now, Dartball is kind of like darts, except, instead of lightweight, easy to throw darts, you have darts specifically made for the game, which are heavier, thicker, and, well, I kind of feel like I have to whip them at the board just to make the 15 feet to the other end (men have 20 feet to throw).

Where do you throw them? Hopefully you can make it to the Dartball board – a ginormous diamond shaped piece of wood that is divided into orange 1st, 2nd, and 3rd bases – and the coveted home run!

The other sections are red, green, or white and labeled single, strike, ball, or out. Guess which one my dart prefers to land on? Unfortunately, it’s not the homer…yet!

If it lands off the board — break out your silver coins! You’ve got to pay up and, oh yes, you will be teased! Have I thrown it off the board? I plead the Fifth.

Teams play six innings and snacks are always provided by the “home” team (you KNOW that whenever church ladies have to do anything with food it’s impossible to resist!) A game of Dartball takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get through (depending on how good everyone is doing).

All ages play this one – friendly competition is a good thing! It’s been a lot of fun – and I am so not good at it. Even so, it definitely helped pass what could have been some long Indiana winter nights (and you know how dark those are!). Meeting all sorts of new people was just an awesome bonus!

Want to see the practice board? You can really tell that it’s gotten a lot of (mis)use – and check out those crazy darts! Interested? Local churches are the place to start – play ball!

Guest Post: Lime Cream Cookies

Jessica Nunemaker — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:30:54 +0000

Today is another special day in little Indiana! It’s my very first guest blogger! After browsing through nummy recipes on Hoosier Homemade, I just had to beg, plead, whine until she relented to have her share.

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up. Do you make special “green” food to celebrate? I usually do a few fun treats for my family, this year I also decorated our Mantle.

Today, I’m sharing these little Lime Cream Cookies with you, they would be a sweet treat for St. Patrick’s Day or as a Springtime celebration.

Ingredients for Cookies:
1/2 cup Butter, softened (real butter, not margarine)
1/4 cup Sugar
1 Egg Yolk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 1/4 cup Flour
1/4 teaspoon Salt

Ingredients for Filling:
1/3 cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons Lime Juice
1 Tablespoon Lime Peel, freshly grated
2 Egg Yolks
1 drop Green Food Coloring, if desired
Powered Sugar, for dusting

Directions for Cookies:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Combine butter, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla in large bowl, beat until well mixed. Add flour and salt, beat well.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place on greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Make indentation in center of each cookie with thumb or back of spoon.

Bake for 12 – 15 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove from cookie sheets and let cool.

Directions for Filling:
Combine all ingredients except food coloring in saucepan, mix well. Cook over medium-low heat stirring constantly until mixture turns glossy and thickens, about 6-9 minutes. Do Not Boil. Remove from heat, stir in food coloring, cool slightly, fill each cookie with about 1/4 teaspoon warm filling (I put a little extra on mine) Dust with powdered sugar.

These little cookies were just melt in your mouth — I couldn’t stop eating them. If you bake at all, you must bake these, the dough was really easy to work with.

You know how when you mix dough and you can just feel how good it is? This is that kind of dough. I also like that there are not many ingredients. I found the recipe from Land O’ Lakes.

.Liz is a SAHM of 3 teenage boys and happily married for 20+ years and lives in LaPorte, Indiana (about 15 minutes from Lake Michigan). Liz shares her love for baking, cooking and decorating on Hoosier Homemade – and hosting Cupcake Tuesday blog carnival with lots of cupcake creations.

Photos are the property of Hoosier Homemade and cannot be used without permission.

City Office and Pub: Food Fit for the Mayor

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:30:03 +0000

Ask someone in Rensselaer, Indiana where to head for lunch or dinner and you’ll probably hear “City Office and Pub” (if you are 18 and over, that is!)

City Pub, as locals call it, is known for a really nice, laid back atmosphere and great food – and judging from the steady flow of people coming through the doors – it looked like the Cheers of Rensselaer! Everyone seemed to know everyone else but that’s not exactly uncommon in a small town.

Wondering about the name? City Office and Pub is a bit unusual — but once upon a time, the pub also housed the Mayor’s office! Talk about job perks! It’s kind of a tradition in the area for the just turned 18 year old to accompany their parents to City Office and Pub for a nice celebratory dinner.

The building is filled with beautiful woodwork (gorgeous bar!), photos of Rensselaer, Indiana in its early days, and daily specials. We ordered a cheeseburger with Swiss and Fries (hubs) and a Reuben Sandwich with Fries (me). As you can see from the photos – they were good!

What you don’t see in the photo? The awesome Spicy Bloody Mary hubs and I had before ordering. I’ve never had it served with a pickle and olive before but, yeah, that olive was GOOD! Who needs celery?

City Office and Pub
114 S Van Rensselaer St.
Rensselaer IN 47978
219.866.9916

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Indiana Winter…oh, yeah: it’s COLD!

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:30:12 +0000

Some parts of the world possess constant sunshine and warmth year round. Here in Indiana? Not so much. I’m not sure I even remember what the sun looks like at this point!

This late in the game, I am about as tired of snow as I can be but I also know that as soon as the next snowfall hits (we’re talking hours not days) I know I will grudgingly bundle up and head right back out there, looking for that ever elusive perfect shot. Oh, well. As long as there is hot black coffee waiting for me when I get back in…I can take it. After all: I am a Hoosier!

Wolcott, Indiana Architecture: Victorian Extravaganza!

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:30:56 +0000

Struggling though the downtown Wolcott area was…there still were quite a few gems scattered around. Check out the neat balcony on that interesting Victorian! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the door open in the Summer with a good book in hand! Sounds like heaven to me – especially after all the snow lately! Ugh.

As always, if you would like to see these houses a little larger – or even possibly more photos! – check out my Flickr page.

Wolcott, Indiana; White County

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