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Earl’s Dining and Catering in Brook, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:00:58 +0000

Earl's Dining and Catering in Brook, Indiana: Almost Norman's One Pound Pork Chop

I’d heard good things about Earl’s Dining and Catering in Brook, Indiana.

The 1 lb. pork chops, the Prime Rib, and the homemade desserts are all staples at Earl’s Dining and Catering!

Earl’s Dining and Catering in Brook, Indiana

little Indiana Facebook Fans have repeatedly mentioned the mom and pop restaurant but, let me tell you what: You have got to eat it to believe it!

Earl’s Dining and Catering Downtown

Brook, Indiana is quaint or, to put it bluntly, very small. It has an old downtown that doesn’t extend too much past a block.

The humble exterior of Earl’s Dining and Catering certainly belies the warm, cozy, and inviting interior!

Would you believe that in this small Indiana town we actually had to wait for seating? That reservations, especially on Friday nights, is just about mandatory if you want to get in? Earl’s is just that busy!

Since Brook is so small, there’s the usual momentary lull in conversation as everyone turns to stare at the newcomers, namely, us! Of course, little Indiana managed to get her pant leg caught up in her heels somehow so she made quite an entrance by having to stumble to a stop and yank it down.

Earls’ Dining Menu

The Combination Platter at Earl's Dining and Catering in Brook, Indiana

We ordered the combination appetizer which consisted of mozzarella cheese sticks, breaded mushrooms, onion rings, jalapeno poppers, and fried pickle spears.

I claimed “dibs” on the fried pickles and jalapeno poppers. Hubs took the breaded mushrooms and onion rings and we grudgingly shared the mozzarella cheese sticks. So far? So good!

Hubs ordered Almost Norman’s 1 Lb. Pork Chop, a masterpiece of garlic and black peppercorns, along with the Saturday-night only hash-brown casserole, potato soup, and roll.

I ordered the Queen Cut of Prime Rib, with the same sides as hubs (as you know, I hate when we do that, but neither one of us wanted to switch). It was also the first time we had been out together after dark in two years.

Food at Earl’s

We received each one of our items rather quickly considering that Earl’s Dining and Catering was hopping! Can you say, “Perfection?”

Hubs was amazed by the big slab of pork chop awesomeness. Really, this monster was at least an inch tall. Most likely more than that!

My steak was delicious. It was buttery, tender, and just an all-around superb cut of beef. The soup was good too, but we pretty much abandoned it once the main course arrived!

Homemade Dessert

Earl's Dining and Catering in Brook, Indiana: Our Neglected Soup!

Abandoned soup and full bellies and yet, when it came time for a homemade Hoosier dessert: How could we say no?

Instead of deciding between a Strawberry Twirl, a cream cheese filled flour tortilla fried to golden deliciousness, and topped with strawberries and whipped cream or a Caramel Brownie Cheesecake, hubs decided on both.

Moments like that remind me why I married him–a man after my own heart.

Joking aside, these desserts were stupendous! I snagged the cheesecake and hubs willing dug into the Strawberry Twirl. We ate most of our desserts, I am slightly ashamed to say.

Go There

We spent the whole car ride home bemoaning our lack of restraint and dreaming of the next time we can head to Brook, Indiana and eat!

For all of you Gluten-Free Hoosiers? They also have choices just for you!

See more Earl’s Dining and Catering images and other pictures in Brook, Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Earl’s Dining and Catering
123 W. Main St.
Brook, Indiana 47922
219.275.4445

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Movie Madness in DeMotte, Indiana: Movies and Games for Cheap

Jessica Nunemaker — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:00:48 +0000

Movie Madness in DeMotte, Indiana

Welcome to Movie Madness in DeMotte, Indiana. This small town video store completely feeds my addiction.

Movie Madness in DeMotte, Indiana

Are you ready for it? I like video games. There! I said it!

Movie Madness has a varied selection of games not just for rent but for sale because they actually do game trading!

Pretty cool for a video store in small DeMotte, Indiana.

The trade-in seemed very reasonable to me. If I could ever part with a game, that would be something to remember!

This place is huge. I’m told that they took over the florist shop next door which was the original location of the shop before the current owners (for thirteen years now) took it over, renamed it, and greatly added on to the stock!

Seriously, they are stuffed to the gills with movies and games of all kinds.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Movie Madness in DeMotte, Indiana

Movie lovers will be happy to know that they carry everything to rent but for those of us traveling through small Indiana towns like DeMotte, you can find DVD’s and even VHS for purchase.

There was lots of good stuff there–many (or should I say most?) of which were $5 or under!

There’s also two arcade and one pinball games at Movie Madness. Who doesn’t love pinball?

Really, it’s the perfect way to distract your kid and hubby while you browse classic movies and Xbox games for sale, munching on popcorn. Not that I did that or anything.

Reel Deals

Did I forget to mention the popcorn? Browse around this DeMotte, Indiana shop and snag a free bag of popcorn. Oh the buttery goodness!

See more Movie Madness images and other pictures in DeMotte, Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Movie Madness
607 N Halleck St
Demotte IN 46310
219.987.4041
Monday – Thursday: 10 AM – 9 PM
Friday and Saturday: 10 AM – 10 PM
Sunday: 11 AM – 9 PM

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St. Meinrad ArchAbbey, School of Theology, and Seminary Image Extravaganza

Jessica Nunemaker — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:30:49 +0000

I know that not everyone who stumbles on to little Indiana heads over to my Flickr photo page and, while I forgive you for that, today I’m going to showcase a few of my faves from St. Meinrad ArchAbbey, School of Theology, and Seminary in St. Meinrad, Indiana because it’s just that unique!

You have to see this place and go visit if you can! Spiritually minded or not, I think you will agree that it is a beautiful area and, as I’ve said before, overwhelmingly peaceful. You can see plenty more on my little Indiana Flickr photostream, too.

Without further ado: St. Meinrad ArchAbbey, School of Theology, and Seminary images for your viewing pleasure…

St Meinrad ArchAbbey Images

St. Meinrad ArchAbbey, School of Theology, and Seminary Cemetery in St. Meinrad, Indiana

Find more St. Meinrad ArchAbbey images and other pictures in Indiana on my flickr photostream.

Saint Meinrad Archabbey, Seminary, and School of Theology
200 Hill Drive
St. Meinrad, IN 47577
812.357.6611

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St. Meinrad ArchAbbey, School of Theology, Seminary, and Overwhelming Peacefulness

Jessica Nunemaker — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 15:00:09 +0000

St. Meinrad ArchAbbey, School of Theology, and Seminary in St. Meinrad, Indiana

St. Meinrad ArchAbbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana was absolutely peaceful–and enormous!

It was quite the contrast between the teeny tiny Indiana town of St. Meinrad and the immense area held by the Abbey.

St. Meinrad ArchAbbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana

The buildings are amazing. Up on a hill, the archabbey absolutely towers over the small sleepy Indiana town of St. Meinrad.

Snow started to gently fall during our time at the Abbey which only added to the stillness and quiet peace of the area. We almost felt like we were somewhere we shouldn’t be!

This is unique in more than one way. The St. Meinrad ArchAbbey is one of only two archabbey’s in the United States, with only 11 around the world.

Solitude

St. Meinrad ArchAbbey, School of Theology, and Seminary in St. Meinrad, Indiana

St. Meinrad’s ArchAbbey holds a seminary and school of theology as well as a monastery.

There’s an option for a guided or an audio tour of the campus. Do it! Just give yourself plenty of time. This place is enormous!

Down at the bottom of the big hill lies a sparkling lake bumped up against a large wooded hill. There’s a nearby grotto that looked to be quite big. I can just imagine the quiet pathways dug into the hillside for quiet contemplation and reflection.

Go There

I don’t think I have ever experienced such a calming, quiet place in my life. It’s a stunning area just like the rest of Spencer County.

Saint Meinrad Archabbey, Seminary, and School of Theology
200 Hill Drive
St. Meinrad, IN 47577
812.357.6611

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Edinburgh, Indiana: Not Just Popcorn is Not What We Were Expecting

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:30:42 +0000

Edinburgh, Indiana: Not Just Popcorn

Have you ever strolled around Edinburgh, Indiana?

Kid #1 kept commenting how good it smelled–like popcorn! We figured there must be a small town movie theater in the area.

Not Just Popcorn in Edinburgh, Indiana

Edinburgh, Indiana is home to Not Just Popcorn! The first thing you notice is the wall of popcorn tins: baseball, football, and other sports teams.

The popcorn isn’t just your regular popcorn — it’s colorful and there’s a lot of it! Bags and tins are lined up everywhere you look.

In fact, Not Just Popcorn makes 300 different varieties of popcorn!

Not Just Popcorn Flavors

The most popular flavors include Dill Pickle, Chicago Cheese, and Caramel.

There’s plenty of unusual popcorn flavors, too, like Snickers, Nutty Hoosier, Blue Raspberry, Bubble Gum, and so many more!

The best part of being little Indiana? We actually got to taste some of it (and by taste I mean we shoved mass amounts of popcorn in our mouths while oohing and aahing and elbowing each other out of the way)!

Popcorn Heaven

We sampled Dill Pickle Popcorn, Maple Cream Popcorn, Chicago Cheddar Popcorn, Pumpkin Spice Popcorn, and Iced Cinnamon Popcorn (a white chocolate coated cinnamon popcorn).

Hubs liked the Dill Pickle popcorn. Apparently he likes more savory flavors.

Kid #1 and I loved Iced Cinnamon. I’m still getting cravings for it! No kidding. I am writing this at 5:30 AM and really wish I had a bowl handy!

Behind The Scenes

Not Just Popcorn in Edinburgh, Indiana: You Are Here

little Indiana went on a behind the scenes tour of this Johnson County business. It’s pretty fun to see!

Not Just Popcorn pops their corn in coconut oil in 2 lb batches. A contraption on the machine removes the unpopped kernels which are later fed to animals so there’s no waste. Neat, huh?

After watching a lady filling a tin of popcorn, I couldn’t help but ask, “Do you still eat popcorn?” She laughed and said that she does! They all agreed that they just can’t keep from snacking on it!

Well, I guess with over 300 varieties of the stuff you wouldn’t be tasting the same flavor everyday — and I’m pretty sure it would take me some time before I got sick of their Iced Cinnamon Popcorn!

They happened to have a map of all the people who have physically walked into the store and where they live. It’s not just people from this small Indiana towns–but the world!

Go There

What we sampled at Not Just Popcorn: Chicago Cheddar, Iced Cinnamon, Dill Pickle, and Caramel

This is why I write little Indiana — because unless you live in a particular small town, you just don’t know what’s there!

How many of us assume nothing is there at all?

You just never know sort of tasty surprises you may discover! So go on–get out there in little Indiana and start exploring.

See more Not Just Popcorn images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr Photostream.

Not Just Popcorn
114 E Main Cross Street
Edinburgh, Indiana 46124
800.231.5689

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Roselawn, Indiana: Bozley’s Family Dining and Spirits Rules the Reuben

Jessica Nunemaker — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:49:19 +0000

Bozley's Family Dining and Spirits in Roselawn, Indiana Reuben Sandwich

Bozley’s Family Dining and Spirits in Roselawn, Indiana was absolutely not what we were expecting.

It’s a big space with family seating and a bar area but we are pretty sure it’s more known for it’s bar and local bands than as a family place.

Roselawn, Indiana: Bozley’s Family Dining and Spirits

Our visit might change that one! Our server recommended the Reuben Sandwich. Guess what I chose?

Hubs ordered a Philly Cheese Steak. He’s on a personal mission to find the best. He’s dedicated like that.

Kid #1 had to have a hot dog and fries.

As The Golf Carts Go By

Roselawn, Indiana: Bozely's Family Dining and Spirits

There wasn’t anything for the baby to really look at so he got a little squirmy. I will say, however, that watching all the golf carts whizzing by was definitely entertaining to me.

It turns out that the only way to drive is with a golf cart in this small Indiana town!

I might be slightly exaggerating, but with the Lake Holiday Country Campground and a nudist colony or two. Yes, you read that one right: Ponderosa Sun Club and Sun Aura.

So there are plenty of people who take advantage of golf carts (fully clothed, thank goodness) for a quick little zip into town.

Bozley’s Family Dining Food

It was good. No, scratch that. Bozley’s Family Dining and Spirits in Roselawn, Indiana is home to one of the best Reuben sandwiches I have EVER had.

You should know that by this point I’ve had quite a few and–this was just terrific.

It had a hint of sweetness and was a good compliment to hubs onion rings. A really good compliment.

Actually, Hubs Philly Cheesesteak was pretty good, too. He tried a bite of mine and wanted more! That’s just how good it was. You already know I didn’t share.

Go There

Roselawn, Indiana: Bozley's Family Dining and Spirits Philly Cheesesteak

Next time I would order a Reuben Sandwich with a side of onion rings. I’m sure you are oh so surprised about that one. Hubs declared he would make the switch, too.

If you go check it out for yourself, be sure to call ahead so you can try and catch one of the many local musical acts they host. I think that would be fun!

Small town dining and entertainment at its best.

See more Bozley’s Family Dining and Spirits images and other Pictures in Roselawn, Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Bozley’s Family Dining and Spirits
9031 N 1200 W
Roselawn, Indiana 46372
219.345.3445

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

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Dana, Indiana: Home of Ernie Taylor Pyle

Jessica Nunemaker — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:30:12 +0000

Dana, Indiana is smaller than small. It is so small it probably counts as one of those blink or you’ll miss it kind of towns — but no less interesting! little Indiana has repeatedly said that no matter how small a town is, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth your time.

Well, look we did and, believe it or not, the first thing you see when you enter the town is a big painted mural on the side of the building that says Ernie Pyle State Memorial with a big arrow pointing off to the right.

Yes, teeny tiny Dana, Indiana was the home of the beloved Ernie Taylor Pyle, a war correspondent killed overseas outside of Okinawa. If you haven’t read anything of his, you should — it’s superb.

His childhood home and plenty more are available to tour and would be a great spot for the war history buff. There’s two out buildings full of things!

Unfortunately we couldn’t get inside — the Ernie Pyle State Memorial has been closed. It sounds like there’s talk about the town of Dana taking possession (which I do so hope happens)! More about Mr. Pyle in a future post.

Walking around Dana didn’t take long, it was basically up one block and down another. Other than the Memorial, there is only one shop that we could see is still open in the downtown area (antiques) and a few blocks away there is a candy store.

Besides that, there was one mystery in Dana that we could not figure out: a big circle in the middle of town right in the center of the street with squares of numbers up to 100. Do you know what it is?

Luckily, someone stopped in town and we were able to ask if they knew what it was for. Would you believe that Dana, Indiana has a big cake walk and that they hold it right there in the center of the street? Small town living for sure!

I would imagine that even with such a sad downtown little Dana has a lot of community – it’s not every town that puts a cake walk right smack dab in the middle of things. The surrounding homes were in mostly good shape and I’d imagine that the Ernie Pyle State Memorial has to be a big draw for the area and probably helps keep a few of the remaining businesses surviving.

There were a few rather grand buildings – but far more empty lots of vacant buildings that I like to see. If anyone else has the back story of Dana, Indiana, I would love to hear it. You can see more of little Dana, Indiana on my Flickr photostream!

Dana, Indiana in Vermillion County

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Fire Safety Week in little Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 15:19:45 +0000

Walking down the street in little Indiana you just never know what you will find! On our after-dinner walk we passed by the Rensselaer, Indiana Fire Department and…I saw popcorn. And cotton candy. And lots of Fire Fighters and children milling around. Huh?

At this point Kid #1 stopped riding his bike past and started in with the “Can we? Can we go?” to which hubs and I responded with the intelligent answer: “We don’t even know what it is!”

First, I should mention that Kid #1 has been a fire fighter for the PAST THREE YEARS for Halloween (Aeromax costumes rock, just so you know). He’s got a ride-on fire truck, fire fighter accessories, and just really gets into it. Second, you should also know that Kid #1 is a big fan of popcorn. Put them together — and yeah, he was excited!

As we soon found it, it was to celebrate Fire Prevention Week! The fire fighters had had a busy time going from school to school and sharing fire safety tips. If I hear our 5 year old tell me one more time to check the smoke detectors…(tall ceilings + short me = ask your father)!S Ahem.

Anyway, every year they throw open the doors to the fire station and let the kids climb in the fire trucks and the police cars, and just have fun.

Kids got to play the old ball-in-a-boot game, you know, the fire fighter version of Bozo’s old Grand Prize Game (except without the prizes). There were plenty of fun (and free) things for kids to take home (besides the giant cone of cotton candy Kid #1 gobbled up): coloring pages, pencils, bracelets, and a red plastic fire fighter hat.

But, it didn’t stop there — members of Saint Joseph’s College basketball team were on-hand to sign the hats! How cute is that? Some of those young men are incredibly tall. Even hubby felt short!They were super polite and spoke to Kid #1 (which he just LOVED) and one young man gave Kid #2 (the baby) a sticker (of which he promptly ate). Kid #2 had no idea what was going on but seemed really entertained all the same.

Anyway. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m sure: there is always something to do in little Indiana! Walk around an Indiana small town and you just never know what you will find. Expect the unexpected.

In case you were wondering — yes, Kid #1 does still want to be a fire fighter.

The Sandwich Shop: Sandwich Heaven in Delphi, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:30:23 +0000

The Sandwich Shop of Delphi, Indiana: Best Reuben Sandwich

We had already been to the Stone House Restaurant and Bakery in Delphi, Indiana and we needed advice. We asked Jean, the friendly owner of Noble Bikes what other restaurant she recommends.

Her answer? She said to try The Sandwich Shop because it has the best French fries in town–and an unusual layout.

Delphi, Indiana: The Sandwich Shop

Now, I admit, I have a thing for sandwiches. Some people could eat cereal 24/7 but me? I like bread, butter, and all the stuff that goes between.

Sandwich lover or not, The Sandwich Shop in Delphi, Indiana proved to be just as unique as Jean mentioned. I am pretty sure I have never seen a setup quite like this!

Inside The Sandwich Shop

Delphi, Indiana: The Sandwich Shop

You walk in and BAM! there’s the U-shaped counter four steps in front of you flanked by bar stools. Three other tables dot the outer corners but everything is no more than fifteen or so steps from the door.

The person in the middle runs the show–taking orders, handling the register, serving food, and cooking it! Yes, this place is small. We were instantly intrigued.

So, we sit down. We were a little confused as to how to order. The setup is just that unusual, but, just so you know, you order right from your seat!

The cook/waiter/cashier mans the counter from the middle, taking your order right there! I ordered a Reuben Sandwich and potato salad (already forgetting about the fries advice!) and hubs got a burger and fries.

It was quite a wait but that’s what happens when everything is made fresh. When an order is up, the cook/waitress pops it on the counter close to you so you can grab it. Neat, huh?

Looking at hubs plate I was jealous. How did I forget to order fries? Good thing I make him share.

I will say that the Reuben Sandwich at The Sandwich Shop in Delphi, Indiana is hands-down the best Reuben I have had so far.

Mayberry–With Sass

First of all, the place was full of locals, and I mean FULL – there was never an empty seat for long, but what made this place a great gathering spot was the banter between the cook/waitress and all the regular customers.

Hubs leaned over at one point and said, “Roseanne!” Yes, the cook/waitress was sassy and fun and quick with the witty comebacks.

You can imagine how surprised we were when we heard one of the regulars call her Rosie! What a coincidence!

The Sandwich Shop in Delphi, Indiana: Homemade Fries

Sassy and Sensational

The Sandwich Shop in this small Indiana town has atmosphere, good food, and plenty of sass to keep you entertained.

It was sort of like a slightly sarcastic (but definitely still family friendly) Mayberry.

The only drawback (which probably won’t affect many of you) was the lack of a highchair. We were stuck holding the baby but, even so, we’d definitely go back!

See more Sandwich Shop images and other pictures in Delphi, Indiana on Flickr Photostream!

The Sandwich Shop
112 E Main Street
Delphi, Indiana 46923
765.564.6252

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little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

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Monon Connection Museum in Monon, Indiana: All Aboard

Jessica Nunemaker — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:30:32 +0000

Monon Connection Museum: Monon, Indiana

Before we start our adventure in Monon, Indiana I feel it is important to point out that I am not a train enthusiast.

I do not normally seek out train museums and I don’t really know anything about them–but I spent roughly two hours in this place and could have easily done more!

Monon Connection Museum in Monon, Indiana

The Monon Connection Museum was absolutely amazing! I love when our travels take us somewhere that just blows us away–and leaves us in awe.

Originally we wondered if the large freight cars of various sizes, colors, and kinds outside were the museum.

Boy, were we wrong. This place was enormous!

The Largest Train Museum in The World

Monon Connection Museum: Monon, Indiana

Attached to the Whistle Stop Restaurant was the actual museum.

It’s thought to be the largest detailed train museum in the world. Yes, my friends, this super tiny Indiana town (with a population under 1800) boasts the largest collection of train stuff anywhere.

For example, did you know that each of the various train lines had their own dining car china, a pattern specific to them, that differed between regions?

The museum has extremely rare patterns and pieces. In one instance, out of three remaining demitasse cups, they have two.

The Old Illinois Depot

Monon Connection Museum in Monon, Indiana

There was an exhibit that recreated the old Illinois Depot. With loads of detail, from the tickets to the timetable, this was an awesome peek into the past!

But a museum is only as good as its guide. Our tour guide was amazing. Harold Harvey (who also designed the new Monon town logo) knew absolutely everything about the various pieces in this Indiana museum.

Mr. Harvey was the guy who happened to sell the owner (Dale Ward) the first train piece that got the whole thing started in the first place!

Indiana Trains

Whether you consider yourself a train fanatic or just find Indiana history interesting, I would definitely encourage you to check out the Monon Connection Museum.

See more Monon Connection Museum images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Monon Connection Museum
10012 U.S. 421
Monon, Indiana 47959
219.253.4101

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Special thanks to Rensselaer Adventures Blog for the suggestion.

little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.