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Web Site To Check Out "Team Huge"

2012-05-13T08:04:18-05:00

Well, summer coming finally, and what would be a better gift to yourself then good health. Of course proper diet is important, but the other needed item is exercise. Then you need to check out this web site: http://www.team-huge.com/#!home|mainPage This site has been put together by two good friends of mine, Adam and Josh. There are workout video’s, pictures and plan’s to help you along the way. My goal today, a bike ride!

Till next time, stay well!

Lance

Cookbook Applications for iPad and your Mac

2012-05-09T08:52:40-05:00

Mac Gourmet Software, The Chef’s Sous Chef!

Hello all,

As both a Personal Chef, and a Mac geek, I find myself continually trying new things in both those categories to both simplify, and enhance my life. One of my great find’s to help both of those quest, has been an application for both my Mac and my iPad. That software is called Mac Gourmet, and produced my Mariner Software.

If you look at there website: http://macgourmet.com/, you’ll see their headline for the software is Organize, Plan, Shop, Cook. What I like to relate to you, is how I use the software both for business and personal purposes. First off, the weekly planner mode allow’s me to map out my meals for a week, or to catalog menu planning for my clients, this includes printing of shopping lists. Second, Sync with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and your Mac, which allows me to see my recipes in a full page view on my iPad on a cook date, or to use as a shopping list in the store, both great tools that save’s steps and paper. Third, Nutritional Analysis, while not perfect, it works quite well, as I have a number of clients with special nutritional needs.

Other items that this software includes is importing of recipes from many web sites, of course imputing your own recipes, generation of cookbooks in a PDF form. If your not sure that you want to spend the money on it yet, you can download a free trial from there web site to see if it will enhance your life.

Over the next few installments I’ll be talking about some other cookbook applications, with great features of their own, till then, good cooking!

Chef Lance[Lance Lemke, 5/9/12 9:31 AM]

2012-05-06T12:56:51-05:00

Hi All, I hope the year 2012 has been good to you all so far!

As usually, I've been staying busy. But I am trying to make a point of adding some updates on a regular basis. And to start things off I'd like to mention a few places that I frequent for dining. One I would consider a destination, the other, sort of a Cheer's, where everyone know's you name.

The must stop if you've not already had an opportunity to try it, would be Maxie's Southern Comfort. Located on 6732 West Fairview Ave, Milwaukee. This two story building is home to some of the best southern cooking classic's and well as new treats that will leave you always desiring more. They also feature a fresh oyster bar, and fresh boiled shrimp. I've eaten there at least 12 times in the last year and have not been disappointed with anything. So give it a shot!

The second I'm going to mention is a place that everyone likes to have, great pub food, reasonable drink cost and pleasant people to present it all to you. The place I'm talking about is Bougey's Bar & Grill. Located at 16760 West Greenfield Ave, Brookfield, WI. Know for there chicken wings, but followed up with great sandwiches and pizza, with a selection of new specials all the time. You'll also fine it a great location to watch your favorite sport pastime with the many TV's they have located throughout.

To finish this installment I'd like to mention a couple of friends of mine. Adam and Josh, otherwise know as Team Huge, web site at www.team-huge.com They web site is a fantastic help in relation to your goals of physical fitness, plus I feel honored that they asked me to contribute to they site recipes to help you in your quest. Be sure to check them out!

Vegas

2011-09-23T09:28:58-05:00

Last Day Door County/ Next up, Vegas Baby

2011-09-08T08:22:58-05:00

Vacation/Door County

2011-09-08T08:03:36-05:00

I’m going to get a little deep here. Just back from a visit to my friends new place in Door County, WI. Key word here “friends”. The dictionary gives the following: a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations. While it is that, I believe it is so much more! A friend is one who listens, gives you a chance to vent or share thought’s, dreams or troubles without condemnation, many times they can offer an insight that you may not see or realize because you're so close to it. This bit of prose by me does not even come close to sharing what a friend is. But I hope it makes you think about those people that are your friend’s , and share a sincere thanks to them for being there!

Friday, drove up, great to drive some distance again. Ran into a thunderstorm about 11 miles outside of Green Bay, 80 mile an hour winds, rain coming down sideways in sheets. Damage from the storm was not bad in Green Bay, but I heard on the news the next couple days that Appleton area was hit hard, as well as surrounding counties. Two days later (Monday) the power is still out for many.
Stopped at lambeau field to look at the packers pro shop, also did something I always wanted to do, went through the packers hall of fame. Great displays and recap of the Packers history which ties into many other early franchises.

That night ate at JJ's in Jacksonport, web site: http://www.jjsofjacksonport.com/ I remember when it was the tundra house. Now it's a Mexican theme, huge menu, great prices, I had the seafood taco combo, including calamari, fish, and crab. Which was very tasty, Calamari taco, had the Calamari lightly seasoned, coated and quick pan fried to a delicate, tender bit of flavor, that was not overshadowed by the rest of the ingredients.

Saturday, drove up to Jackson port for Marina festival , celebrating the newly remodeled marina, they had Music all days, a book sale, picked up three cookbooks and two other books for 8.00, Classic wood boat show, water ski show and food. For a quick lunch we opted for a whitefish sandwich which was lightly breaded and fried, served on a hard roll, and your choice of topping. Driving back stopped by the Bayside Tavern in Fish Creek for a Bloody Mary while my friend wife shopped awhile. The Bayside has been a main stay in Fish Creek area for many years. Serving a fine mix of Sandwiches and family dinners as well as great homemade pizza. I will mention this though, if you're looking for express food, this will not be for you, I’ve been in there both winter and summer, it is usually packed, why you may ask? Well, locals visit often, have a libation or two, and a sandwich. So kick you fast paced life style behind, if you look to come in have a drink or two, meet new people, and wait a bit for a table for some fine food, your love it. After all, why are we up in this area anyway, to relax, unwind. To end a great day we went back and sat on the deck by the fire pit, shared some laughs back and forth and heard some of their great adventures in getting a place up in the Door. I then made us a simple dinner of, flank steak, seasoned red potatoes, and corn on the cob purchased at Econo foods in sturgeon bay.

You may have noticed by now, that I talk allot about the smaller independent establishments. A big part of this is the era I grew up in there were many of these in the Milwaukee area, due to a number of forces, this has changed. But I still appreciate the value and quality of these places. I find the way they give their special touch to sometimes standard fare, or specials with a twist. As well as the at home feel over the uniformity you find in many chains.

Lastly, I want to mention a great app for tracking nutrition and workouts. This last year, my goal has been to eat a better balanced diet, and have a workout plan involving at least 5 days of working out a week, with three days being at the gym. Daily Burn is an application I found on the iTunes app store early in the summer, has helped me with that task. This app helps you to track your workouts, even with suggested plans to follow that balance out your approach to working out, and your daily calorie intake and balance of that intake. This has really been a great aid in my daily life, below you’ll see a little recap as to what it helps you with.

What a Week

2011-08-29T16:52:27-05:00

Wow what a week! Hurricane Irene, Steve Jobs steps down as CEO of Apple:

Well first I would like to send my thoughts and prayers to our fellows (this includes many of my Personal Chef friends) on the East coast who just suffered through one of the worse storms in the history of that area. If you’d like to help out there are many support agencies who will take your donations and but it to good use to help rebuild there lives.

To Steve Jobs, a visionary who has not only made company’s such as Apple, but Pixar as well, great innovators and leaders, and innovators in their prospective fields. I wish to say thank you. Or in the words of a Spock from Star Trek, Peace, Long Life and Prosper. I’m sure your presence as Chairman of the Board will still enlighten!

I’m ending this weeks recap looking forward to a short trip to Door County over Labor Day weekend visited friends who just bought a new place up there. As this was one of my haunts for many years, but I’ve not been there in three years, it will be good to return. Already planning on Marina Fest in Sister bay, and seeing Mickey Grasso at Simon Creek. What’s Simon Creek you may ask? Well’s its a fine Winery in Door County, located about halfway between Sturgeon Bay and Egg Harbor (see website: http://www.simoncreekwines.com/index.html) They offer many fine wines, including a world class Port. You may sample these wines at there wine bar, plus look through a number of fine wine associated merchandise like glasses, trays, and wine storage. And to cap it off they have entertainment on the weekends, On a deck off the back of the building overlooking a creek and the vineyard. Whats not to enjoy!

Scott E'S Pub, Recipe, Irish Fest

2011-08-20T15:38:55-05:00

Happy Late summer all, I know all of us think this, but where has the summer gone! Looking at my calendar today I see its August 12th. Our State Fair will be over in a few days, and one of the many festival’s our great city has, Irish Fest[Lance Lemke, 8/12/11 3:26 PM] is right around the corner August 18th through the 21th. If you never attended, I highly suggest you do! The entertainment is awesome.

I said in my last blog update, that all things change, like I’ve changed some of my services, I will also be changing the format of my Blog. Not only sharing cooking tips and tricks, but things I have found helpful in my own life, like technologies’ or programs.

I’d like to share as well a new place I went to have lunch this week. Scott E Pub, http://www.scottespub.com/

I’ve passed by this place many times and thought I’d give it a try. Its designed as a sports Pub, sort of an odd deal to me, as the Bar and Restaurant are separate entities in the business (meaning if you come in for a drink and sandwich, you will get two separate bills). They do have a nice selection on the menu though, from build your own homemade pizza’s, to appetizers and a large selection of Sandwiches, that day I had a Chicago Style Hot Dog, which though not presented in the way I am accustomed, contain all the toppings and flavor. I’m looking forward to next time trying one of there homemade pizza’s

’Roasted Beets

Changes in my site, and Life.

2011-08-08T16:20:50-05:00

Hello all,

If this is your first visit to my site and service’s welcome. If you’ve been a customer, or visiter of my site before, hello friend.
You may have noticed, I’ve made some changes to my site as of late, changing some of my offerings.

For that I’d like to explain, as we all know life changes, sometimes slowly, more often than not, quickly.
Well my life has changed as well, while I am still continuing to offer my services as a Personal Chef, I now work full time for another
Company which has truly enriched my life. Thus I don’t have the availability I once did. But please keep in mind if you have a special day set-aside for an event, contact me and I’ll see what I can arrange. And continue to watch my blog for cooking tips and tricks, as well as ideas for computer users.

I wish you all well!

Chef Lance