NOT Looking for Silver in this Silver Mining Town
Heading west from Montana or east from Washington atop Interstate 90, we always stop at the historic silver mining town of Wallace, Idaho. Our diversion has nothing to do with silver, though. The entire downtown of Wallace is on the National Registrar of Historic Places. We enjoy walking around absorbing the history and finding a place to top off our coffee cups. But now, we stop for the cannolis, too.
A few weeks ago, heading east toward Seattle, we made our usual exit 62 stop. We parked by the quirky bordello museum, then walked past the stone chateau of the former Burlington Northern depot and a few regular haunts, before entering a different place. And there on Cedar Street, behind the counter of the D & G Bakery, we met Anne Alexander.
When asked about her specialties, Anne responded: “I'm known for my little
cheesecakes,” her Italian New Yorker accent coming out heavy with each syllable. Two bites into a delicious mini huckleberry cheesecake sample, Jolica said to Anne: “That was awesome. Any chance you make cannolis?”
Cannoli was my Italian grandma's specialty dessert, and I'll admit to being a cannoli snob. They're hard to find because making them is labor intensive and they demand precise timing. Anne said, “I make the best, but I need at least a day's notice.” No worries, I said, letting her know we would be back her way again in 18 days.
Grandma used to say the perfect cannoli starts with a shell made from wheat, eggs, sugar and other “secret ingredients.” She would lightly fry the shell, then add a filling of cream, ricotta, chocolate chips and more “secret ingredients.” The keys were the texture and the timing.
Seventeen days later, we gave Anne the reminder call she requested , but
she didn't need it. The shells were done, and ready to be filled when we arrived. She said, “we will have them like the Sicilian's do: with a shot of espresso, a slight twist of lemon, and a few drops of Sambuca.”
The bakery was closed the day we returned, so we knew we were in for a special treat. Anne's husband John joined us to clank glasses and savor an absolutely wonderful dessert. And then another. And one more for good measure.
We visit a lot of silver mining and manufacturing villages, mostly for, well, the silver. But not this one. We'll happily return and not even think of the precious metal Jolica uses to make the Lavaline. We'll just keep coming for the caffeine, and now, the cannolis too.
Nautilus and Lavaline Metals
Silver-Artgentium Silver: Nautilus Line
Artgentium is whiter and brighter then other precious metals including white gold,platinum and sterling silver. The two grades of Artgentium are 93.5% and 96% minimal silver content. It has higher durability and hardness then standard sterling silver .92.5%. it is also tarnish resistant and firestain resistant. Gerinum is the alloy that makes all this possible. To read more go to:http://www.argentiumsilver.com/
Gold-14k gold filled: Nautilus Line
A layer of karat gold is bonded to a base metal through heat and pressure. When used to create wire, the gold is formed into a seamless tube around a base metal core, which is usually brass, and then drawn out to the desired thickness. The finished product has a fairly thick outer layer of karat gold, is very durable, and is considered a lifetime product. The gold layer of 14K/20 will not wear off with normal wear, as it will with gold plate.
.950 Sterling Silver: Lava Line
- Fine silver (99.9% pure) is generally too soft for producing functional objects; therefore, the silver is usually alloyed with copper to give it strength, while at the same time preserving the ductility and beauty of the Precious Metal. Other metals can replace the copper, usually with the intent to improve various properties of the basic sterling alloy such as reducing casting porosity, eliminating fire scale, and increasing resistance to tarnish.
- For more information:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_silver