6124. Go to Java Dock Cafe in Port Washington

I needed an adventure for January. Since my niece's birthday party was falling in January this year and I was going to be in town, I asked Kris if she wanted to do coffee at Java Dock. Even though I grew up in Port, I never actually visited the coffee shop. I moved to Saukville in high school and was somewhat of a homebody.. and frugal. She agreed. And I get to knock off another item off my 26 in 2026 list.

Java Dock Cafe is located just off of downtown Port and has been there for as long as I can remember. It is opened daily serving breakfast and lunch. Hours vary depending on the day of the week. You can find street parking or a few lots near by. I got lucky and snagged a spot on the same block.. and I didn't even have to parallel park.

The coffee shop itself is downstairs and seating is upstairs. They serve a wide variety of drinks and sandwiches. 

Since it was National Hot Chocolate Day, I went with Hot Chocolate. They had plenty of flavors to add but I saw it too late and just had plain hot chocolate with whipped cream.

My hot chocolate was amazing. They use all local vendors when they can and their chocolate comes from Hollander Chocolates right in town. It was velvety smooth and rich. I don't know if I ever had hot chocolate this rich and decadent. 10 out of 10 stars. 

We sat upstairs and caught up. It was bright and sunny with plenty of open tables on a Saturday afternoon. Kris said it was a great spot for high schoolers to study which I can believe since I know the local coffee shops up here are the same way.

They also have a Featured Artist Wall where local artists hang their art for 3 months. This quarter's featured artist work is fun and whimsical. It really added a pop of color to the wall. 

I think this may become a regular friend date spot when I'm in town. Next time we'll have to do lunch and I'll have to try the grilled cheese that Kris talked about. It sounds amazing.

The next time you are in Port Washington, check out Java Dock for your caffeine fix if you haven't already. 

7603. Make sourdough bread

 Making sourdough bread was never on my radar or bucket list for that matter. It probably should have been but I have such a fear of kneading and rising bread dough properly, not to mention, keeping the sourdough starter alive, it really wasn't a high priority of mine. Then the doorbell rang. 

My friend, JDow, sent me a sourdough starter and ceramic loaf pan for Christmas. Well now I have to figure out how to keep this thing alive and make sourdough bread. After a quick google search and few texts, I jumped in to this endeavor.

First I had to "wake up" the starter from travel. I just had to add the flour that came in my present with to the starter in a jar and add equal parts water. And let it get bubbly. Good thing I had a few pickle jars laying around.

JDow then told me I can keep it in the fridge until I'm ready to bake it and to feed it about 6-12 hours before I want to make the bread. It went in the fridge until I could have a chance to deal with it. It was only in the fridge from like Tuesday to Saturday so not real long time.

I took the starter out of the fridge, added flour and water, and then put the lid back on. M pickle jar was just big enough to allow the starter to double in size. I kept an awful close eye on it. I didn't it to explode and have a sourdough mess all over my kitchen. 

Once it was doubled in size. then it was time for the part that scared me the most...kneading and letting it rise. The directions told me to add the bread mix, olive oil, and water to a bowl along with the starter. I was to mix it until it was shaggy and then coax it from the bowl to knead it. 

Well it was shaggy but needed no help being coaxed from the bowl.

Then I needed to kneaded 4 inches from the center, rotate, and repeat until it made a circle.. I really didn't understand this part but I did my best. I was afraid I over stirred and kneaded it but Danielle said it would be fine.

Luckily I bought a Dutch oven last year otherwise I'm not sure what I would have done as I needed to let the dough rise over night in a Dutch oven covered with a damp cloth. I plopped the dough in the Dutch Oven and covered it with a damp cloth and let it alone.

When I got up this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see how big the dough got overnight. It not filled the entire Dutch oven. It was not very tall but still smelled good. Into the oven it went for 40 minutes.

It smelled amazing and looked great when it was done.

Since I couldn't wait, I went had sourdough bread with butter and cheese on it for lunch. It was amazing. Apparently even I can make sourdough bread.

In case you are curious, the rest of my starter went back in the fridge. Apparently if I feed it again and put it in the fridge, it is good until I want to use it again. Andrea says if I can keep it alive until the end of the month, she will babysit it for me after that. It may not make it that long, I may have to bake another loaf.

I am just impressed I didn't kill the starter or ruin the dough when I tried to knead and let it rise. Hopefully next attempt is at successful. And bonus I knocked off my first item of my 26 in 2026 list -- try a new recipe

26 in 2026

 I learned last year to keep my goals for the year pretty vague and I have a better chance of knocking them off. I managed to get all but 2 done last year of the 25. I am keeping most of the list the same, adding a few new ones, and bringing one of the ones I didn't get done over to 2026. Seeing Gone With the Wind will get done one day but I'm in no hurry. 

So without further ado, here's my 26 in 2026 list

1. Have at least one adventure every month
2. Go to at least 1 author talk
3. Read at least 150 books
4. Watch at least 12 new to me movies
5. Explore at least one new park or trail
6. Try at least one new restaurant
7. Have a giant caramel apple
8. Make at least one new recipe
9. Try at least one new beer, cider, or cocktail
10. Visit at least one new winery or brewery
11. Walk/bike/hike at least 450 miles
12. See at least one live performance
13. Visit at least one new museum, landmark, tourist attraction, etc
14. Visit at least one new county
15. Try at least one new coffee shop
16. Visit a new Indie bookstore -- This was a tough one last year but I managed to get to one. So we shall see how it goes this year
17. Try one new pizza place
18. Take a new train ride -- The hubby is obsessed with trains lately and this should be easy
19.  Go to at least one new ballpark
20. Try a new food
21. Visit at least 1 National Park Site
22. Get my bobblehead museum stamp -- Carryover from 2025. It will happen this year
23. Try a new ice cream flavor
24. Get at least 25 baseball stamps
25. Visit a new chocolate/candy shop
26..Visit a new ice cream place

2025 Year in Review

2025 didn't start off any better than 2024 ended. Adventure plans looked bleak and it took until July to leave the state. We did manage a baseball road trip and a few random adventures with Stacy. Hopefully 2026 is a better year for adventures.

Bucket List Adventures

Original List 4 -- Surprised it was that many
Expanded List 50+

States
1. WI
2. MN
3. IL
4. IN
5. OH
6. KY

Counties -- 85 (8 New)

MLB Stadiums
1. AmFam

MiLB Stadiuns
1. Fox Cities Stadium
2. Four Winds Field*
3. Day Air Ballpark*
4. Louisville Slugger Field*

College Basketball Arenas
1. Kohl Center
2. University of Sayron Arena
3. Yum Center (Louisville)
4. State Farm Arena (Illinois)

College Football Stadiums
1. Camp Randall
2. Welcome Field (Dayton)
3. Memorial Stadium (Illinois)

NFL Stadiums

1. Lambeau Field

States With Baseball
1. WI
2. IN
3. OH
4. KY*

States With Donuts
1. WI
2. IN
3. IL

States with Burger Joints
1. WI
2. IN

States with Pizza
1. WI
2. KY*
3. IL

States with Chocolate Shops
1. WI
2. IL*

States with Ice Cream
1. WI
2. IL

Counties with Sports
1. Wood
2. Milwaukee
3. Fond du lac
4. Outagamie
5. Calumet
6..Sheboygan
7. Dane
8. Winnebago
9. Brown
10. Manitowoc
11. Marathon*

Counties With Pizza
1. Outagamie
2. Winnebago
3. Eau Claire
4. Fond du lac
5. Manitowoc
6. Door
7. Sheboygan

Counties With Chocolate Shops
1. Ozaukee
2. Outagamie*
3. Columbia

Counties With Cheese Shops
1. Ozaukee
2. Calumet*
3. Columbia

Counties with Ice Cream
1. Outagamie
2.. Calumet
3. Ozaukee
4. Dane
5. Manitowoc
6. Sheboygan

Counties with Burgers
1. Outagamie
2. Dane*
3. Winnebago

Counties with Donuts
1. Outagamie
2. Dane*

Counties with Beer
1. Manitowoc*
2. Waukesha*

Counties with Coffee Shops
1. Outagamie
2. Sauk*
3. Calumet*

7705. Try chocolate cheese

 Janis splurged on us for the cookie exchange and gave each us a chunk of chocolate cheese. We sampled some at the cookie exchange but I saved mine to share on Christmas. 

Chocolate cheese is not cheese dipped in chocolate. It is a a creamy blend of cocoa and usually cheddar mixed with nuts. It is soft and can be spreadable. A little can go a long ways. 

When I had it at the cookie exchange, it was fresh. I thought it tasted pretty good. I was excited to share it with my family.

On Christmas, it was not as good as I remembered. It was gritty and too chocolate. Maybe it was the wine I had at the cookie exchange enhanced the taste of the chocolate cheese. That would make sense. It didn't really go good on my cracker.'

I am torn on the chocolate cheese. I think if it's fresh and not 2 weeks old, it is probably better. I think it does pair good with a tart wine.

So the jury is still out on chocolate cheese. I am have to try some fresh again before I write it off completely. I would still recommend trying some when you get the chance. It is definitely unique. 

Checking out the Christmas Skating Spectacular

 As we were driving around the Valley checking out the Christmas Lights, we went through Downtown Neenah and parked for a few minutes by the Plaza. We wanted to watch the skaters. It turns out there was an ice show going on .

The Fox Valley Figure Skating Club was putting on a free show at the ice rink at the Plaza. It was free and open to the public and started at 6:30. We got there around 7:30 and was able to catch the tail end of the show. 

Sitting in the back seat I didn't have a great view of watching through the gate especially at the far end of the rink. We did occasionally catch a glimpse of the skaters. 

Some were pairs and some were single skaters. They all skated about 2-3 minute short program. Some had fun costumes. Others wore skating costumes.

From what we saw it was a great program. I wish we could have seen the whole program and not from the inside of the car.

If they do it again next year, hopefully I find out about it before we stumble upon it. It looks like a fun Christmas activity with fun beverages and some skating. The hubby probably would roll his eyes. Maybe you will be able to check it out next year too 

25 in 2025 -- Try a New Coffee Shop -- Mud Creek Coffee

 I have driven by Mud Creek Coffee numerous times and finally decided I need to try it. Heather and I tried to stop on the way to see sunflowers but it was closed for Labor Day weekend. I tried to stop a couple of times on the way to Saukville a couple of times after that but never had enough time. Finally Stacy and I decided to visit Mud Creek Coffee for breakfast during cookie baking weekend.

Mud Creek Coffee is located in Sherwood on Highway 114. It is open 6-3 Monday-Friday and 7-3 Saturdays and 8-3 on Sundays. You stop in or go through drive thru. 

We opted to dine in. They have several tables and booths. 

Looking at the menu for breakfast, I was tempted to try a breakfast bowl but since the eggs were premade and I couldn't get them well done. I don't like runny or soft eggs. It's a texture thing. I just ended up getting a bagel. Stacy said her sandwich was good and didn't even realize the eggs were pre-made. The sandwiches looked very good.

I got peppermint hot chocolate. I was disappointed. It was watery. It was not rich and creamy that I was expecting. Maybe they are not just hot chocolate people. I was disappointed but there are other drinks I would like try I'm not about to give up on Mud Creek. Stacy said the coffee was good. 

Mud Creek Coffee is a popular place in Sherwood. I will stop again and try the chai. If you are in the Sherwood area (or even High Cliff), grab your coffee at Mud Creek.