Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Cranberry Time

Kirk helping with the 1920 Cranberry Harvest


Everybody knows that Thanksgiving is the time for cranberries to shine but not everybody knows that many of the cranberries you use on your Thanksgiving table come from the
Long Beach Peninsula in Washington where our current assignment is. Cranberries are so lovely when they are growing and so interesting when they are being harvested. Harvest was just ending when we arrived here two weeks ago and we got to watch several "wet harvests". We also went to the local
Cranberry Museum which is very informative and one of the few places you can buy the very tasty CRANBERRY ICE CREAM! So if you are tired of cranberry sauce, cranberry bread and cranberry cookies - just think ice cream and head to Long Beach! 
Let me know your favorite cranberry recipe. Mine is a cranberry souffle that I make as a breakfast entree.
Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!
                                                                         
 

   



Friday, November 9, 2012

Barbie at Breakfast

When I was a young girl, my mother used this cookbook - Barbie's Easy as Pie Cookbook [copyright 1964] - to teach me to cook. I  LOVED this cookbook and so did my daughter. One of my daughter's favorite dinner recipes was "Luncheon Pizzas", a gourmet treat made from biscuits, lunch meat and ketchup. I bet she does not cook that any more! But one of my favorite breakfast recipes was "Jama Parties" and I do still cook that! Each chapter of recipes is preceded by a story involving Barbie, Ken and Midge. Barbie also includes cooking tips and words of wisdom. She calls the kitchen the "merriest room in the house" and I agree with her! Now that I am a professional INNSITTER, I still rely on Barbie from time to time!!

Barbies "Jama Party"

K.C.'s "Jama Party"
 
Here is the recipe for MY "Jama Party":
 
Cream 1/2 C cream cheese and 1/2 C ricotta
Add 1T lemon juice and 1/4 C powdered sugar
Spread on any nutty bread [I like Oregon Hazelnut]
Spread any good berry preserve [homemade is best]
Top with another piece of bread to make sandwich
Grill in batter of eggs, heavy cream and a splash of oj
Serve with lots of fresh berries and powdered sugar
 
As Barbie says -
       "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day"
 
Comment to let me know your favorite breakfast.
 
 


 

Friday, November 2, 2012

Forks Five Faves

There really is not a lot to do in Forks WA but it is a great hub from which to explore all that the Olympic Peninsula has to offer: hiking with great mountain views, boating on pristine lakes, fishing in wild rivers, watching sunset from rocky windswept beaches, having lunch in historic lodges, strolling to lovely waterfalls, wine tasting or even taking the ferry to Victoria for the day. So when guests from the Miller Tree Inn ask us to help them plan their days itinerary, here are our top five favorites:

Kayaking on Lake Crescent

Wine Tasting at Olympic Cellars

Watching Sunset at Kalaloch Beach
Hiking on Hurricane Ridge
 

Lunch at Lake Crescent Lodge
 
What a great part of the country! We always love to work up here. What are your favorite parts of the Olympic Peninsula or Forks?