Sunday, August 31, 2014

Ain't it GRAND??


It is just GRAND to be Grandma K.C. !!! Sorry to bore you with more baby photos but look at this sunny morning face - too sweet, right??

So, now that we are grandparents we try to schedule a stop in Seattle between jobs if possible. 
On our way to our current job on Lopez Island we got to spend one whole day taking care of our granddaughter while our daughter worked. Little Eleanor is 6 months old now and just so much fun!


And doesn't she look like her Grandad? Ohhhh too scary!


Check out the new dresses Grandma K.C. bought me:
the one with the turquoise ruffle came all the way from Turkey!
See how I am checking out the embroidery??


Being a grandparent is just GRAND!!



Friday, August 22, 2014

Farm Fresh Fruit


Most of the breakfasts we prepare start with a fruit course. In the winter, this can be a bit of a challenge: baked apples, fruit compote etc.... But in the summer, we have all this Farm Fresh Fruit to play with and it makes our breakfasts so much easier. It's fun to work with and fun to shop for!!


 These are the berries from our local roadside farm stand garnishing my raspberry cake. YUM!



           





And the peaches from this tree are used in
my peach melba. Yum again??











 But maybe the most fun we have with farm fresh fruit is watching Kirk make our fruit plates every morning -




                                         

                                  I guess he really loves his job, huh?? Working with this clown can make the mornings a real pleasure but I try not to let the guests see him like this!



   He's so sweet he even takes the time to cut heart shapes out of melon - what a guy!! But don't tell anybody that he wears a cowboy apron while making melon hearts.... shhhh it's just another little secret!





Friday, August 8, 2014

A Little Secret!


  I'll tell you a little secret - I am a thief!! I steal from all of the B&Bs I work at!  What do I steal you ask? Well, it's not silverware or bottles of wine. Nope, I steal recipes. And each one of these recipes has a little secret of it's own which is why I want it. I write all my recipes in a tiny  notebook in my illegible handwriting so they are still secret! Even Kirk can't figure out what I am trying to say but it works for me.

This is the quiche recipe that I stole from the Inn at Blackberry Creek in Walla Walla WA. It's little secret is lots of heavy whipping cream - I mean LOTS. This is usually an asparagus sweet onion quiche with guyere cheese but you could use any ingredients as long as you use lots of heavy cream!


                                       

                 On the right we have the baked omelette I stole from the Brey House in Lincoln City OR. The little secret here is that you fill the ramekins almost to the top with smoked salmon, green onions, mushrooms and cheddar cheese and then beat your egg mixture till your arms are sore.

Here is the dutch baby I stole from
the Hill House in Seattle WA. Little secret-
a half cup of melted butter added at
the last second and do not beat too much,
be gentle and then be patient while you
wait for it to rise.




                         This is eggs benedict stolen from the Adobe and Pines B&B in Taos NM. It's secret was given to us by chef Louie and we can not share it with you except to say that the spices are NOT paprika. You'll need to stay at one of "our" inns to try it and guess the little secret!




What is your "little secret"??