Discovered another great wine! A red blend by Sterling Vineyards. Vintner's Collection
'Meritage' is a wonderful blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, malbec and cabernet franc. Ahhh. I love it. And, the price ~ under $15 ~ but, not for long I fear. Guests and I tried it with a pesto/pasta/shrimp dish and thoroughly enjoyed it. Give it a try and p l e a s e let me know what you think. Enjoy.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
CHEF'S CORNER!
COOKING WITH WINE... did you know?
- The acidity in wine hinders the cooking process of some vegetables. Onions should always be cooked before adding wine.
- Always allow the alcohol to evaporate after adding wine; keep unlidded for 2 minutes. However, add fortified wines such as port, sherry or Madeira just before serving (1 tb. per serving) to retain the full bodied taste, i.e. cream soups, sauces, chicken Madeira.
- Wine curdles milk and cream. Add these ingredients last and off the heat and do not allow to simmer.
- Unless specified otherwise, use medium to dry wines for cooking. They impart more flavor. One of the red wines that I like to use is Ravenswood Zinfandel. Moderately priced and very tasty.
- And, remember, if you won't drink it, don't use it for cooking! Bon Appetit!
Monday, April 26, 2010
CHEF'S CORNER!
Inn guests asked for my 'Baked Maple French Toast' recipe today. Great brunch item.. can prepare in advance and freeze! You will need a 9x13 pan. Preheat oven to 350. Yield: 8-10 servings Recipe: Ingredients: 1 lg. loaf cinnamon/raisin bread or 2 sm. loaves (sliced into 1" fingerlike pieces) ~ 6 oz. cream cheese ~ 1/3 cup maple syrup (divided in half) ~ 10 lg. eggs ~ 1/2 stick butter (softened) ~ 2-1/2 cups milk ~ teas. vanilla ~ 1/2 cup brown sugar ~ cinnamon ~ walnuts (optional) Method: combine butter, cream cheese and half of the maple syrup - heat in microwave until softened to a creamy mixture - about 30 seconds - mix well w/fork. Place sliced bread side by side in the pan until you've filled it. Spread cream cheese mixture across top of bread. Whisk eggs, milk & remaining syrup and pour over top. Using a fork or whatever, move the bread slightly to allow egg mixture to penetrate through. Sprinkle the brown sugar across the top of egg mixture. Gently pat down to make bread uniform within the pan and not sitting above the edge. Dust with a little cinnamon & nuts, if you like. Cover w/foil and refrigerate overnight. Uncover and bake for 40-45 minutes depending on your oven. Shouldn't be soupy. Cut into triangles and serve hot w/a light dusting of powdered sugar. fyi: freezes very well -
take right from freezer to preheated oven and bake uncovered about as long depending on your oven. Bon Appetit! p.s. I would love your comments.
take right from freezer to preheated oven and bake uncovered about as long depending on your oven. Bon Appetit! p.s. I would love your comments.
HEADS UP!
Innkeepers ~ aspiring or otherwise, I've found an excellent resource for you. Check out http://innkeepersresource.typepad.com/. Good info. Excellent tips. To do or not do. What's happening at other Inns or B&Bs. Ways to make more $ in 2010. Inn tune-up in order? Have a look.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
CHEF'S CORNER!
FYI: Do you use non-stick fry pans? Want to go green? Crate & Barrel is offering 'Green Pan'. The first environmentally safe non-stick pan and no hot spots! Designed for electric, gas and ceramic stovetops. The Thermolon ceramic-based technology provides a scratch-resistant, PFOA- and PTFE-free surface that will not
deteriorate when sauteing, frying and searing at high heats. Fifty percent fewer greenhouse gases are emitted during the manufacture of 'Green Pan'. I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised at the price ~ $45-$60. Check them out at http://crateandbarrel.com. I would love to hear how you like them!
deteriorate when sauteing, frying and searing at high heats. Fifty percent fewer greenhouse gases are emitted during the manufacture of 'Green Pan'. I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised at the price ~ $45-$60. Check them out at http://crateandbarrel.com. I would love to hear how you like them!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
CHEF'S CORNER!
Discovered a very interesting chicken broth the other day called 'Thai Coconut Curry'. Apparently it is new by College Inn. It comes in a 32 oz. box with NO msg. A very nice blend of chicken broth, coconut, curry, garlic & coriander. I decided to give it a try. To 2 cups of a combination of brown & wild rice, I added enough broth to cover rice, covered it and cooked over medium heat. It needed 30 minutes (it could have gone longer) but I like it crunchy. I rough-chopped one medium vidalia onion and sauteed in olive oil. When browned, I added 3 good-sized cloves of garlic, roughly chopped and cooked for another minute. I wanted to use up a few veggies that were beginning to look a little under the weather, so in went the fresh broccoli crowns, a handful of grape tomatoes & some scallion greens. Lastly, I added a few frozen shrimp and the rice. omg. First of all, I was soooo surprised with the intense flavor the broth imparted to the rice as it boiled down. The recipe easily made enough for two. Give it a try. I would love to hear how you used it! p.s. We had a bottle of Sterling Sauvignon Blanc with it ~ oh, yeah. Life is good. Bon Appetit!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
CHEF'S CORNER!
If you would like to try a great pinot noir, check out David Bruce. It's definitely worth its $20 something price tag. It was a birthday gift from a former personal chef client who really knows her wine.
FYI: it will go very well with pork or chicken dishes, grilled flank steak, as well as, Paella ~ one of my personal all time favorites, which I prepared for us. We thoroughly enjoyed the combination. Bon Appetit!
Discovered a tasty wine lately and would like to share your experience?
FYI: it will go very well with pork or chicken dishes, grilled flank steak, as well as, Paella ~ one of my personal all time favorites, which I prepared for us. We thoroughly enjoyed the combination. Bon Appetit!
Discovered a tasty wine lately and would like to share your experience?
EARTH DAY'S 40th ANNIVERSARY IS APRIL 22nd. READY, SET, RECYCLE...
*Garden with Cardboard.. Corrugated cardboard-unbleached, no glue, no staples, no dyes-can go in gardens, between rows of plants, to block weeds, retain moisture. Top with mulch. In a year or two, it will degrade.
*Clean Naturally.. diluted vinegar fights grime; a hint of lemon improves the aroma (avoid marble & granite w/this acidic mix)
*Recharge Batteries.. switch to long-lived rechargeables.
*Donate Eye Glasses.. Lionsclubs.org will guide you to the nearest drop-off for old spectacles.
*New Bounce for Tennis Balls.. Rebounces.com pays shipping for batches of 250-plus used balls in decent shape, to be repressurized & resold. Retirement homes may take smaller-scale donations. Balls are suitable caps for walker legs.
*Old cell phones & most brands of ink cartridges are in demand for recycling. Therecyclingfactory.com and greenphone.com cover shipping and pay for your phone (or donate to charity in your name). They also take phone chargers.
*Melt Old Crayons.. most are petroleum-based, so recycling helps. See crazycrayons.com for one option: mail-in stubs are molded into new crayons and odd shapes for sale. Or parents can microwave stubs in a paper cup in 15-second stints. Meltage hardens into a multihued crayon.
*Control Catalogs.. at catalogchoice.org prune duplicate & unwanted catalogs or limit delivery to, say, holiday time.
*Filter out Filters.. the Brita water filter has now joined the ranks of recyclable products. Details are at preserveproducts.com
*Scrub used Tubs.. curbside recycling often takes only number 1 & 2 plastics (see bottom of container). Number 5 - yogurt & butter tubs-usually aren't eligible. Drop-off sites are springing up; see preserveproducts.com. Or wash out old tubs for storage instead of buying new containers.
GET MORE TIPS about recycling and reusing at thegreenguide.com
*Clean Naturally.. diluted vinegar fights grime; a hint of lemon improves the aroma (avoid marble & granite w/this acidic mix)
*Recharge Batteries.. switch to long-lived rechargeables.
*Donate Eye Glasses.. Lionsclubs.org will guide you to the nearest drop-off for old spectacles.
*New Bounce for Tennis Balls.. Rebounces.com pays shipping for batches of 250-plus used balls in decent shape, to be repressurized & resold. Retirement homes may take smaller-scale donations. Balls are suitable caps for walker legs.
*Old cell phones & most brands of ink cartridges are in demand for recycling. Therecyclingfactory.com and greenphone.com cover shipping and pay for your phone (or donate to charity in your name). They also take phone chargers.
*Melt Old Crayons.. most are petroleum-based, so recycling helps. See crazycrayons.com for one option: mail-in stubs are molded into new crayons and odd shapes for sale. Or parents can microwave stubs in a paper cup in 15-second stints. Meltage hardens into a multihued crayon.
*Control Catalogs.. at catalogchoice.org prune duplicate & unwanted catalogs or limit delivery to, say, holiday time.
*Filter out Filters.. the Brita water filter has now joined the ranks of recyclable products. Details are at preserveproducts.com
*Scrub used Tubs.. curbside recycling often takes only number 1 & 2 plastics (see bottom of container). Number 5 - yogurt & butter tubs-usually aren't eligible. Drop-off sites are springing up; see preserveproducts.com. Or wash out old tubs for storage instead of buying new containers.
GET MORE TIPS about recycling and reusing at thegreenguide.com
Saturday, April 10, 2010
WHY HIRE ME.. read excerpts from TripAdvisor, BnB Finder, Inn guest books, cards, letters of recommendation
September/'11 .. Helen is a world class innkeeper/chef and will prepare you a breakfast lover's gourmet breakfast. ~ Steve F ~ Trumbull, CT ~ http://www.tripadvisor.com ~ Wolf Cove Inn
March/'11 .. as we stepped inside the Inn, Helen immediately made us feel welcome... amazing breakfasts... couldn't wait for our surprise cookies in the pm... Helen was very friendly and accommodating. ~ bonbon6864 ~ Orlando, Fla ~ http://www.tripadvisor.com ~ Wolf Cove Inn
September/'10 ..Helen's welcoming notes everywhere.. one in our room with our names on.. then the brownies.. whew. ~ worldtravelingeaster, Middletown, CT ~ http://www.tripadvisor.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
August/'10 ..kindest people you will ever meet.. Helen's surprise flourless brownies waiting for us.. definitely will stay here again. ~ Yvonne, NYC ~ http://www.tripadvisor.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
June/'10 ..Helen's flourless brownies greeted us with an adorable note on the table.. absolutely an unbelievable treat.. we will return.. ~ Michael, Harwinton, CT ~ http://www.tripadvisor.com/
Captain Stannard House
June/'10 ..attention to detail; impeccable thoughtfulness made for the perfect weekend.. wonderful hospitality extended to our multi-generation family..we thank you. ~ L. Gingras, NJ
Captain Stannard House email
May/'10 ..a B&B experience that is unparalleled.. attention to detail leaves nothing lacking.. need something, you will happily and promptly get it. The 19 of us will return next May. ~ Tina A., NYC ~ http://iloveinns.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
February/'10 ..you raise kindness to an art. Many thanks for making our crafting weekend so delightful. You have been so generous, welcoming and encouraging that leaving is difficult. ~ Pat Tillery, NYC ~ Captain Stannard House guest book
February/'10 ..freshly baked brownies waiting in your room, delicious breakfast.. every part of our stay was wonderful. ~ rambler cat, NY ~ http://tripadvisor.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
February/'10 ..my eight friends and I came for a crafty weekend and we loved it! Helen is an amazing chef & innkeeper; her food is impeccable and tasty. Great person too.. ~ Corris L., NYC ~ http://tripadvisor.com/~ Captain Stannard House
October/'09 ..superb teamwork.. genuine, welcoming hospitality.. look no further, this is where you'll want to stay. ~ Pointman, Fla. ~ http://tripadvisor.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
January/'08 ..incredible hospitality by Inn manager, Helen.. showered us with warmth, friendliness, freshly baked cookies, elegant breakfasts. We'll be back for sure. ~ B.Deevy ~ http://tripadvisor.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
January/'08 ..thank you, Helen, so much for the gracious welcome. As soon as we arrived, the Inn felt like home. We immediately shared a sense of serenity, which is such a blessing. Our best.. ~ Kara S. & Ellen, NY ~ Captain Stannard House guest book
December/'07 Helen, we are delighted to have you with us. You are a force of nature and I think we have shifted the mountain baseline. Wow! Your enthusiasm, goodness, loyalty and joy enrich us. ~ Jim & Mary Brewster, Innkeepers, Captain Stannard House, Westbrook CT (taken from Christmas card)
July/'07 ..many thanks, Helen, for seeing me through to my closing and for the great recipes you contributed to 'What's Cooking CT, Shoreline?' cookbook on my behalf. ~ Glenn Coutu, Innkeeper, 3 Liberty Green B&B, Clinton, CT (taken from card)
July/'07 ..I will always appreciate your taking such great care of the guests, in addition to, standing by Glenn through his training, closing & transition into ownership. ~ Shelley Nobile, previous owner of 3 Liberty Green Bed & Breakfast and owner of Deacon Timothy Pratt Bed & Breakfast in Old Saybrook, CT (taken from card)
July/'07 We were immediately greeted by Glenn & Helen.. there was an instant feeling of 'right at home'. ~ jkteach73 ~ http://tripadvisor.com/ ~ 3 Liberty Green B&B
February/'07 ..Helen is a stellar innkeeper, meticulous in her work, pays full attention to detail, superb work ethic. She was our anchor during the transition of the Dutch Iris Inn from one owner to another.. a wonderful trainer for us, as well as, mentor for the staff. ~ Bill & Nancy Ross, Innkeepers, Dutch Iris Inn, Granby CT (taken from letter of recommendation)
February/'07 ..Helen, a person of great character, a multitasker, problem solver, handles any challenges that come her way with utmost thoroughness and professionalism. Her top priority was always customer service ~ our guests always came first. She handled her duties in an exceptional manner and contributed in ways unexpected of her. She will be missed. ~ Kevin & Belma Marshall, former Innkeepers, Dutch Iris Inn, Granby CT (taken from letter of recommendation)
February/'07 ..breakfast was phenomenal. Helen, the gem of this Inn, makes us feel like we're home. Can't thank her enough.. my daughter's first b&b experience - it will be hard to top. Kudos, Helen. ~ Denise & Ashley H., Greenwich CT ~ Dutch Iris Inn guest book
February/'07 ..Helen, the Innkeeper, was very accommodating. Food was superb and service was excellent. A relaxing and peaceful place to be. ~ Bruce B., NY http://bnbfinder.com/ ~ Dutch Iris Inn, Granby CT
January/'07 ..Helen, you are a chef & innkeeper par excellence! Loved our stay - we felt right at home. See you next time. ~ Paul & Joyce W., Oak Hill, VA ~ Dutch Iris Inn guest book
January/'07 ..Helen, the interim innkeeper, was absolutely fabulous. Obviously a people person and always made sure that our needs were met. Can't say enough about her or the Inn. Good luck to new Innkeepers - they certainly have a great teacher in Helen. ~ Holly-Ann D., MD ~ http://bnbfinder.com/ ~ Dutch Iris Inn
December/'06 ..Helen, you are such a great hostess - we loved your sense of humor and your wonderful breakfasts. ~ Ray & Fran P., Roswell, GA ~ Dutch Iris Inn guest book
April/'06 ..we feel so very lucky to have you to call when we need to be away. We are confident that you will take great care of the guests and handle anything that comes your way. Many thanks. ~ Kevin & Nancy Hopper, former Innkeepers, 3 Liberty Green B&B, Clinton, CT (taken from note)
March/'11 .. as we stepped inside the Inn, Helen immediately made us feel welcome... amazing breakfasts... couldn't wait for our surprise cookies in the pm... Helen was very friendly and accommodating. ~ bonbon6864 ~ Orlando, Fla ~ http://www.tripadvisor.com ~ Wolf Cove Inn
September/'10 ..Helen's welcoming notes everywhere.. one in our room with our names on.. then the brownies.. whew. ~ worldtravelingeaster, Middletown, CT ~ http://www.tripadvisor.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
August/'10 ..kindest people you will ever meet.. Helen's surprise flourless brownies waiting for us.. definitely will stay here again. ~ Yvonne, NYC ~ http://www.tripadvisor.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
June/'10 ..Helen's flourless brownies greeted us with an adorable note on the table.. absolutely an unbelievable treat.. we will return.. ~ Michael, Harwinton, CT ~ http://www.tripadvisor.com/
Captain Stannard House
June/'10 ..attention to detail; impeccable thoughtfulness made for the perfect weekend.. wonderful hospitality extended to our multi-generation family..we thank you. ~ L. Gingras, NJ
Captain Stannard House email
May/'10 ..a B&B experience that is unparalleled.. attention to detail leaves nothing lacking.. need something, you will happily and promptly get it. The 19 of us will return next May. ~ Tina A., NYC ~ http://iloveinns.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
February/'10 ..you raise kindness to an art. Many thanks for making our crafting weekend so delightful. You have been so generous, welcoming and encouraging that leaving is difficult. ~ Pat Tillery, NYC ~ Captain Stannard House guest book
February/'10 ..freshly baked brownies waiting in your room, delicious breakfast.. every part of our stay was wonderful. ~ rambler cat, NY ~ http://tripadvisor.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
February/'10 ..my eight friends and I came for a crafty weekend and we loved it! Helen is an amazing chef & innkeeper; her food is impeccable and tasty. Great person too.. ~ Corris L., NYC ~ http://tripadvisor.com/~ Captain Stannard House
October/'09 ..superb teamwork.. genuine, welcoming hospitality.. look no further, this is where you'll want to stay. ~ Pointman, Fla. ~ http://tripadvisor.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
January/'08 ..incredible hospitality by Inn manager, Helen.. showered us with warmth, friendliness, freshly baked cookies, elegant breakfasts. We'll be back for sure. ~ B.Deevy ~ http://tripadvisor.com/ ~ Captain Stannard House
January/'08 ..thank you, Helen, so much for the gracious welcome. As soon as we arrived, the Inn felt like home. We immediately shared a sense of serenity, which is such a blessing. Our best.. ~ Kara S. & Ellen, NY ~ Captain Stannard House guest book
December/'07 Helen, we are delighted to have you with us. You are a force of nature and I think we have shifted the mountain baseline. Wow! Your enthusiasm, goodness, loyalty and joy enrich us. ~ Jim & Mary Brewster, Innkeepers, Captain Stannard House, Westbrook CT (taken from Christmas card)
July/'07 ..many thanks, Helen, for seeing me through to my closing and for the great recipes you contributed to 'What's Cooking CT, Shoreline?' cookbook on my behalf. ~ Glenn Coutu, Innkeeper, 3 Liberty Green B&B, Clinton, CT (taken from card)
July/'07 ..I will always appreciate your taking such great care of the guests, in addition to, standing by Glenn through his training, closing & transition into ownership. ~ Shelley Nobile, previous owner of 3 Liberty Green Bed & Breakfast and owner of Deacon Timothy Pratt Bed & Breakfast in Old Saybrook, CT (taken from card)
July/'07 We were immediately greeted by Glenn & Helen.. there was an instant feeling of 'right at home'. ~ jkteach73 ~ http://tripadvisor.com/ ~ 3 Liberty Green B&B
February/'07 ..Helen is a stellar innkeeper, meticulous in her work, pays full attention to detail, superb work ethic. She was our anchor during the transition of the Dutch Iris Inn from one owner to another.. a wonderful trainer for us, as well as, mentor for the staff. ~ Bill & Nancy Ross, Innkeepers, Dutch Iris Inn, Granby CT (taken from letter of recommendation)
February/'07 ..Helen, a person of great character, a multitasker, problem solver, handles any challenges that come her way with utmost thoroughness and professionalism. Her top priority was always customer service ~ our guests always came first. She handled her duties in an exceptional manner and contributed in ways unexpected of her. She will be missed. ~ Kevin & Belma Marshall, former Innkeepers, Dutch Iris Inn, Granby CT (taken from letter of recommendation)
February/'07 ..breakfast was phenomenal. Helen, the gem of this Inn, makes us feel like we're home. Can't thank her enough.. my daughter's first b&b experience - it will be hard to top. Kudos, Helen. ~ Denise & Ashley H., Greenwich CT ~ Dutch Iris Inn guest book
February/'07 ..Helen, the Innkeeper, was very accommodating. Food was superb and service was excellent. A relaxing and peaceful place to be. ~ Bruce B., NY http://bnbfinder.com/ ~ Dutch Iris Inn, Granby CT
January/'07 ..Helen, you are a chef & innkeeper par excellence! Loved our stay - we felt right at home. See you next time. ~ Paul & Joyce W., Oak Hill, VA ~ Dutch Iris Inn guest book
January/'07 ..Helen, the interim innkeeper, was absolutely fabulous. Obviously a people person and always made sure that our needs were met. Can't say enough about her or the Inn. Good luck to new Innkeepers - they certainly have a great teacher in Helen. ~ Holly-Ann D., MD ~ http://bnbfinder.com/ ~ Dutch Iris Inn
December/'06 ..Helen, you are such a great hostess - we loved your sense of humor and your wonderful breakfasts. ~ Ray & Fran P., Roswell, GA ~ Dutch Iris Inn guest book
April/'06 ..we feel so very lucky to have you to call when we need to be away. We are confident that you will take great care of the guests and handle anything that comes your way. Many thanks. ~ Kevin & Nancy Hopper, former Innkeepers, 3 Liberty Green B&B, Clinton, CT (taken from note)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
