Friday, October 21, 2011

A Sunset Breakfast at the University of Georgia

I was really surprised yesterday when I received a beautiful commemorative plate with their emblem from the University of Georgia. They had featured my Pumpkin Pancakes at their recent Sunset Breakfast, (October 13, 2011) an annual event. The recipe was adapted to serve 8700 students. They used 1151 lbs of flour! They served the pancakes with Honey Pecan Butter. 'The focus of the event was to give the dining experience of breakfast at a Bed and Breakfast establishment from across the US. The menu featured 21 recipes from prominent Bed and Breakfat locations" (J Michael Floyd, Executive Director).

Commemorative plate from the University of Georgia
Pumpkin Pancakes
Aleksander House Bed and Breakfast

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp sugar
dash of salt
2 tsps baking soda
1 cup milk
2 Tbsps vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup sour cream

Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. Spray grill with cooking spray. Bake pancakes on grill using medium heat until bubbles rise to the surface and edges are brown. Turn and bake until golden brown. Serve with Honey-Pecan butter. Serves two.

Honey-Pecan Butter
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup honey

Spread pecans on baking sheet and toast in 350 degree oven for 8 minutes. Chop nuts in food processor or blender. Beat butter and honey together until smooth. Add pecans. Serve with Pumpkin Pancakes. Makes one cup.

1882 Aleksander House Bed & Breakfast
Louisville, Kentucky
A charming 1882 Victorian bed and breakfast, in the heart of 'Old Louisville' Kentucky
1882 Aleksander House Bed & Breakfast, a Victorian Italianate home built in 1882, has been restored to its former elegance, complete with antiques and decor which reflect the period.
Click here for pictures and information about the inn.
More 1882 Aleksander House Bed & Breakfast Recipes: Grand Marnier French Toast | Sausage-Bake | Four-Cheese Herb Quiche
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Friday, October 14, 2011

Wonderful Fall Salad

I love using fruits and vegetables that are in season to cook with. First of all, they are readily available. They also taste better, and they seem to sit well on the stomach. Fall produces some wonderful fruits that, when added to fresh salad greens and topped with a scrumptious dressing,  make a wonderful light meal or side dish. Apples, pears and dried cranberries are three of my favorites for fall.

Here's an easy  recipe I think you'll enjoy:


Ingredients

  • 1 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
  • Couple of stalks spring green onion sliced thin
  • 4 ounces shredded Swiss cheese
  • 1 cup cashews
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 apple - peeled, cored and diced
  • 1 pear - peeled, cored and sliced
  • 1 cup poppy seed dressing
Instructions
In a large serving bowl, toss together the romaine lettuce, shredded Swiss cheese, cashews, dried cranberries, apple, and pear. Sprinkle green onion on top. Pour dressing over salad just before serving, and toss to coat. 
Serve with garlic bread or warm croissants.
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Friday, October 7, 2011

The Inkeeper reminisces

This is the very first blog I ever had. Prior to that, I didn't even know what a blog was, much less how to construct and maintain one.  Oh yes, I had heard the word bandied around the internet. But I didn't know anyone who had one except Rosie O Donnell and, soon after that, the author of  Julie and Julia, who kept a blog about cooking from Julia Child's recipes and turned it into a book.

Three years ago, I spent Christmas with my daughter and her S.O. that was before both of them lost their jobs because of the economy...but that's another story. They are both back working again with great careers, she is a licensed professional counselor and he is in marketing, working for a non-profit organization. That Christmas, Jeff was working on a new blog.When I heard that, it piqued my interest and I started asking him questions about blogs and blogging.

In his own imitable way, Jeff proceeded to show me everything he knew about blogs...and that was a lot. After graduating from the Jeff Blogging School and returning back to Louisville, I decided to try blogging myself and thought the best place to start was with a blog about my bed and breakfast. I came up with the title InnNotes and dove right in. I was on the phone night and day with Jeff as I learned how to construct my site on Blogger.

When I finally felt comfortable with posting on a net with potentially thousands of people who could read my writing, I constructed two more sites: one about the hotel industry and the other a site for women where I would post on women's issues,  politics, the arts, and books that I found interesting. The last blog I added after I had written the first draft of my memoir (a work in progress). I hoped for a place to write about writing and to post excerpts from my memoir for feedback.  I' m quite happy with all my blogs. Thery take time and thought to maintain and they always keep me writing. And for a writer...that's imperative.


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