Tag Archives: foodies

National Apple Dumpling Day

National Apple Dumpling Day

National Apple Dumpling Day is September 17 and these Old Fashioned Apple Dumplings come to you from the the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast in Oregon’s Hood River Valley.  The Valley’s reputation for quality apples dates back to the 1900 Chicago World’s Fair, where 16 blue ribbons were awarded to local growers.  A Chicago newspaper reported that, “Since the Centennial Exposition, everybody in the world knows about Hood River apples.”

Ingredients:

For the Sauce:

1 cup water
2/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp butter
1/4 tsp cinnamon

For the dumplings:

1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening
4-5 tbsp milk
4-5 small apples

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a small saucepot, combine the water, sugar, cinnamon and butter. Bring to a boil and stir until the butter melts completely. Remove from heat and let cool while you make the dumplings.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt and shortening. Mix with your fingers until dough has a grainy texture (will look sort of like cornmeal). Add the milk and mix until combined.

Roll out dough to 1/8th inch thick on a well floured surface. Cut into 4-5 large squares.

Peel and core your apples then place one apple on each square of dough. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over top of the apple then gently wrap dough around apple, sealing edges with a little water. Don’t worry if the dough doesn’t completely enclose around the apples—just do the best you can.

Place the dumplings in a greased pan and pour the sauce over the dumplings and around the sides of the pan.

Bake for 40 minutes until golden brown.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Dining with a view

You’re sure to work up an appetite exploring the great outdoors in Oregon’s Mt Hood Region. Here are but a few Outdoor Dining with a View options

Solera Brewery ~ a short block walk from the Inn leads to the Beer Garden of Solera Brewery ~ A close-up of Mt. Hood, and the Hood River Valley orchards in the rural setting

Riverside Grill ~ a Hood River restaurant situated on the edge of the Columbia River with panoramic views of the Columbia River and it’s Gorge

Rams Head ~ Timberline Lodge ~ You can’t get much closer to Mt Hood!  Casual food and drinks with stunning views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson

Vertical ~ Mt Hood Meadows ~ of the 9 dining options at the Ski Resort, Vertical has the most amazing view

Full Sail Brewery ~ Hood River ~ Overlooking the Columbia River

Horsefeathers ~ Overlooking downtown Hood River and the Columbia River

3 Rivers Grill ~ Great Views of the Columbia from both the inside and outside on their deck

The Hood River Valley has no shortage of spectacular Mt Hood Views.  There is an abundance of quality places to eat and dine and certainly some great places to explore on your own.  Imagine relaxing at a panoramic site, sipping on cider and snacking, all the while looking out over the Hood River Valley, Mt Hood or the Columbia River.  Our Innkeepers will share with you some of our favorite spots.

There are 6 Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member inns in this spectacular region.  For the perfect stay in the Columbia River Gorge visit the Hood River Lodging page of the Guild website.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

Hood River Valley

Apple Valley Country Store in Hood River Oregon is one of the Hood River Valley’s favorite.  Located amongst picturesque orchards, forests and farmlands, the Wright family has been making homemade jams, jellies, and pies for over 25 years.

During the months of September and October we invite you to join in the harvest celebration. Fresh-picked local pears, fresh pear pies, scones, cookies and hand pies.  Huckleberry and pumpkin milkshakes. Weekend specials:  Our Famous Pear Dumplings, pumpkin cinnamon rolls, cobblers and crisps.

Fall in the Hood River Valley and Columbia River Gorge.  Experience warm days, cool nights, events, fall foliage and harvest aromas. Something for all your senses.

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild use many of the abundant fruits in the Hood River Valley, serving up amazing Oregon Bounty breakfasts.  Come up during the week, take the road less traveled and enjoy much of the same tantalizing treats.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

National Banana Split Day

National Banana Split Day August 25

Banana Split for breakfast?  How about this healthy, delicious and nutritious variation from the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast?  Oatmeal Breakfast Banana Split is a fun breakfast recipe that will kickstart your day with the energy you’ll need to power through exploring Oregon.

You’ll need about one cup of prepared oatmeal for each ‘split’.  Use your favorite oatmeal recipe making sure it’s on the thicker side.  You’ll be using a cookie or ice cream scoop to scoop into banana

  • Slice the banana lengthwise and lay in your bowl
  • Drop two or three scoops of oatmeal onto banana
  • Add fresh fruit.  Try peaches, pears , apples, and berries
  • Top with a tablespoon or two of Greek Yogurt
  • Sprinkle chocolate chips, hemp hearts and chia seeds
  • Drizzle with maple syrup or any fruit syrup
  • Don’t forget the Cherry on Top

The great thing about this meal is you can top this banana split oatmeal with whatever you like.  In the Hood River Valley we have an abundance of berries, cherries, stone fruit, apples and pears.  Try some fall flavors with pumpkin puree and seeds. Or go tropical with mangos, pineapple and oranges.  The options are virtually endless. You can use fresh fruit, frozen fruit, puree fruit.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

National Peaches and Cream Day

National Peaches and Cream Day June 21

National Peaches and Cream Day is June 21 and the innkeeper of Chehalem Ridge Bed and Breakfast shares a fond childhood memory and a recipe for Swedish Pancakes she serves at the inn.

‘Growing up, it was a struggle for my mom to get us out the door on the weekdays.  I really hate waking up, and my breakfast fare often suffered for it.  But on Sundays I could manage to get to the table because Dad was making breakfast before church.  His Swedish pancakes was a recipe from my mom’s Aunt Ann and we’d fill them with all sorts of stuff, not just the traditional lemon juice and powdered sugar.  I’ve taken this recipe and filled it with oh-so-sweet and juicy peaches and cinnamon mascarpone cream filling for this delicious breakfast for our guest.  Hope you enjoy and it gets you out of bed.’

Swedish Pancakes
6 each egg
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk

1.   Blend together the egg and melted butter until emulsified.  Add flour and sugar, blend until smooth.  Add milk slowly while whisking.

2.       Let batter rest 30 minutes. Heat pan over medium high heat and cook like a crepe.

Filling
8 ounces Mascarpone cheese
1 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp heavy cream
5-6 large ripe peaches, peeled and sliced

1.       Stir together the Mascarpone cheese, cinnamon and heavy cream.

2.       Fill each crepe with a schmear of the Mascarpone and peaches down the middle. Fold the crepe in half, then roll it up.

3.       Keep warm until serving.  This recipe makes 16 crepes, serving 5

Chehalem Ridge Bed and Breakfast offers a peaceful retreat from adventure and the Willamette Valley below.  Perched on eight acres atop Chehalem Mountain overlooking the Willamette Valley and Coast Range, the inn’s four guest rooms and one suite, all with en suite bathrooms, offer a peaceful retreat between adventures with spectacular views of both mountain and valley.

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share with you their version of Oregon Culinary Tourism and Geotourism.  Get to know our State like a local; stay with one of our nearly 100 hosts in any one of our many regions. Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats.  Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, taking in Oregon Geotourism, for a World Class City experience, or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

National Apple Strudel Day

National Apple Strudel Day is June 17

National Apple Strudel Day is June 17 but the innkeeper of the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast makes this easy Strudel year round, mixing up the filling with available fruits.

Ingredients•

•  1 Egg
•  1 tbsp water
•  2 tbsp granulated sugar
•  1 tbsp all-purpose flour
•  ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
•  2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
•  2 tbsps raisins

•  1 sheet of Puff Pastry, thawed

•  1 tbsp. confectioners’ sugar (optional)

Heat the oven to 375°F. Beat the egg and water in a small bowl with a fork. Stir the granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add the apples and raisins and toss to coat.  Make sure to toss the apples and raisins until they’re evenly coated with the flour mixture. The flour helps to thicken the juices released by the apples as they cook.

Sprinkle additional flour on the work surface.  Unfold the pastry sheet on the work surface.  Roll the pastry sheet into a 14×12-inch rectangle.  Place the pastry onto the baking sheet.  Spoon the apple mixture lengthwise down the center of the pastry.  Cut slits 1 inch apart from the 2 sides of the pastry rectangle to within 1/2 inch of the peach mixture.  Starting at one end, fold the pastry strips over the peach mixture, alternating sides, to cover the apple mixture.

Bake for 35 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Let the pastry cool on the baking sheet on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the confectioners’ sugar, if desired.

For some nutty crunch, ¼ cup sliced almonds may be added with the apples and raisins.  For a tasty spring strudel try using fresh peaches or fresh berries.  In the fall you can substitute Bosc pears and dried cranberries for a Pear and Cranberry Strudel.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get a photo of the apple strudel so we substitute with one of a Peach Strudel.

The Old Parkdale Inn has three guest rooms, each with amenities including a private bath, flat-screen satellite TV and DVD player, microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, and Free wireless Internet.

Located on the famous Hood River County Fruit Loop,  the Inn is perfectly situated to tour the area’s gorgeous farms, wineries and orchards.

The innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild are ready to share with you their version of Oregon Culinary Tourism and Geotourism.  Get to know our State like a local; stay with one of our nearly 100 hosts in any one of our many regions. Experience romantic getaways, historic treasures, and tucked away rustic retreats.  Whether your trip is for a quiet escape to a quaint rural or coastal town, taking in Oregon Geotourism, for a World Class City experience, or for a new spin on business travel, you can be assured of combining gracious hospitality with ambiance by staying at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

National Strawberry Shortcake

National Strawberry Shortcake Day

National Strawberry Shortcake Day was June 14 and the innkeeper of the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast shares a guest favorite

Shortcakes ~ this recipe will make 8 shortcakes.  The innkeeper stretches it a little, making 6 slightly larger cakes, making room for more whipped cream and berries, and perfect for the 6 guests that the Old Parkdale Inn can accommodate.

2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
1 Tbs Grated lemon rind
1 Tbs baking powder
¼ teas salt
¼ cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
¾ cup half and half
melted butter
2 teas sugar

Preheat oven to 450°
Shortcakes:  Whisk flour, sugar, lemon rind, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.  Cut in the chilled butter with a pastry blender until the mixture is a coarse meal.  Add half and half and stir just until moist. Don’t overwork the dough if you’re looking for tender shortcakes. Drop by large spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15 minutes or until brown

You’ll want to mix your berries with 3 tablespoons sugar and a splash of lemon juice then refrigerate while juices develop, at least 30 minutes.  In Oregon and the Hood River Valley we are blessed with an abundance of berries: Oregon’s child the marionberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries being just a few.  Use the freshest ones you can find, mix it up.

Try adding a drop of almond extract to the bowl as you whip up some fresh cream.  Slice the Shortcake in half horizontally, spoon the berries with their juice onto each shortcake bottom. Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream and then the shortcake top.  Garnish with slivered and whole mint leaves, a little more whipped cream and a few more berries.

The Old Parkdale Inn is located in the Upper Hood River Valley on the north slope of Oregon’s tallest peak, Mt. Hood, in the quaint town of Parkdale.  Outdoor adventure, farms, wineries and fine dining are nearby. Three well appointed rooms with private baths offer complete privacy and the serene gardens are perfect for romantic and restful getaways.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

National Donut Day

National Donut Day is the First Friday in June – June 7, 2019

National Donut Day is the first Friday in June, June 7, 2019.  We hope you have a chance to try this delicious baked donut recipe shared by the innkeeper at the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast.  Clean up is easier than with a fried version not to mention a bit less guilt-inducing!

Baked Pumpkin Donut

  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 tbs. vegetable oil
  • 2 tbs. butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 tsp. maple extract
  • 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare your donut shaped baking pan with non-stick cooking spray
  • In a mixing bowl, add in the pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, melted butter, granulated and brown sugars. Mix on medium until combined.
  • Add in both of the eggs and maple extract. Mix on medium until incorporated.
  • Add in the pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, salt and flour. Mix until just combined.

Use a piping bag, or spoon, to fill each donut cup about 3/4 full, making sure the center post is clear.  Innkeeper uses a 9 cavity donut silicone baking mold.  Bake until the donuts are a light golden brown and spring back when touched, 6-10 minutes.  Let cool slightly, flip pan over, glaze or roll in cinnamon sugar

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

National Strawberries and Cream

National Strawberries and Cream Day is May 21

National Strawberries and Cream Day is May 21.  We think you’ll love this tasty French Toast

Strawberry Croissant French Toast

4 large day-old croissants
¾ c. milk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 Tablespoons butter
Powdered Sugar
Sweetened Whipped Cream
Fresh Strawberries

Slice croissants in half lengthwise.  Whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour into a shallow dish.  Dip croissant halves into eggs mixture, coating well.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add four croissant halves and cook about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

Repeat procedure with remaining butter and croissant halves. Spoon strawberries between the layers and some on top. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, top with sweetened whipped cream if desired. Who wouldn’t want sweetened whipped cream and maybe a splash of maple syrup!

Oregon Berry Season has arrived and you’ll find many sweet berry dishes being served at the Inns of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.

National Buttermilk Biscuit

National Buttermilk Biscuit Day is May 14

National Buttermilk Biscuit Day is May 14 and the innkeeper at WildSpring Guest Habitat, a small eco-friendly resort with amazing Pacific Ocean views on Oregon’s south coast shares a guest favorite

Big Fluffy Biscuits:  Preheat oven to 475° and prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Mix together:
2 C flour
2 t baking powder
½ t baking soda
1 T (heaping) dark brown sugar
1 t salt
sprinkle cinnamon

Mix 1 cup cold buttermilk with 1 stick melted, unsweetened butter, stirring with a balloon whisk until butter clumps.  Let sit 5 minutes

Mix all ingredients, stirring just to moisten.

Use ¼  cup portion/ice cream scoop to drop biscuits on parchment paper. Sprinkle tops with white sugar.  Bake at 475° for 11 – 13 minutes.  The biscuits will will expand during cooking to be about 2 ½” diameter, and 1 ¼” high.

Peach Biscuit/Scones

Use the recipe above, with the following changes:  Add 1 can sliced peaches, drained well and chopped fine to the buttermilk/butter mixture

Fold into the flour mixture until well blended. (do not overmix)
Bake as directed above.

WildSpring Guest Habitat is a small, eco friendly resort in Port Orford and is the perfect location to use as your home base when visiting Oregon’s South Coast.   A member of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild, WildSpring Guest Habitat sits on 5 secluded acres and offers luxury accommodations in a naturally beautiful environment. Five elegant cabin suites built like small homes are filled with with art and antiques and sit in a secluded, peaceful forest surrounded by 100-foot trees.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild is ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild member Inn.