Tag Archives: oregon bounty

culinary tourism

No other experience brings you that sense of home as waking up to the warm and comforting aromas of breakfast. Imagine these drifting up the stairwells and down the halls.  Coffee, many times locally roasted, freshly brewed and sweet and savory delights hot out of the oven.  You know that something wonderful awaits your arrival at the breakfast table. You may be surprised with fresh scones and homemade jams, gnocchi with fresh herbs, a 3” high savory custard, or perhaps a French crepe, an Italian fritatta, or a Spanish Tortilla. No matter the experience, you can be assured that the Innkeepers of The Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild take slow food very seriously.

Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild Innkeepers include farmers, winemakers, fruit growers, and ranchers. Your culinary travel experience will differ depending the region of Oregon you are visiting. Whether we serve locally grown produce, fresh farm eggs and cheese, sustainably raised meats or the wine your host may serve in the afternoon, we regard ourselves stewards of the land.

There are countless Food, Wine and Beer Festivals to celebrate Oregon’s Bounty in every corner of our fine state.  Regional orchard and farm loop offers you as visitors to the Northwest the chance to take a culinary vacation through the rural landscape, the coast and the urban areas. By staying with our member innkeepers, you will have an insider guide to the foods and beverages of the region.

Get to know our State like a local; stay with one of our nearly 100 hosts and 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.

Hood River Valley

Apple Berry Delight is a light baked pancake shared by Yamhill Vineyard B&B

Oregon has approximately 6200 acres of apple orchards in three major regions:  the Willamette Valley, the Mid-Columbia Valley and eastern Oregon’s Milton-Freewater area.  The most popular varieties of apple grown in Oregon are Fuji and Gala but in the Hood River Valley we have one orchardist growing over 50 varieties.

“Come stay where fine wines are born!” and some pretty tasty breakfasts, too, at Yamhill Vineyards Bed and Breakfast

Apple Berry Delight 

Preparation time: 45 minutes
Serving: 4
Preheat oven to 350°

Ingredients:

1 cup + 2 Tablespoons Krustez Pancake Mix or mix your own to equal
1 ½ cups batter
¾ cup+2 Tablespoons Water
2 Tablespoons Chopped Hazelnuts (optional)
2 Tablespoons Butter melted in 9 inch pie plate

½ – 1 Apple peeled, cored & sliced thin, Granny Smith or any cooking apple
⅓ Cup Blackberries, Cranberries, Blueberries or Marion berries
½ Teaspoon Cinnamon
4 Tablespoons Syrup – innkeeper likes Mrs. Butterworth’s the best

Instructions:

Mix pancake mix, Hazelnuts and water together, will be a little lumpy. Let stand. Swirl melted butter in the pie plate so that the edges are coated. Place the thin sliced apples around the bottom of the pie plate. Add the berries of choice. Sprinkle the cinnamon evenly over the apples and berries. Gently pour the syrup over the apples and berries. Spoon the pancake batter gently over the apples and berries.  Do not pour as this will disturb the apple arrangement.

BAKE: 30-35 minutes at 350° degrees

Loosen sides of pancake when done; put a plate on top and turn over, like an upside down cake.  Serve with whipped cream and candied Hazelnuts. Extra syrup is optional. Enjoy.

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

October is National Apple Month

October is recognized as National Apple Month and Oregon is among the leaders in fine apple production.  Apples are a member of the rose family of plants and the blossoms are much like wild-rose blossoms.  Oregon produces over 21 commercial apple varieties, with Fuji and Gala leading the state’s production but we know of one orchard, Kiyokawa Family Orchards in the Hood River Valley that grow over 90 different varieties! The state’s rainfall and mild climate make it a prime location for apple orchards. The most orchards can be found in Oregon’s northwestern region near and around Portland.  In 2015 Oregon produced an estimated 110 million pounds of apples.

History of the Apple – Oregon Growers

In 1847, Henderson Luelling brought more than 700 one year old grafted fruit trees from Iowa to Oregon by ox-team along with his wife and 8 children.  Today, in front of a military building in the city of Vancouver, WA, an historic apple tree with a plaque on it records the following story: ‘In 1847, Henderson Lewelling, know for promoting the fruit industry in Iowa, Oregon, and California, came to Oregon in a covered wagon with his wife, children and 350 fruit trees that had survived the long journey.’  It goes on to say ‘By 1850, their first crop produced 100 apples. It was the time of the Gold Rush in California, and when they rushed to San Francisco with the apple crop, prospectors were so hungry for fresh fruit that he sold them for $5 each. They used the money to build more orchards.’

Today, the Hood River Valley is one of the major growers of apples.  Kiyokawa Family Orchards in the Hood River Valley have been growing the finest produce available since 1911. The fertile soils found at the base of Mt. Hood and rarified, glacier-fed water sources create a unique growing environment.  The Kiyokawa’s take pride in promoting local and sustainably grown produce and utilize a farm management system that incorporates best management practices.

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 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.

Hood River Valley

Kiyokawa Family Orchards in the Hood River Valley

Hanner’s Jumbo.  Zestar.  Hokutoi.  Sansa.  Ever heard of these apples?  How about Butter, Mederis, or Cascade pears?  I hadn’t, until I discovered an amazing family farm just a mile and a half from our inn, the Old Parkdale Inn.  Kiyokawa Family Orchards, located in the Upper Hood River Valley, has been growing the finest produce since 1911 and along with the “old world” varieties you’ll find also the more common Bartlett Pears, Gravenstein and Fuji apples. The fertile soils found at the base of Mt Hood and glacier fed water sources create a unique growing environment allowing for the farm to grow over 80 distinctive varieties of apples, pears and Asian pears.

The farm offers both the largest u-pick orchards in the valley along with ready picked fruit, award-winning pies, turnovers, local honey, jams, and fresh cider.

The Hood River Valley is in the middle of its fall harvest and we invite you come up and enjoy our warm days, cool crisp nights, awesome fall foliage and of course Kiyokawa Family Orchards.  Plan to spend at least a day or two, maybe more, as there is just so much to explore.  Be sure to reserve your room early at a Mt Hood Bed and Breakfast of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild.  We suggest coming during the week as the weekends with all its harvest activities, festivals and special events, can get a bit crowded as more and more folks “discover” the Hood River Valley.  The fruit tastes even better during the week!!

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.

Pumpkin Pinots Pears

Pumpkins, Pinot and Pears.  The Oregon Bounty harvest is on.

Did you know that over 80% of the pears in the world were grown right here in Oregon?  Mostly in the Hood River Valley in Northern Oregon. It’s the perfect time to take that drive called the “Fruit Loop” in Hood River, Oregon.  Winding through orchards, farms, roadside stands and vineyards, the Fruit Loop sounds like a perfect thing to do while you are visiting an Oregon Bed & Breakfast.  Don’t forget to pick up some fresh fruit and a homemade pumpkin pie, or apple, or pear, or cherry.  They all go great with the Oregon Pinots.  

And then there’s the Pinots.  Harvest of that lovely fruit that makes Oregon so famous for it’s wines will soon begin.  Oregon’s prize winning, world renown, and absolutely palate pleasing wines are featured not only at our inns, but everywhere you go in Oregon.

Pairing some of Oregon’s wines with a few slices of several varieties of pears and of course pumpkin pie, makes for the perfect Autumn afternoon.

While you’re here search recipes, and see what dishes our innkeepers are making with Oregon’s “never ending harvest!”

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 Waffle Day

National Waffle Day with Hazelnut Waffles

The temperate climates and volcanic soils of Oregon’s Willamette Valley combine to create 99 percent of the U.S. hazelnut crop.  Oregon hazelnuts are recognized for their large size and distinctive flavor and about 50% of the crop is exported annually.   That leaves plenty for the innkeepers of the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild to share with guests in unique and delicious ways.

You’re sure to enjoy these Hazelnut Waffles

1 c. spelt flour
⅓ c. oat flour
½ c. hazelnuts, toasted and finely ground
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. soda
¼ c. sugar
2 eggs
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ¼ – 1 ½ c. buttermilk

Mix dry ingredients, then add remaining ingredients, starting with
1 ½ c. buttermilk, and mix well. If too thick, add remaining buttermilk.

Bake in hot waffle iron. Serve with ground hazelnuts and powdered sugar on top. Serve with a warm syrup or fruit topping.  Or both!  I found this Hazelnut Syrup recipe on oregonhazelnuts.org:

Hazelnut Syrup
½ cup chopped Oregon hazelnuts
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
¾ cup maple syrup
In saucepan, sauté hazelnuts in butter until lightly browned. Add syrup and heat through. Yield: about 1 ¼ cups

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.

Lavender Blueberry Sorbet

Lavender Blueberry Sorbet

Lavender Blueberry Sorbet is a palette cleansing first course at the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast, a dish produced from an explosion of Blueberries and Lavender in Oregon’s Hood River Valley.

Ingredients:

Serves 2.
2 ripe frozen bananas
1 cup frozen blueberries
¼ cup lite coconut milk
2 tsp dried lavender

Directions:

1. Peel ripe bananas, wrap in glad wrap and freeze overnight.
2. Add frozen bananas, blueberries, and coconut milk to food processor or blender and process until fluffy, smooth, and creamy.
3. Add lavender and carefully mix through with wooden spoon.
4. Empty the mixture into a container and put back into the freezer for a few hours to set.
5. When the ice-cream is ready, scoop with an ice-cream scoop, top with fresh fruit.  Enjoy

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.  The complete privacy of the inn 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 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 Apple Pie Day

National Apple Pie Day is May 14

National Apple Pie Day doesn’t necessarily have to be celebrated with an apple pie, right.  Why not Apple Pie Cookies?  The innkeeper at the Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast put a little spin on the classic apple pie and the results were amazing.  For quicker, easier assembly she used refrigerated pie crusts

Apple Pie Cookies

  • 6 green apples
  • 1 package refrigerated pie crust (2 crusts)
  • 5 ounces caramel sauce
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • Ground cinnamon

1) Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment and non stick spray;  set aside.

2) Remove pie crusts from refrigerator so they warm up slightly. This will make them easier to work with.

3) Peel the skin off the green apples, compost.  Continue peeling so you have bunch of fleshy, white peels of apple in your bowl.

4) Dust work area with flour and slightly roll out crusts. From one pie crust, cut out circles for the cookies.  Cut the second pie crust into 1/2″ strips.

5) Place round pie crusts on cookie sheet. Spread a thin layer of caramel sauce on each cookie, followed by a pile of white apple peels. Using the 1/2” strips, create a tic-tac-toe lattice pattern over each cookie.

6) Beat egg in bowl and add sugar and nutmeg until well blended. Brush cookies with egg wash.

7) Sprinkle cookies with cinnamon.  Use more or less cinnamon depending on your preference.

8) Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, or until cookies are a golden brown. Remove from oven, allow to cool for 5 minutes, serve and enjoy!

The Old Parkdale Inn is located in the Upper Hood River Valley, a renowned growing region for pears and apples.   Located in the quaint town of Parkdale, Oregon with Oregon’s tallest peak, Mt. Hood, as a backdrop.  Outdoor adventure, farms, wineries and fine dining are nearby.  The complete privacy of the inn 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.