Our Motto:

Dulcius ex Asperis (sweeter after struggle)

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Skor Oatmeal Cookies - Our Most Requested Recipe

I don't usually endorse products on my blog but I don't actually know if any other company makes these little gems so may have to give them a plug. I'm referring, of course, to Skor Toffee Bits, made by Hershey's.  I first encountered Skor Bits when my daughter made a pan of "Skor Bars" - a whole other recipe, but one that is so addictive that I have trouble eating just two bars in one sitting (or was that three, or ....)!  I've since discovered that these little crunchy bits of toffee can add a special "something" to many things - for example, I've used them for a hit of flavor in streusel toppings on scones, for  a bit of decadent crunch in fruit crumbles, and a special sweet caramel goodness in oatmeal cookies.  I'm sure the possibilities are  endless.  Travelers who follow TripAdvisor will know that our guests at the Bee & Thistle are generous with their praise of the food that we prepare for them, and we love each and every one of them for it! But the number one requested recipe is this one. So this is for you, Cathy & Nancy from North Carolina, and all the others who have been kind enough to ask me to share this with them.

Skor Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup of butter
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of white sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup + 2 tablespoons unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 - 12 oz. (200 gram) package of Skor Toffee Bits

Cream butter, add sugars, then eggs & vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop 1 tablespoon of dough for each cookie - this may not seem like much but they spread like crazy!  Bake 14 - 18 minutes at 350 F.   Allow to rest on pan for a few minutes before attempting to remove them as they are very soft when right out of the oven.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Special Rates, Things to do in Vancouver Rain & Eastern Europe!

What's happening at the Bee & Thistle? Well, we're into our eighth month of operating our guest house and are finally going to hand our little fledgling business over to a very reliable Innkeeper to manage for a month while we cram a few things into a backpack or suitcase and head off to Eastern Europe (we're excited!). That was the whole point of quitting our "regular" jobs and moving into a fun business like innkeeping, after all! We did picture ourselves meeting charming people, cooking wonderful food and having lots of time to explore our wonderful city and spend quality time with our children & grandchildren. Well, NOT (except for the charming people, of course - they are the best part!!)! We were warned ahead that this is a 24/7 kind of business but no one really knows how all consuming it is until they actually do it for a few weeks. However, it's still great fun and we wouldn't change it for the world! But we do need a rest and therefore are looking forward to a few weeks of R&R. We do feel, however, that the guest house is impossible for one person to manage single-handed and still provide our rather substantial breakfasts so, in our absence, we will be offering a simple breakfast of yummy fresh-out-of-the-oven, and of course home made, scones or muffins, plus tea or coffee. In exchange for the light breakfast, we have reduced our rates for the period. If you're looking for cheap accommodation in Vancouver, this is your opportunity! Our Florence & Molly Rooms will be $125 per night, the Ivy Room will be $150 per night, and the Lions' Loft $175 per night, all plus tax and based on double occupancy. Fall is coming and it has been known to rain in Vancouver during the Fall season (oh, really!?), but there are still lots of great reasons to come to Vancouver in the Fall and no end of things to do, even in the rain! Check out Tourism's website for some great ideas: http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/things_to_do/events/calendar_of_events. For sports fans, the BC Lions football season doesn't end until November, and the Vancouver Canucks hockey season is gearing up for the first game on October 9th. Check out the hockey schedule @http://canucks.nhl.com/club/schedule.htm. Or for a cultural experience, Bard on the Beach at Vanier Park is a wonderful afternoon or evening out and performances continue until September 25th. See http://www.bardonthebeach.org/ for the schedule. And, of course, dining is always a favorite pass time in Vancouver. There are lots of websites with restaurant and food suggestions, but here is one to get you started: http://www.foodvancouver.com/.
Finally, we have been very busy meeting wonderful guests from around the world and have had no time to plan our vacation, other than a flight that puts us in to Prague in the middle of September and another that brings us back out of Budapest in October. If anyone has any suggestions for "must see" sights (especially out of the way, less touristy), or a great itinerary that includes Croatia and Slovenia, we would love to hear them! Also, hotel and restaurant recommendations will be gladly received.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Food Styling with Flowers

What an amazing gift our gardens are! Not only do they bring us joy as we plant the little seeds and watch them sprout, then get tiny little leaves, then one day burst into blossom!  They bring us bees happily pollinating the flowers, butterflies dancing from plant to plant and robins grubbing around in the dirt that we just freshly dug!  They warm our hearts as we look out our windows and are awestruck but the brilliant colours and textures, grasses waving gently in the breeze, our kiwi plant that looks like it's trying to grow it's very own stairway to heaven and grape vines that actually one day appeared inside of our computer room window (guess we need to do something about sealing that window tighter!)!  What pleasure we experience as we pick and savor the very first strawberry or succulent peach or sun warmed blackberry!  But, for me this summer, one of the wonderful benefits of my garden has been the abundance of ever changing garnishes for my guest breakfasts!  What joy to grab a pair of scissors early each morning and just wander in the garden and find glorious combinations of fruits, flowers and leaves that bring a gorgeous finishing touch to every breakfast dish we serve!  Herbs of every kind, grape leaves, fig leaves, petunias, pansies, brilliant geraniums, tiny little pink sweetheart rose buds, a proliferation of hibiscus, garlic flowers, squash flowers, and the list goes on. I think I will let the photos tell the rest of this story!