It’s Snowing – Time to Head to the Kitchen!

I don’t know why, but something about a big winter storm makes me want to cocoon where it’s safe and warm. Something deep inside tells me that I need not only to stay safe, but to produce nourishment to weather the coming storm. And so I always seem to end up in the kitchen.

It’s been a long tradition that my mom would make cookies or cake (preferably chocolate) on a snow day from school.
I grew up in a Cleveland suburb, and you would think that we had plenty of snow days – not so! But the few we had seemed better than a gift at Christmas.

Years later I worked in downtown Cleveland. There were times when the wind came off Lake Erie so strong that you had to grab onto the ropes on the sides of buildings so that you didn’t fall – especially on icy days. Of course, we were young and would never wear hats or boots – we had to look good!

During one blizzard, my good friend and roommate, Paula, and I managed to get home after a long bus ride. We both headed to the kitchen where, typical twenty-somethings, we had just enough provisions to make one chocolate cake. And we proceeded to eat the entire thing for dinner.

Of course, as I grew older I became much more sensible. I now pull up my hood when I feel any little chill. I now own all sorts of sensible boots. And, being sensible, I first make some kind of soup or stew....then I make something with chocolate.

Some traditions are destined for eternity.

Here’s a great recipe to keep you busy during the next storm. Our snow is just starting and they are predicting 12 – 18 inches. WOOHOO.

I think that half the fun of a big snow is the anticipation. You can almost smell the snow in the air....or maybe that’s chocolate.....

This is a recipe we submitted from The Artist's Inn for Cinnamon Mornings and Chocolate Dreams by Pamela Lanier. Printed in 2003, it is probably still available from Lanier Publishing.

Chocolate Melt-Away Cookies

The thinner you can roll the dough, the better these cookies will taste.

3/4 cup soft butter
2 1/3 cup unbleached flour
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 6 oz. package (1 cup) semisweet chocolate pieces – preferably Wilbur
Powdered sugar

In a large mixer bowl, beat butter. Add half of the flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and almond extract. Beat thoroughly. Beat in remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover, chill 1 hour or until firm. On a lightly floured surface roll half of the dough 1/8 inch thick. Keep remaining dough in fridge until ready to use. Cut into shapes with 1 ½ to 2” cookie cutter - stars, rounds, hearts. Place on ungreased cookie sheets (or use silpats). With small cookie cutter, cut out centers from half of the unbaked cookies. Bake in a 375 degree oven about 7 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are very light brown. Cool. Repeat with remaining dough. Melt chocolate pieces in a microwave at half power for about two minutes. Spread chocolate on bottom of each cookie. Top with cookie half that has the center cut out of it. The chocolate will show through. When cool, dust with powdered sugar. Makes about 40 cookies.

Friends in High Places

I have always loved old houses. They seem like works of art compared to their modern counterparts. Take for instance, the roofs - instead of a sea of boring asphalt shingles, many historic homes boast a variety of scalloped-edged tiles, rows of different colored shingles, proud turrets, cupolas or brackets, depending on the style.

Our inn is a Federal home of 1848, with a no-nonsense, balanced approach. When we replaced the beautiful diamond-patterned roof (made of concrete-asbestos tile that had lasted 80 years) we opted to save the snow guards.

I had always seen those on historic buildings and thought they were pretty.

In the last five years, we’ve replaced three of our porch roofs as well with metal, standing-seam roofs. For some reason, the roofing company neglected to ask us about installing snow guards – or maybe it was that bad B word – the “budget” that made us skip them. Whatever the reason, we quickly learned that snow guards are not only decorative but serve a very important purpose.

We don’t get a lot of snow in Lancaster County, but about once a year we are almost assured a decent snow. It was then we learned the lesson that the snow guards taught. Because we had new smooth surfaces on which the snow could accumulate, and then the sun could melt, the areas between the seams formed massive glaciers.

The side porch was particularly dangerous. The morning sun would heat up the roof and, just about check-out time, would discharge a massive avalanche onto guests as they were departing. It was uncanny that the roof would release its glaciers just a moment before or when guests walked under it, causing snow and ice to block the sidewalk, or actually hitting guests in the head. They could be heard screaming and protecting their hair with purses. And we were forced to shovel several times a day to keep up with the accumulating snow.

Something needed to be done. The time had come to install snow guards. They would hold the ice an snow in place until it melted. It’s a good thing we have friends in high places

– frequent guests at the inn own their own roofing company in New Jersey. And so they came to our rescue and installed the guards on the three roofs, guaranteeing no measurable amount of snow for probably the next three years.

No matter. I still think they look pretty!

So if you find you need some snow guards, give Paul a call at the number above, and tell him that Jan and Bruce from The Artist's Inn sent you!

25 Ways to Add Romance To Your Getaway in Lancaster County

We have some very romantic guests at our Bed and Breakfast....here are some of their ideas on how to make your Valentine’s Day (or any other day) a special one.

1) Men often call and order special flowers to be placed in the room so that their partner sees them when she arrives. I’ve seen everything from two dozen red roses, to a simple bouquet of yellow daisies. Both were greeted with a sweet “ohhhhhhhh”.
2) While a romantic dinner out is wonderful, couples who are looking for extra privacy really like our Lover’s Basket – stuffed with crusty bread, cheeses, fruit, crackers and chocolate. It’s perfect for sharing on their private porch or in front of their fireplace.

3) Several women have called to see if we can have a special CD playing upon their arrival. There’s nothing like music to put one in a romantic mood.

4) If a couple is spending their wedding night at the inn, usually the groom will arrive earlier in the day to bring in some of the luggage and his special gifts for his bride.
5) Dave wanted to propose to his girlfriend at sunset, so we arranged for a bottle of bubbly and chocolate-covered strawberries on the little porch at the top of the inn – with a perfect view of the sunset. When they checked in, he couldn’t wait any longer and ended up proposing just past 4:30. No matter, they were both so excited I’m not sure they saw the sunset that night.
6) We had one couple get engaged at our breakfast table. Instead of the usual “Bon Appétit” on the bottom of the menu, there was a proposal to Selena from Paul. When Selena was asked to read the menu, she started to cry, and Paul went down on one knee and asked her to marry him.

7) One couple told us that they go to sleep every night holding hands.
8) Many couples take walks together – they say it’s something they rarely do at home, but the world seems to slow down when they are on vacation, or maybe it’s just the magic of Terre Hill.

9) Some couples spend the day watching movies in bed. This is a luxury that doesn’t happen when kids, jobs and housework seem to demand much of your time at home.
10) We recommend sitting on the porch and talk and watching the moon rise and the stars come out at night.
11) Go to a gallery or art museum together and learn why your mate likes certain pictures.
12) We tell all couples to kiss in the middle of a covered bridge – it’s good luck! 13) Go antique shopping – it’s not like going to the mall – you never know what you’ll find.
14) Take a buggy ride through the countryside.
15) We have had honeymooners ride their bikes to a nearby park and enjoy a picnic lunch.
16) Read a book to each other while snuggled up on the couch.
17) Cross country ski (or hike) and come back to the inn to shower together. Ok, we’re not really sure if our guests do this, but we do!
18) Some couples share a wine tasting and fall in love with not only each other, but some of the local wines.
19) Join us for one of our culinary tours – it’s a day to spend together without the hassle of driving – we even toasted one honeymoon couple by clanging the spoon against the glass so they would kiss!
20) Take a hot air balloon ride over the beautiful Lancaster County countryside. 21) Bring a kite and walk to Terre Hill Park to fly it – because we are on a hill, we usually have a dependable breeze
22) Explore a new food together – whether it’s German, Amish, Thai, Italian, Vietnamese or Cajun – we can steer you to the right place to eat.
23) Take a walk in the rain.....or snow!
24) Get a couples massage – our massage therapist lives right next door to the inn, and our guests love her.
25) Take a yoga class together – we highly recommend The Yoga Place in Ephrata.

Some would say that the visit to a B&B alone is romantic – and they would be right. Special care is taken to decorate rooms so that each one is different, and many antiques lend themselves to the sentiments of bygone days.

Breakfasts are also different at bed and breakfasts – usually on a more private scale than at a large hotel, and much, much more leisurely. We serve four courses by candlelight. If you need a little help with romance, we’ve made it easy for you here at The Artist’s Inn, - Romance baskets, My Forever Valentine Basket, Lover’s Baskets, Anniversary baskets and others – are all available on our specials page.

And remember, Valentine’s Day may only come one weekend a year, but romance never goes out of season.

What are your favorite romantic ideas? Let us know – post your comments!

The Art of Innkeeping, 101

Guests often ask me, “So when do you get away? And do you stay at a hotel or B&B?” I smile and usually admit that it’s a rare occasion that I leave the inn, but just such an opportunity arose this week.

I attended the Mid-Atlantic Innkeeping Conference held at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. While I normally frequent other bed and breakfasts, my second choice is always an historic hotel. My love of history seems to pull me there, and this impressive grand old hotel has many charms.

The minute my foot landed on the marble steps of the front portico, I could feel the history pull – almost expecting my shoe to disappear into a high-topped ladies’ boot of 1901. The massive wings of this brick and building curved forward in both directions, almost enveloping you in their arms.

I was most impressed by the beautiful marble and tile underfoot, and the massive carved columns and majestic lights overhead. Furnishings are all coordinated and the designers touch is here, to be sure, but the workmanship that this building demanded and the fact that it took five years to build is what impressed me most. I’m not saying that I don’t stand in awe of the engineering needed to build shiny new superstructures that reach to the sky, but the buildings of old are the ones that tug at my heart. They speak of a sacrifice we can scarcely comprehend – what it must have taken in time and labor to build a grand hotel in the middle of the mountains, with the vision of catering to folks who would come here to relax and take to the waters. I thought it was the perfect place to hold an innkeeping conference - what better place to learn about hospitality than an inn originally built in 1766? It has stood the test of time, reaching out to weary travelers through three centuries, surviving a Civil War, a Great Depression, and our current economic situation.

So what are we to learn here? Perhaps the lessons of history are that people, from all walks of life, through the years, are the most important part of an inn. That time today is no less valuable and precious than it was two hundred and fifty years ago. That people need to get away now and then to slow down and take time to be grateful for our role in life – whether that is the important work of raising a family or contributing to the welfare of mankind.

I came away from The Homestead thinking that every innkeeper should strive to give each guest special attention and respect. Though today’s world demands that innkeepers spend time on the latest technical gadgets, and that we now must be concerned about social media, websites and management programs, the basics still count as most important.

After 13 years in the bed and breakfast business, I am supposed to be burnt-out. They tell me that seven years is the limit. Yes, there are days when I am tired, or overwhelmed at the amount of work that needs to be done – whether that means a pile of laundry or trying to change something on the website. But here’s the thing that makes it all worthwhile – the smile that is the same the world over and throughout history – whether it’s on a child’s face from England, on a couple from Tasmania, or on the repeat guests from Delaware who have become close friends. I feel privileged because they all walked through my door and enriched my life in some way. It is my reward as an innkeeper – and what makes my heart beat fast.

The Homestead was a study in graciousness. From the smile of the Jamaican man at the front desk who was studying hotel management, to the waiter that remembered what kind of tea I liked, to Traci, our dinner server, who told us about her nephew that just made the Olympic team. To sit in the lobby while someone attends the fire, another person plays the grand piano and yet another serves you afternoon tea takes you back to an earlier era when people scheduled relaxation as part of their day.

That is the feeling that I hope to create at my small inn, a 160-year old Federal-style home in Terre Hill. And though it is only a fraction of the size of The Homestead, I’m grateful to be able to provide a place where people can celebrate their relationships with each other, create memories, and slow down to relax. What I re-learned this week is that it’s important to be real, to be yourself, and to share the history and beauty of a place I call home.....Lancaster County.

County Comes to Town….A Visit to New York City

There’s no better time to visit New York than at Christmas. Everyone seems to be in a happy mood – at an accelerated pace, but happy just the same.

It’s been five years since we were in the city…enough time to forget what a pain it is to drive there. We managed to switch lanes at the last moment, when the Lincoln Tunnel “green” sign on our lane turned to a blaring red “X”, and, after searching several levels of the Port Authority Parking Garage, ditched the car and set out on foot.

I couldn’t help but notice the contrasts between home in Lancaster County and this day in New York City. New York assaults all your senses at once – the horns, the rapid movement of scores of people walking and cars bumper-to-bumper, the smell of a dozen different kinds of food – and most memorable this time of year – the smell of chestnuts roasting on street corners.

Lancaster County is certainly known for its smells too - the most memorable being the fertilizer that is spread on the fields, especially in the spring. Certainly a visitor to both NYC and Lancaster couldn’t help but notice the aromas. And the chimes from the church across from our inn is very much a part of the experience of Terre Hill.
Instead of the brick walkways of downtown Lancaster, we walked across metal grids, beneath which could be heard the roar of subway cars below the streets of New York. And there in front of us were two horses (hey, we have lots of those in Lancaster!). These belonged to the mounted police but were no less majestic and well-mannered than the ones pulling a buggy.

There is an “energy” about both places….Lancaster’s large vistas of farmland give one a sense of peach and calm. It makes you feel small compared to all that is around you. NYC’s energy is infectious and also makes you feel small in comparison – the vistas are mostly vertical, rather than horizontal, with buildings soaring into the sky.

There is a mix of cultures in both places – the Amish and Mennonites blending with the “English” in Lancaster. In New York there’s a diversity of cultures coming together. Because New York and Lancaster County are big tourist attractions, you are likely to hear several languages on any street corner in either place.

There is a juxtaposition of old and new – from the dazzling electronic billboards at Times Square – (there used to be just a few, now they are everywhere) to the classic art-deco architecture. There are brand new shiny skyscrapers next to century-old churches. The bike-riding couriers fight for space on the street with a limo that would easily seat twenty.

In Lancaster, the Amish travel by horse and buggy, and use the same roads as modern vehicles. And both the Mennonites and Amish use the shiny new roller blades. Stores along Route 30 offer the latest in everything from fashions to electronics.

We walked past the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, stepped in to sniff the aromas of what Dean and Deluca had cooking, admired the tree in Rockefeller Center and waved to the skaters. Times Square was very busy – but in less than two weeks this will seem quiet compared to the million people that will jam this intersection to welcome the new year.

Lancaster, too, has its busy places – the hustle and bustle of Route 30, the excitement of the new downtown Convention Center, Gallery Row and all of the places whose business it is to produce food – from hand-twisted pretzels to chocolate to ice cream. Amish and Mennonites love to skate on the ponds and streams. There is skating all winter at Clipper Stadium as well.

We ate lunch at Tony’s (Times Square) at 2:30 and were lucky to get the last of the tables. Everyone here seemed to be celebrating – there were big tables filled with folks and their shopping bags. Downstairs I passed a little girl dressed in a green velvet dress with white fur trim, and a waiter carrying a huge tray filled with glassware and then piled with linens, all balanced on one hand and carried way high above everyone’s heads.

The restaurant was a study in efficiency as waiters hoisted the table next to us and carried it over our heads down to the front of the restaurant…no matter, a new one soon appeared, was reset, and ready for the next customers. Drawings of Broadway actors and actresses lined the walls, next to a huge menu board. I loved my dish of Tony’s Chicken – a chicken cutlet in a balsamic sauce with tomatoes and basil and, I am sure, lots of garlic. Bruce’s Chicken Parmesan was probably the best we’ve had since eating in Little Italy. The pasta was perfect and the sauce and bread to die for. I would have been happy to sit all afternoon and drink wine – as we were quite possibly the only two people in the restaurant without an alcoholic drink in our hands. There is no better place in America to eat Italian food than in New York City.

Lancaster County also has its share of special foods – showcased at the immense smorgasbords offering Pennsylvania Dutch fare. The sight is not unlike what we found in NYC, with big tables of families and friends gathered together….sans the alcohol.

We walked past the theaters where we had seen so many Broadways shows, past Spiderman (opening in February), Minnie Mouse, two of the Muppets, and two people being interviewed on the street by a TV reporter. Lancaster, too, has its own grand lady of the theatre, The Fulton, where we’ve enjoyed wonderful performances. We also have Sight and Sound, a huge new theatre dedicated to Christian stories.

Looking at the perfect blue sky and the helicopter overhead, I couldn’t help but think of that day in September nine years ago when people were going to work and sightseeing….and then the world stopped. We, too, had a tragic day in 2006 when a gunman opened fire on a one-room schoolhouse in southern Lancaster County. Citizens of both places will never forget, nor will the world that watched these events.

This day was a study in contrasts and similarities. Both destinations are special treasures – found only in America.

Twas Three Weeks Before Christmas

It is December 6th and twelve kinds of cookies are made and packed away – we are about halfway through the Christmas Cookie Marathon. This is a special time in my kitchen shared with my husband. Though it is normally not his territory, he has honed his skills as dough-roller-outer extraordinaire. With Christmas tunes in the background and flour in the air, I’m a happy camper. It is a time to relax and work and share some laughter after a busy fall at the inn. And, since many of my cookies must be packed and shipped by December 15, we start baking the weekend after Thanksgiving.

I don’t know what it is about food, but some of my earliest memories are in the kitchen, helping Mom. Most center on the holidays – with the bustle of preparations for large crowds and the excitement of the coming gathering. She was always patient with me – for I was not, and probably will never be, a “tidy” cook or baker. We had an extensive family and, with three brothers, there was no meal too big, no desserts too rich, and certainly no such thing as too many cookies.
Ah, yes, the cookies - this yearly tradition of making cookies at Christmastime started a long time ago…
I always loved to give home-made gifts – sometimes it was crafts, sometimes chocolates (when I was in high school I enrolled my boyfriend and myself in a chocolate-making course). I was never sure if he was all that interested in the chocolate, but we had a lot of fun and he liked to eat the creations. Over time, I settled on just giving cookies every Christmas. I would stay up late many nights and lug in big platters of cookies to every job I ever had. It became my “thing” to do for the holidays.

Soon friends were sharing their family favorites. Over the years, I’ve compiled my tried-and-true recipes, but I always like to add a new cookie just to keep it interesting.

Two years ago I decided to try my hand at making marshmallows. Gourmet printed a recipe for Toasted-Coconut Marshmallow Squares – this seemed the perfect little stocking stuffer gift for my Mom – a real marshmallow lover.

I’ve adjusted the recipe slightly – doubling the amount of coconut. You’ll see why later.

I think this would be a great recipe to make with kids – especially the final process. This year I made the recipe with my mom. She pronounced it too “fussy” but I think it’s fun, and there’s no denying that these are not the boring white cubes that arrive in those plastic bags. You will need a candy thermometer and will have best results if you make these on a dry day.

Toasted-Coconut Marshmallow Squares

4 cups unsweetened dried coconut
3 (3/4 oz) envelopes unflavored gelatin
1 cup water, divided
1 ½ cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon coconut extract

Preheat oven to 350 and toast coconut in baking pan until golden – about 7 minutes. You’ll want to stir it frequently – it tends to brown around the edges first.

Spray a 9-inch baking pan or use a silicone one. I like the silicone – you can bend it to get the squares out. Sprinkle with ½ cup toasted coconut.

Sprinkle gelatin over ½ up cold water in mixer bowl – mix a little and let sit while you make the syrup.

Heat sugar, corn syrup, salt and remaining ½ cup water in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium heat without stirring, washing any sugar crystals down the side of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water. Ok, I don’t do the pastry brush thing – I just boil it. Put the thermometer in and boil until it registers 240. Remove pan from the heat and let stand until the bubbles dissipate.

This is when the recipe turns into a science experiment. With mixer at low speed, pour hot syrup into gelatin in a thin stream down the side of the bowl, increase speed to high and beat until very thick – about 15 minutes. Add vanilla and coconut extracts and beat 1 minute more.

Spoon marshmallows over toasted coconut in baking pan and press evenly with dampened fingertip to smooth top, then sprinkle with ½ cup toasted coconut and press in – I find that wearing food-grade gloves helps.

Let stand for 2 hours or until firm. This is a good time to get the kids – they’ll like this part.

Run a sharp knife around the edge of the pan and cut into the tiniest pieces you can. Put remaining toasted coconut in a bowl. Dredge the pieces in the coconut and watch them grow. This is why you want the pieces really tiny lest they become the blob that ate Lancaster County. The first year I could not believe that a small 9 x 9 pan would yield enough marshmallows for everyone in Terre Hill.

Even if you don’t like marshmallow, you owe it to yourself to try a small square. These are really heavenly.

Enjoy.

Lions and Tigers and Christmas in Lancaster County

Recently I had a chance to go on a lion hunt in Lancaster County. And they were joined by zebras and tigers and bears too. Find that hard to believe? I was in the storage rooms of the Millennium Theatre of Sight and Sound – a Christian Theatre in Strasburg. I had gone to the offices of the theatre for training – The Artist's Inn will be listed on their website for lodging. We can also order tickets for all shows and behind-the-scenes tours at a discounted rate.

If you’ve never been to Sight and Sound, you’re in for a real surprise. It is big, seating 2,000 people, and is the dream of Glenn and Shirley Eshelman. Built upon the site of their former theatre (it burned when a spark from a welder’s torch caught fire backstage), it opened in 1998. Performances feature live animals and animated ones that look and act so real you’ll have a hard time telling them apart. The original theatre began in what is now called Living Waters Theatre – a smaller 600-seat theatre on Route 896 next to the Millennium Theatre.

The buildings to support the theatre include animal quarters and production facilities for elaborate sets. Everything is locally made and every detail, from the minute you walk in the front door, to the last act of the show, is both professional and well organized.

We visited on a day that the theatre was closed and employees were decorating for the Christmas season. Even the bows for the 30-foot high tree were lined up, waiting to take their place …not unlike the actors awaiting their cue.

My favorite show has always been Noah, but there’s nothing like the Miracle of Christmas at the Millennium Theatre or the Voices of Christmas at the Living Waters Threatre to put you in a holiday mood.

There’s a lot of excitement this year as a new show opens on March 6 – the story of Joseph. Don’t wait too long to get your tickets – whether it’s for the Christmas season, Joseph, or a back-stage tour….we know you’ll enjoy the shows and tours – just as so many guests of The Artist's Inn already have.