Trinidad Bay BnB Hotel

Trinidad Bay BnB Hotel
Front of the Trinidad Bay BnB Hotel

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Ginger-Lemon Pinwheel Cookies


Our holiday open house was a big success with over 100 people showing up. Here is a cookie recipe that was a big hit.

Ginger-Lemon Pinwheel Cookies

Ingredients

* Ginger dough:
* 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
* 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
* 1/4 cup molasses
* 1 large egg yolk
* 6 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/3 cups)
* 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
* 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* Dash of ground allspice


Lemon dough:
* 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
* 2/3 cup granulated sugar
* 1 large egg white
* 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
* 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 6 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/3 cups)
* 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. To prepare ginger dough, place 1/4 cup butter and brown sugar in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well combined (about 3 minutes). Add molasses and egg yolk; beat until well blended. Weigh or lightly spoon 6 ounces (about 1 1/3 cups) flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 6 ounces flour, ginger, and next 4 ingredients (through allspice); stir with a whisk. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; beat at low speed just until combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill 30 minutes.

2. To prepare lemon dough, place 5 tablespoons butter and granulated sugar in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until blended (about 3 minutes). Add egg white; beat until blended. Beat in rind and vanilla. Weigh or lightly spoon 6 ounces (about 1 1/3 cups) flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 6 ounces flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; beat at low speed just until combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill 30 minutes.

3. Unwrap ginger dough. Roll ginger dough between sheets of plastic wrap into a 13 x 8 1/2–inch rectangle (3/16 inch thick); chill 10 minutes. Unwrap lemon dough. Roll lemon dough between sheets of plastic wrap into a 13 x 9–inch rectangle (3/16 inch thick); chill 10 minutes. Carefully stack ginger dough on top of lemon dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border along one long edge. Starting with the long side without a border, roll up dough, jelly-roll fashion. Seal edges (do not seal ends of roll). Cover with plastic wrap; freeze 30 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 350°.

5. Unwrap dough. Cut with a sharp knife into 40 slices (about 1/4 inch thick). Reshape rounds, if necessary. Arrange slices 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake, 1 batch at a time, at 350° for 8 to 9 minutes or until set and lightly browned. Cool on wire racks

December 2009--Cooking Light

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Trinidad Holiday Home Tour

The Friends of Trinidad Library introduces a new holiday Event - Lights of Trinidad. Tour holiday decorated Trinidad Homes and Businesses with a reception at Trinidad Art Gallery. Trinidad Bay Bed & Breakfast will be one of the featured businesses. Caroling lead by Bill and Nick - with bells on! They'll be pulling their wagon all decked out for the Holidays. Chamber Members are encouraged to attend and then head over to "Holidays By The Sea" at Town Hall. Lights of Trinidad - Holiday Home Tour, Saturday, December 19, 4-7p For tickets contact the or the Trinidad Chamber of Commerce at 707-677-1610, Trinidad Library at 707-677-0227 or Darlene Marlow at 707-677-9242.


Sunday, September 20, 2009

Human Rights Shouldn't Justify Human Wrongs

When Two Rights Go Wrong
"Douglas McCue, 68, stands in front of his home in Perth, ON, Sept. 19, 2009. The CornerStone Bed and Breakfast that he operated out of his home since 2003 was closed on March 30 following court procedures and an Ontario Human Rights Tribunal case after he refused to let a blind man with a guide dog stay at the B&B due to his allergic reaction to dogs, which affects his diabetes."


This summer, we had a similar situation with a much less stressful resolution.

A man and his "lady-friend" showed up with their dog after making online reservations. With no forewarning of their unique situation, and with several printed pages of our obligation to accept their animal into the Inn, they "forced" my kind-hearted Innkeeper to let them stay. I told them that we would never discriminate against anyone - handicapped or otherwise.

I felt their using a "dog-in-training" (this guy trains them for autistic children), along with misusing an admirable piece of legislation was wrong and unacceptable to me. I let them stay the night, but that was it. The next morning my guests were asking all the questions I would, like what's the disability, how the dog helps, etc. Turns out that his lady-friend (his words) was calmed by the dog-in-training, and he was misleading me when he said that she was "slightly" autistic.

Needless to say, I was outraged at his irresponsibility and selfishness. We do not allow animals in the house for the same reason most small B&Bs do not, guests have allergies. I have two dogs and I love animals. I keep them out of the Inn out of respect for my guests. So what can I do? I'm posting this article, and I contacted our local B&B association to warn them, and to flag any future reservations from this person.

I did learn more about the law, its intentions, and how it can be misused and misapplied for selfish reasons. I hope everyone will stand up to such "bulling", learn your rights, and be kind to each other.


Referring article:

(http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/When+rights+wrong/2013286/story.html)
When Two Rights Go Wrong:
In Perth bed-and-breakfast battle, there are no real winners - BY KELLY EGAN, THE OTTAWA CITIZENSEPTEMBER 20, 2009COMMENTS (26)

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Westhaven Blackberry Festival

WESTHAVEN -- The Westhaven Volunteer Fire Department's 49th annual Wild Blackberry Festival will be held Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fire Hall, south of Trinidad at the Sixth Avenue exit off U.S. Highway 101.

Sponsored by the fire department and the Westhaven Ladies Club, this old-fashioned fundraiser in the redwoods by the sea will feature live music, a barbecue, blackberry snow cones, local brews and wines, a raffle, children's activities, artists booths and the firemen's dunk tank.

The Ladies Club and its helpers have been working all year making blackberry jelly, jam and pies you can eat by the slice with ice cream, or purchase whole pies that have been frozen and then freshly baked.

Visitors can meet the fire crews of the Westhaven Volunteer Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection with their fire trucks on display, and kids can have their picture taken with Smokey the Bear.

Donations to this nonprofit event support the fire department and the local community.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Huckleberry Banana Bread

Huckleberry Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 to 4 very ripe bananas, sliced
1 cup walnuts (optional)
1 cup huckleberries, rinsed and drained (you may substitute with blueberries)

Cream together, butter, sugar and eggs. Combine flour, salt and baking soda in a small bowl. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk to creamed mixture. Mix well. Beat 200 strokes. Fold in sliced bananas and huckleberries. Bake in a greased and floured mini loaf pans at 350ยบ for 45 minutes to an hour.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Adopt-A-Highway Program


Trinidad Bay Bed & Breakfast been a part of the Adopt-A-Highway program since April 2006. The adopted area is about 3 miles north of the B & B on HWY 101 just before Patrick's Point State Park. The weather has been very nice and I figured that I needed to get out there and clean the highway before the B & B gets too busy. I walked the two mile stretch of the highway and only picked up one full bag of trash and one bag of recyclables! This is a big improvement from the last time I went out and picked up about 6 bags of trash. I just love being out there doing this for the community. Cal Trans provides me with all the tools needed for the job. This includes a hardhat, trash grabber, trash bags, yellow vest and bags for recycling. Businesses or individuals may adopt a stretch of highway. All one needs to do it check out the Adopt-A-Highway website to apply.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Flowers are Blooming at the Trinidad Bay B & B!