Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Gourmet Getaways Special

Walla Walla is just as nice and as much fun in winter as spring or fall so here is a reason to come over/down/up. The Maxwell House is offering a week-end special for 6 week-ends beginning February 19 through March 28, 2010. For $390.00 a couple, stay 2 nights, participate (hands on instruction) in a wine or culinary class given by local culinarian or wine educator, enjoy the fruit of the class (lunch) with two glasses of wine and an apron. The SPECIAL called GOURMET GETAWAYS is the third annual event for The Maxwell House and Wallla Walla.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving


We think of cranberries at this time of year so I went back a few years to a recipe I got from Cooking Light magazine for CRANBERRY UPSIDE DOWN CAKE. It was very well received this morning. In a springform pan melt 1T butter then add 1/2 cup brown sugar mixed with2 cups whole cranberries and 1 cup chopped walnuts (or not). For the cake mix 2 Tablespoons soft butter with 1 cup sugar and 2 eggs then add 1/1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 1 teaspoon cinnammon. Pour the cake mixture over the cranberry mixture and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Turn upside down on serving plate. Good anytime but especially nice when still warm out of the oven.

Share this great recipes with your friends and loved ones :)

Friday, October 30, 2009

Special Offer!!

The Maxwell House special of three mid week nights for $333.00 brought a mother daughter duo from Portland for some bonding and R and R. They really made of most of the time here, visiting wineries, shopping on Main Street, indulging in History at Fort Walla Walla and The Whitman Mission, and even getting in a bike ride between rain showers. The mornings were long and leisurely as they enjoyed breakfast with the coffee I serve from Walla Walla Roastery. They promised they would return as they didn't have time to "do it all" and I think they will.

Penny the InnKeeper

Monday, October 19, 2009

Off to the Symphony

My guests this week were very adventuresome. Two couples that did not know each other and hadn't talked about this in advance each took a trip to Palouse Falls. The Falls are about an hour from Walla Walla and then a short walk from the parking lot to view the falls. It was a rainly day but both couples said it was a special sight and well worth the trip. I had been there on a hot summer day and I am thinking they had a more enjoyable time. One couple bought bread and cheese and a bottle of wine and stayed in by the fire that night, the other couple ventured out to The Symphony after a quick meal at Backstage Bistro (just a short walk to Cordaner Hall on Whitman Campus where the Symphony performs). The next Symphany performance will be in December. Hope you come visit so you can check it out.

Best from Penny

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Tomato Pie


Did you know September brings an abundance of green tomatoes to gardens? And did you know that green tomatoes make a fabulous pie? I didn't until Earl (my nieghbor) brought me a hugh bag of them and I couldn't waste them. Today we had "green tomato pie" for breakfast. Along with a small omelet and locally made sausage the plates were cleaned! I don't think I can serve Chocolate Cake for breakfast but to use a few more green tomatoes I will make a "green tomato chocolate cake" to serve with afternoon tea. You may have missed out for this year but come on by next fall for this special treat!! The recipe for the Pie is really very simple. After Sauteing the tomatoes in butter and lemon juice I added the flour, sugar and cinnamon like it was an apple pie-it tasted a lot like an apple pie.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Devilish Dessert

I made a fabulous chocolate desert called "Mini Devil's Cheesecake". They are made in mini muffin cups and frozen, specifically to be put out at bedtime. The ONLY problem, everyone comes home from dinner at one of Walla Walla's gourmet restaurants like CreekTown or Maccarone's stuffed and can't enjoy it fully. I guess I will use it as a breakfast desert as it is only one big bite.

Recipe for Mini-Devil Cheesecakes
1 pack graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa1/3 cup melted butter
STIR THIS TOGETHER AND PRESS INTO PAPER LINED MINI MUFFIN TINS
In a saucepan melt 12 oz package semi sweet chocolate chips
Beat 1 8oz package cream cheese until fluffy then add
1 can sweetened condensed milk, the melted chocolate chips, 2 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract,
and 3 eggs beating until smooth.
Spoon the batter into the mini muffin tins--top each one with a few chocolate chips
Bake for 20 minutes at 300 degrees.
Refrigerate or Freeze
Eat a few to be sure they turned out and you should serve them to company!!!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Walla Walla End of Summer Events



Never a dull moment in Walla Walla-certainly never a dull week-end. The first week-end in September was the County Fair, 5 nights of activity not to mention junk food and carnival rides. Then the second week-end was Wheelin Walla Walla, 3 blocks of gorgeous vintage cars. I looked for a 1958 Impala as that is the car that stole my heart in the day. (I took the guy who owned it as well!) There was a shiny black 1965 but no "58. The weather is perfect-mid 80's and no end of activity so I hope you will "come on by".

Wheelin' Walla Walla article in the Union Bulletin: http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/09/12/local_news/090913cwheelin.txt

Fair and Frontier Days article in the Union Bulletin http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/09/02/local_news/090902local01fairstory.txt

Monday, August 31, 2009

Blackberry Pick'n


Saturday a friend and I went up Mill Creek Road to a lovely spot on Mill Creek to pick blackberries. Many of the berries are bigger than a big man's thumb. She was more aggressive and picked16 pounds. I being slightly intimidated by the yellow jackets (who also like berries) was a bit timid and only picked 7 pounds. They will freeze well we were told so I will dole them out slowly, a cobbler here and there. Before the weather changes I am thinking breakfast in the gazebo patio area (picture enclosed) with a blackberry cobbler would be a nice way to start the day. Ask for this "special" when you make a reservation. Penny the Inn Keeper

Friday, July 24, 2009

Maxwell says, "Meow!"



Breakfast conversation at the Maxwell House is often lively, where friendships are made and garnished as people share their lives over coffee. Sometimes I get involved and add a thought or an idea to enhance my guests' trip plans.

Such was the case a week ago with my guests Chuck and Pam. They stayed in Walla Walla for three days and were heading back home to the Seattle area where they live with two dogs, Greta and Bubba and Bun Bun the rabbit.

They wanted to end their three days in Walla Walla with just one more outing and asked me for a new idea. I love to send guests to Waitsburg to the most interesting (over stocked) hardware store I am sure west of the Mississippi. I just happened to mention it was also the local Humane Society. Pam hoped with much excitement that she would find a tabby cat that they would add to their pet family.

That evening I received an email from Chuck and Pam, they have a new tabby cat named "Maxwell." Just goes to show, you never know what kind of adventure awaits you here in Walla Walla at The Maxwell House.