Celestial Events in 2016

After our family went to the town meeting in Bradford last night we came back to a beautiful starlit night.  As I was walking the family puppy dog to close out the evening I even saw a meteor flash across the sky! 

This got me thinking about how wonderful the view was likely to be of major celestial events now that we've settled in out here in the countryside of New Hampshire.  Even more, it got me thinking how we can we share this amazing view with our guests in the future.  So I went out and found a short list of expected 2016 nighttime events  (Credit given to the New Hampshire Astronomical Society ( http://www.nhastro.com/ and their wonderful calendar)).

April 21-23 - Lyrid meteor shower

May 5-7 - Aquarid meteor shower

May 21 – Blue Moon

July 29-31 - Delta Aquarid meteor shower

August 12 and 14 – Perseids meteor showers

October, November and December will be a busy months with two meteor showers each month:

     Draconid meteors - October 7-9

     Orionid meteors - October 20-23

November:

    Taurid meteors November 4-7

    Leonid meteors - November 16-19 

December:

     Geminids meteor shower – December 13-14 - This one is estimated at 120 meteors per hour – but Full Cold Moon could impact December 14^th – so the best time to see them is Dec 13th.

      Ursid meteor shower - December 22-24th

     

Three Super Moons at the end of the year are:

October 16 – Blood Moon

November 14– Hunters Moon

December 14 Full Cold Moon

For those of you wanting to come experience any of the above give us a call or check out our availability online.  Sniffles wouldn't mind the extra company once he's gotten to know you, if you want to walk with us.  Or, you and your partner can talk a nice romantic stroll down the lane by yourselves to experience the same.  Let me know and Sniffles and I can walk the other direction, so you can have your privacy that night! 

Either way you can take a nice walk  for a bit down the country lane that runs in front of the Rosewood Country Inn, to see what the sky's decide to reveal that night! 

Disclaimer - of course, you never know when mother nature will allow us to see and you are never guaranteed to have as stunningly clear sky as I experienced last night.  But if you aren't here to experience it, I can guaranteed you won't see it! 

New page for our family, the Rosewood Country Inn and March activities

It's March in New Hampshire and Odo and I (Stan) have been here for the last three months.  So far it's been a blast, it's been a very mild winter, far milder than we had expected coming up from Texas but I can truly say we are loving New Hampshire.  For those of you that don't know we moved to New Hampshire to take over the Rosewood Country Inn in December!  Yes, all of our friends in the Lone Star state said we were crazy but it's what we've talked about doing ever since before we got married 11 years ago.

Now onto March activities in the great state of New Hampshire.  For those of you that don't know, March is the time for making maple syrup.  So the sugar houses around here have already started cooking and the weekend of March 19th is officially Maple Weekend throughout the entire state.  Attached is a link so you can find activities in our area or wherever you happen to be:  http://www.nhmapleproducers.com/maple-producer-events/maple-weekend-and-month/.  Different sugar houses will be open so you can sample their syrups and candies and all sorts of goodies!

Come on down or up as the case may be and sample a few, and after all that sugar you will need to rest so come on by and stay in one of our 11 beautiful rooms.
Cheers from Stan, Odo, our boy Karl and even our little Jack Russell terrier

P.S.  For anyone allergic to dogs or animals in general we can assure you our puppy dog never comes into the Inn.  If you are outside he will come bark at you, or sniff at you but he's as sweet as can be and just curious.      

2015 Summer Special Offer!

Any guest bringing up 3 other couples with them for at least a two night stay would get their stay free of charge.**

10% off at Daniels Restaurant and 50% off at The Fells, and $5 off Canterberry Shaker Village.

Please call (603) 938-5253 for reservations

**Free nights equal to number that friends are staying for. Minimum of 2 nights. Valid through Sept 24, 2015. Not valid for weddings, or any vouchers programs.

Spiced Walnut and Banana Muffins with Mascarpone and Orange Zest Frosting

Makes 18 regular sized muffins or 12 jumbo muffins.

For the Spiced Walnuts

• 1 ½ cups walnut pieces
• 4 oz. sweet cream salted butter
• 1 tea. smoked paprika powder
• 1 tea. cayenne powder
• 2 tea. brown sugar

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Melt butter over low heat in a saucepan, whisk in paprika, cayenne and brown sugar. Toss walnut pieces in the butter mixture.
3. Lay walnuts out on a baking pan lined with tin foil, spread the walnuts evenly so they don’t overlap.
4. If there is any butter mixture left in the pan, drizzle over the top of the walnuts.
5. Bake for about 10 minutes or until sugar has caramelized on the walnuts.
6. Remove from oven and let cool.

For the Muffins

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tea. kosher salt
• 1 tea. baking soda
• 1/2 tea. baking powder
• 1/2 tea. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tea. ground cinnamon
• 2 cups light brown sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tea. orange extract
• 4 very ripe bananas
• 1 cup chopped spiced walnuts

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Line the muffin cups with muffin tin liners.
3. Sift flour, baking soda, kosher salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a bowl.
4. In a mixer, beat the sugar, oil, eggs, and orange extract in a large bowl until smooth
5. Add in the banana and chopped walnuts.
6. Add the dry ingredients and mix until well blended.
7. Divide the batter between the muffin cups.
8. Bake until golden brown about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry.
9. Remove from muffin tins onto wire rack and let cool before frosting.

For the Frosting:

• 3 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 3 oz. sweet cream salted butter, room temp
• 1/3 cup mascarpone cheese, room temp
• 1 Tbl. agave nectar
• 1 Tbl. fresh orange zest

Method: 

1. In an electric mixer beat all ingredients until well blended. Chill mixture for a few minutes to firm up before frosting muffins.

Garnish with the remaining spiced walnuts.

New Hampshire's Rosewood Country Inn Offers A Unique Guest Experience: Bridging The Gap

A warm crackling fireplace at a cozy historic Victorian Inn in winter is the perfect setting for guests to endeavor Bridging The Gap and getting in touch with a departed loved one over the weekend of March 6 to 8, 2015.

The Bridging The Gap weekend at the Rosewood Country Inn offers guests the opportunity to meet with psychic Lori Ramalho and participate in a session with her.  She will offer readings in a small, intimate gallery-type session on both and evenings,March 6 and 7, for a fee of $40 per night. On Saturday, March 7th, she will offer a workshop from on opening yourself to your own natural psychic ability.  The cost for this workshop is $10.  Additionally, a private half-hour session can be scheduled with Lori onSaturday for $65. There are a limited number of private sessions and they must be reserved in advance through the Inn.

Any guest reserving the Bridging the Gap two night accommodation package will receive free admission to one of the gallery nights and a 10% discount off the workshop or a private reading session.  This two-night package will also include a 25% discount off rooms, a three-course breakfast each morning, and a evening complimentary hors d'oeuvres and "meet and greet" with Lori from 5 to

Room rates depend upon the accommodation selection, with prices for the two night package starting at $225 for the two nights.  This package is exclusive of tax and gratuity and is only available for the period ofMarch 6 to 8, 2015.

Lori Ramalho, a psychic medium from birth, uses her gift to assist those that are grieving and those who are lost. Very accurate in her predictions, she has helped many overcome obstacles and make life-changing decisions. Whether receiving messages from beyond, or using her psychic ability to provide guidance, Lori delivers messages with honesty, kindness, and in the most compassionate way.  Lori has worked with clients throughout the United States, Great Britain, and all over Europe and has also assisted in many missing persons/murder cases throughout the United States, working with both law enforcement and family members, successfully solving most of them.

To make a reservation for the Bridging The Gap package, call the Rosewood Country Inn at 800-938-5273 or e-mail: rosewoodinn@tds.net.

About The Rosewood Country Inn

The Rosewood Country Inn is the ultimate New England inn providing truly elegant accommodations, luxurious touches, and more than the comforts of home. Set on 12 hilltop acres in Bradford, part of New Hampshire’s Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region,  the Rosewood Country Inn offers guests luxurious suites with antique beds, fine linens, and country air to lull them to sleep.  The suites come with private baths, whirlpool tubs, and all suites have fireplaces. Wireless Internet is available in all rooms.  Innkeeper Lesley Marquis provides all of the special touches to make guests feel welcome including a guest-accessible butler’s pantry on the second floor for special late-night snacks. The Inn’s sunlit porches, English gardens, and fine guest chambers reflect a gracious, romantic lifestyle.  The Inn also features a large dining room which can seat up to 65 people and a full-service bar. For additional information on the Rosewood Country Inn visit www.rosewoodcountryinn.com.

Fresh Berry and Nutella Crepes

Recipe makes 12 crepes

• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 3 eggs
• 3 Tble. butter, melted
• 2 tea. sugar
• 3/4 cup AP flour, sifted
• 1/2 tea. kosher salt
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 Tble. fresh lemon juice
• 1 tea. fresh lemon zest
• 1/2 tea. rum extract
• 1 cup heavy cream, whipped until stiff peaks form
• ¾ cup Nutella
• 4+ cups fresh berries

Directions

1. In a blender, blend eggs, sugar, melted butter, milk, cold water, flour and salt until smooth
2. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Ladle about 3 oz. the batter into the pan, tilt the pan to spread the batter as thinly as possible. Cook for several minutes until the batter thickens in the middle of the pan. With a heat resistant plastic spatula flip the crepe over and cook until the edges curl slightly. You may cook until lightly browned if desired.
3. Turn over a small saucer, layer the cooked crepes flat around the saucer to cool.
4. Blend the cream cheese, Nutella, lemon juice, lemon zest, and rum extract with an electric mixer until smooth. Remove mixture from mixer and hand fold in the whipped cream. (reserve some whipped cream for garnish)
5. To serve, fill crepes with cream cheese and Nutella mix and fresh berries. Garnish with Whipped cream, berries and fresh mint.

Smoked Salmon, Smoked Gouda and Bell Pepper Frittata

Makes 2 10 in. Frittatas

This recipe freezes extremely well, so you can make them up ahead, freeze either whole or portion and freeze individual portions. If freezing make sure you wrap them well, as the egg mixture will pick up freezer odors if not wrapped tightly. To reheat from frozen, microwave on low for 1.5-2 minutes for individual pieces or oven bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes. While we make everything fresh to order at the Rosewood, we have shared this recipe with others and have gotten great feedback about how well it freezes.

Preheat over to 325°

Whisk together:

• 3 whole eggs
• 9 egg yolks
• 1 qt. Heavy Cream
• 2 tble. fresh dill chopped finely
• ½ tea. fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tea. kosher salt

Assemble:

• 1 lb. premium smoked salmon broken to medium to small pieces. Ducktrap Farms makes a very quality smoked salmon, hot smoked salmon can be used as well as a substitute or smoked mackerel or trout.
• 1 lb. smoked gouda, cubed into ½ inch cubes
• 1 lb. shredded sharp cheddar, Cabot is recommended.
• 2 red peppers, sautéed, drained of liquid and chilled or room temperature
• 2 green bell peppers, sautéed, drained of liquid and chilled or room temperature

1. In well greased spring form pans, or alternatively, spring form pans lined with parchment paper, alternate salmon, cheeses and peppers until well distributed between both pans. Pour the egg mixture over the top until it reaches about 1 inch below the top of the pans.

2. Bake for approximately an hour and a quarter or until the pans when shaken lightly don’t wiggle in the middle. Baking time will vary depending on electric or gas ovens. A knife when inserted into the middle should come out clean and warm to the touch. If serving immediately, let set on the counter for about 10+ minutes.

This dish can be served hot or cold. Accompaniments on top are a nice salsa or a dilled sour cream (fresh dill, a little honey, fresh garlic, sour cream and salt and pepper to taste)