The Saints are no longer the "Aints"

I realize I’m a few days late in writing about this year’s most exciting Super Bowl, but it’s probably still in the minds of many New Orleans inhabitants. The Saints can no longer be nicknamed the “Aints” because they finally got into the Super Bowl and won it for the first time since it began in 1967.



Do you know which East Coast team won the most Super Bowl titles since then? No, it’s not the Patriots, but they do reign from the state that begins with a “P” (see answer below).


The real reason I’m writing my Blog today is not about the sport of football, of which I know little about, but to inform you of the favorite menu item I served at our Super Bowl Party. Bill likes to have friends over to watch the game; I’m more interested in preparing the food creating different menus each year.


Aside from a creamy baked macaroni and cheese with a crunchy bacon topping, I made barbecue pulled pork sandwiches—the “hands down” favorite. The recipe takes a long time to braise in the crock pot, but is easy. I made a simple rub of 3 ingredients to cover the entire pork shoulder roast and put it in the crock pot with onions and water to braise before I went to bed. On Sunday morning during breakfast, our guests asked what was cooking aside from the usual breakfast smells. Bill told them I cooked barbecue pulled pork during the night for our Super Bowl Party.


Recipe: BARBECUE PULLED PORK SANDWICHES                         
Yield: About 15 sandwiches


Ingredients:


4 pound pork shoulder roast


3 onions, sliced thick


For pork dry rub:


1/3 cup paprika


3 tablespoons brown sugar


1 tablespoon onion powder


Mix pork dry rub ingredients together and rub it all over the pork roast, cover with plastic wrap and let sit in the refrigerator for 8 hours. Meanwhile prepare the barbecue sauce.


For barbecue sauce:


2 cups catsup


1 cup water


½ cup apple cider vinegar


5 tablespoons brown sugar


1 tablespoon lemon juice


1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce


½ tablespoon ground black pepper


½ tablespoon ground mustard


½ tablespoon onion powder


In a medium sauce, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer 1 hour, stirring frequently, until reduced and thickened becoming more flavorful. Cool sauce in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate while pork roast is marinating in the dry rub.


Braising Process:
After 8 hours, remove the pork shoulder roast from refrigerator and put in a crock pot. Cover it with sliced onions and water, put the lid on and set the crock pot time for 8 hours on low and let it cook overnight. In the morning, remove the roast; throw away the onions, grease, and water. After the roast has cooled, remove the outside fat layer and discard. Pull the pork apart with a fork or your fingers. Clean out the crock pot; put the pulled pork and barbecue sauce in it and cook on low for another 1-2 hours before serving. Serve on your favorite bun.


                                  Answer: Pittsburg Steelers

Sinfully Sexy Desserts for Valentine's/Presidents Weekend Feb.12-14

I plan to flex my culinary muscle for the upcoming Valentine's/Presidents Weekend on February 12-14.  In addition to my regular breakfast fare, I will introduce homemade breakfast sausage and cinnamon buns.  I received as a gift a sausage maker attachment for my KitchenAid mixer and will be testing several recipes.  My better half, Bill, has the task of taste tester and hopefully he considers this a perk! 

For afternoon tea in honor of Valentine's Day, I will make some sinfully sexy desserts, like cinnamon chocolate fudge and mini raspberry marble cheesecakes (recipe below).  We still have a room for one more couple.  So if you're interested in a romantic weekend in an idyllic location, please call us at 1-800-258-2625.

Recipe: RASPBERRY MARBLE CHEESECAKES        Yield: 32



Ingredients:


For cheesecakes:


1-1/2 cups ground graham crackers (about 12 sheets)


3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted


1-1/2 cups plus 5 tablespoons sugar


1 6-oz. container fresh raspberries


2 pounds cream cheese, room temperature


pinch of salt


1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


4 large eggs, room temperature


Baking Process:


For cupcakes: Preheat oven to 325 F and line cupcake pans with paper liners. Stir together ground graham crackers, melted butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Press 1 tablespoon crust mixture firmly into the bottom of each lined cup. Bake until set for about 5 minutes and transfer tins to a wire rack to cool.

Process raspberries until smooth and pass puree through a fine sieve into a bowl discarding solids. Whisk in 2 tablespoons sugar.

Beat cream cheese on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, then scrape sides of bowl, With mixer on low speed, add remaining 1-1/2 cups of sugar in a steady stream; add salt and vanilla and mix until well combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined after each. Fill with 3 tablespoons of cheese mixture over each crust. Dollop ½ teaspoon raspberry sauce in a few dots over each and, with a wooden skewer or toothpick, swirl sauce into filling. Place each tin in a roasting pan and pour enough hot water into pan to come three-quarters of the way up sides of cups. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, 22 minutes. Carefully remove tin from water bath and cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate in tins at least 4 hours and remove from tins just before serving.

Who doesn't LOVE Cupcakes!!!

Martha Stewart published a whole cookbook with 175 recipes on cupcakes of all types, with or without icing, and for special holidays too!  There are theme cupcakes instead of the usual cake...my sister-in-law made cupcakes decorated with pacifiers for her daughter's baby shower this past weekend.  When I was in NYC, I was compelled to enter into Sur Le Table, the cook's gadget store, and found an 18-cupcake pedestal display holder (which I break out every once in awhile in the inn).

Growing up in the 1960's, box cake mixes and frosting from cans were popular, which my mother made practically every week.  When I became a mother of two children two decades later, cupcakes became popular.  I also made them from box cakes since I was guaranteed a tender cake crumb texture (which the children preferred), but I would always make my own frosting.  While my children were in middle school, I went to culinary school and learned in my baking course how to prepare cakes from scratch and piping techniques to frost and decorate them. 

A new bakery, White Mountain Cupcakery, opened up recently in North Conway located on Main Street across from Eastern Slope Inn.  They feature several different kinds of cupcakes to satisfy anyone's sweet tooth and also make wedding cakes and cakes for special occasions.  Bill and I are definitely planning on sampling these delectable treats at their ribbon-cutting ceremony this week.  

I'm happy to see that cupcakes have become popular again, since you can make any large type of cake into a little (cup)cake.  Here's my maple-inspired recipe for Maple Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream Frosting that I will make for our upcoming inn-to-inn tour -- March Maple Madness on March 27 & 28, 2010

 Recipe: MAPLE CUPCAKES WITH MAPLE BUTTERCREAM ICING

Yield: 2 dozen


Ingredients:


For cupcakes:


2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted


1 tablespoon baking powder


1 teaspoon salt


½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp.


2 cups pure maple syrup, preferably Grade B


3 large eggs, room temperature


1 cup milk


1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


For maple buttercream:


6 large egg yolks


2 cups pure maple syrup, preferably Grade B


1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into tablespoons


Baking Process:


For cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 F and line cupcake pans with paper liners. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream butter on medium-high speed until smooth; add the maple syrup and beat until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated, then scrape down the sides of bowl. Then add flour mixture and beat well to combine. Beat in milk and vanilla until combined. Fill each cupcake paper ¾’s full and bake 20 minutes for standard size and 10-13 minutes for mini cupcakes.


For maple buttercream: In a standing mixer bowl with a whisk attachment, beat egg yolks on high speed until pale and thick for about 5 minutes. At the same time, bring maple syrup to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat clipping a candy thermometer to the pan until it reaches 240 F for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. With mixer on medium speed, slowly pour the maple syrup in a steady stream down the side of the bowl until completely combined, about 1-1/2 minutes. Continue mixing until the bottom of the bowl is slightly warm to the touch, about 5-6 minutes. Add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, until completed incorporated after each addition. After all the butter has been added, scrape the sides of the bowl and continue beating the buttercream until it is fluffy, about 4 minutes. Then frost the cupcakes. Makes 24 standard or about 50 mini cupcakes.

March Maple Madness - A wild & wooly Inn-to-Inn Event

If you like Maple Syrup then we have just the thing for you. Come visit the BB Inns this March and treat yourself to a variety of specially prepared maple based foods prepared by the wonderful chefs and cooks who we are proud to say work at the Inns within our Association. Ticket holders can also choose to take the challenge of “A Hare Raising Quiz” and “The Maddening Scavenger Hunt”, competing for hundreds of dollars in prizes. Along the way there will be opportunities to visit several “Sugaring” locations to experience the maple syrup process first hand, as well as Maple Country Partners happy to share clues and information. Inns participating include: Buttonwood Inn, Cabernet Inn, Covered Bridge House, The Farm by the River, Mt. Washington B&B, The Notchland Inn, Cranmore Mountain Lodge, Riverside Inn B&B and Spruce Moose Lodge. Visitors staying at any of these locations the weekend of March 27th and 28th, 2010 will receive March Maple Madness tickets as part of their stay package, along with breakfast each morning and additional enticements ranging from maple candy to a maple-themed five-course dinner.

Snowshoeing and Exploring from The Buttonwood Inn

Today's guests discovered another marked trail connected to the Mt. Surprise Trail. It heads in an Easterly direction at the base of Bartlett Mountain (the mountain which is behind the Inn) and eventually joins with the Buttonwood Trail. At that point there are two choices: 1) follow the Buttonwood Trail back to the Inn or;  2) follow the Buttonwood trail until it reaches Hurricane Mountain Road. You can cross Hurricane Mountain Road and reconnect with the Buttonwood Trail which crosses Abbott Brook stream. You can continue and exit at the back of the Cranmore Mountain Lodge, or continue down to the Easternmost connection with Whittaker Woods where the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring Association trails are located. From there you are now on a totally groomed trail system for both cross-country and snowshoeing.

Valentine's Packages Make the Rounds

Five Valentine's Day deals in New England


by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) on Jan 20th 2010 at 8:00AM

Nothing says "romance" like a roaring fire on a chilly evening on Valentine's Day. Through the windows, you can see snow-laden trees and pure white landscapes. From the warmth of your room, you can enjoy the winter wonderland outside, as you settle down for the perfect evening with the perfect person in your life. If this is how you envision your Valentine's Day this year, turn your thoughts to New England this year. There are plenty of deals at your disposal through the New England Inns and Resorts Association, and a tough travel market is leading many properties to put together some amazing deals. Here are some to get you started.

NECN's Tim Kelly comments on his stay at the Buttonwood Inn

I mentioned the other day that Tim Kelly (weatherman on NECN) and his wife Janet stayed with us this passed weekend and skiied Wildcat Mountain just up the road from us. Tim posted the following on his weather blog along with a video of the skiing..In his words, "This is the finest combination of comfortable temperatures, abundant Sunshine, and Snowfall, that we ever see in January. Bill and Paula Petrone cook up a Savory and/or Sweet Breakfast every day at their Buttonwood Inn on the Side of Mount Surprise in The Mount Washington Valley New Hampshire.

The Nordic Ski Trails passright out back, and you are minutes from Wildcat, Attitash, Black, and Cranmore. This video shows the weekend sunshine and weekday Powder. Thomas Prindle of Wilcdcat Mountain rips it up. More sunshine is in the forecast for this weekend, January 22-24, 2010."

Valentine's / President's Day Weekend Package Special

VALENTINE'S WEEKEND LOVERS PACKAGE

February 12 - 15, 2010

If you're looking for romance on Valentine's Weekend in an idyllic woodland setting, yet close to North Conway specialty shops and restaurants, come join us at The Buttonwood Inn and we'll make your weekend special.

Valentine's Day falls on President's Day Weekend this year.

Our Three Night Package Includes:

Full gourmet breakfast daily

Enjoy Paula's late afternoon tea/hot chocolate service with baked treats

Use of our hot tub "under the stars"

Rates starting at $125 per night plus tax

Add the following to enhance the experience:

Dinner for two one evening at a romantic restaurant

Bottle of bubbly or sparkling cider

Box of handmade New Hampshire chocolates

Book a massage either in-room or at the salon -

call 1-800-258-2625 for details and arrangements.

Prices starting

at $125.00 per night

for two

Based on double occupancy; subject to availability;

includes NH rooms and meal taxes;

not to be combined with other packages or discounts.

Click here to view rooms

Click here to check availability - or BOOK ONLINE

SPECIAL SKI AND STAY PACKAGE - LAST MINUTE DEAL

SPECIAL SKI AND STAY PACKAGE - LAST MINUTE DEAL

Not only can you get discounted downhill and cross-country ski tickets
But we'll also discount your room as follows:

2 DAY STAY - take 5% OFF! ! + another 5% if all the days are weekdays
3 DAY STAY - take 10% OFF!! + another 5% if all the days are weekdays
4 Day STAY - take 15% OFF!!! + another 5% if all the days are weekdays

Currently rated as one of the TOP bed and breakfasts in New Hampshire and the #1 Bed & Breakfast in North Conway on TripAdvisor.com Also selected as one of the winners for Best Food based upon the excellent reviews posted by our guests on Bed and Breakfast.Com during the past year.

New... Read the article about Buttonwood Inn on NH Living.com,  New Hampshire's Internet Magazine 

All Packages Include:

Full gourmet breakfast daily

Paula's late afternoon tea with baked treats

Use of our hot tub "under the stars"

Complimentary discount restaurant dining vouchers

Call Toll Free to reserve now! 1-800-258-2625

Based on dbl occupancy/rates vary by room type/taxes & gratuities not included. Subject to availability. Good for advance reservations only and must mention this advertisement. Cannot be combined with any other packages or discounts. Reservation must be made within 48 Hours of arrival date to qualify and does not apply on most Holidays.

March Maple Madness

MARCH MAPLE MADNESS LODGING PACKAGE call 1-800-258-2625 for details

March 27 & 28, 2010

The Bed & Breakfast Inns Mt. Washington Valley (BBInnsMWV) of New Hampshire will host their annual March Maple Madness event on Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28, 2010 between 11 am and 4 pm. A self-guided tour of the participating inns will include the sampling of maple treats, both savory and sweet. Visiting guests can learn about “sugaring” at maple sugar houses and stop in at participating “Maple Country Partners” shops and vendors along the way.

Those participating in the Maple Madness "March" will have the opportunity to gather points toward winning prizes as they travel a specific tour route guided by directions "riddled with clues." Along the way, guests must seek answers to questions, gather objects, and artifacts, as well as visit each participating Inn and Maple Country Partner. The ticket holder who scores the most points will win a $200 certificate good toward a two-night stay at a participating BBInnsMWV Inn, as well as other goodies provided by the Inns and Maple Country Partners.

Package Includes:

Two nights accommodations

Full gourmet breakfast each morning

Afternoon tea and hot chocolate with Paula's baked treats

Dinner for two one evening at The Notchland Inn
featuring cuisine with a maple twist
Two tickets for the Maple Madness "March"
Maple Madness souvenir recipe collection and Inn-to-Inn tour map
Maple Madness "March" clues and directions
(if you choose to participate in the contest for prizes)

http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/AwardsWinners.aspx

Calling All Chocoholics for the Chocolate Festival 2-28-10!

If you like chocolate as much as I do, you'll love cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or driving to various inns and businesses to be rewarded with a myriad of chocolate goodies!  

The Buttonwood Inn already booked guests for this popular annual event on Sunday, February 28, 2010.  You can click on the following link or visit our website under Winter Packages - 20th Annual Chocolate Festival:  http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/chocolate-festival-lodging-package.html 

Christmas

Christmas Day may be behind us but the Inn is as 'Chistmassy' as ever with the smell of Paula's freshly baked scones and her baked cheddar cheese omelette. Our skiers today are headed to Wildcat and Bretton Woods for some downhill and cross-country skiing, respectively. The newest picture album addition on Facebook is chock full of Chritmas shots of the Inn taken yesterday. Hope you like them!!

Paula and I were able to connect with our family's annual Christmas get-together in New Jersey via Webcam and it was so wonderful to be able to participate in the blessing before dinner even if we were not there physically.

Have a Cranapalooza New Year's Holiday

Cranapalooza - It's a Festival!

When the sun goes down in North Conway and the lights illuminate the trails of Cranmore, the festivities begin. Saturday nights from Dec. 26, 2009 to March 13, 2010, guests will enjoy a variety of events throughout the resort in addition to top-to-bottom night skiing and tubing. Returning for its sixth season, Cranapalooza is a festival of music, entertainment and games with North Conway's favorite penguin, C-More. Additional Cranapalooza dates include a special New Year's Eve edition on Thurs., Dec. 31, 2009 and Wed., February 17, 2010. the Buttonwood is right down the street from the Cranmore Ski Resort. Still time to reserve for our extra Special New Year's Eve Package so don't delay.

Cranapalooza kicks off the season on December 26, 2009. As guests finish up a day of skiing and riding or arrive for the nighttime festivities, they can enjoy activities beginning at 2 p.m. Activities change weekly and include fireworks on select dates, games with C-More, magicians and puppets, fireworks, face painting, hypnotists, live entertainment, hot chocolate and s'mores around the fire pit and Après Ski with live music in Zip's Pub.

Another popular activity coming back for this winter is the spectacular fireworks display set off over the slopes. Fireworks will light the skies at 7:30pm on the following dates: Dec. 31, Jan. 16, Jan. 30, Feb. 13, Feb. 20, and Mar. 6th. Our guests can even view them from our front porch or out our dining room window along with the lights on the Cranmore Ski slopes.

Cranapalooza lift tickets are just $29 and are valid for night skiing for all ages from 2 - 8p.m. Night skiing is offered on 11 trails and 3 lifts for all ability levels, including the Darkside and Other Side Terrain Parks, Beginner Basin, South Slope, North Slope, Hurricane and more. Cranmore's top rated Arctic Blast Tubing Park is also open Saturday and holiday evenings until 9pm. The Buttonwood has discounted tubing tickets for our guests too!

Want the best value for night time activities? Buy the new Super Slider ticket. This all-inclusive ticket covers night skiing (2-8pm), two hours of snow tubing (anytime between 2-9pm), and two hours of Fun Zone admission (between 3-8pm). Tickets are valid for all ages and must be used by one individual on one date. The Super Slider ticket is only for sale on Cranapalooza dates.

Want to know what's going on at the next Cranapalooza? It's all listed here on their events calendar.

Santa's Village north of the Buttonwood

There's is a lot going on in the Valley and here abouts over the Christmas and New Year's Holidays. Besides the obvious skiing you can visit Santa's reindeer at Santa's Village north of the Buttonwood and have a holly Jolly old time with the big bearded guy in the red suit!

Just an hour from North Conway you can experience a day filled with wonderfully themed rides, great shows, Santa and his reindeer. Oh What Fun!
One low admission includes unlimited use of all the rides and shows for the entire day and if you come in within 3 hours of closing and you can return another day free of charge.
With all there is to see and do at Santa's Village, who wouldn't go!
Santa's Village is open from Memorial Day weekend through the summer and over the fall and holidays too!

Starry Starry Night at the Buttonwood

Beautiful night with a crescent moon and the constellation Orion is lookiing crisp in the southeastern sky. The telescope is set up on the back porch pointing towards the big dipper. Cold as it is outside there is something about trying to find a heavenly object that we haven't seen before that just seems to negate the cold. Of course this picture of us with the telescope was taken in the spring but it's the same scope that we use to peruse the heavens.

Christmas and New Years Specials at The Buttonwood Inn

Prepping for the Christmas and New Year's Eve visitors now that Polar Express is over. Our guests are going to have a great time with special treats and offerings here and in the Mount Washington Valley. There are still fireplace rooms and a double jacuzzi room available for the Christmas weekend and http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/New-Years-Eve-Lodging-Package.html. We are ...even running a special discount on the Chamber of Commerce's website so there are many reasonable options for those who haven't firmed up their plans yet. Take a look at our New Year's Eve package. It's sure to please!

Chocolate Chip Pancake Time!

Paula's special chocolate chip pancakes had the kids beaming this morning and the parents loved their corn meal pancakes all with sausages and hot maple syrup and a freshly cut fruit salad starter. During December we also add our Polar Express juice special, a mix of pomegranate and cranberry to the menu along with our... Mt. Surprise Sunrises (OJ & Pom) and Sunsets (OJ & Cran). The kids and parents are headed to the Cranmore snowtubing park today and to the free Mt. Washington Observatory museum and shoppes in North Conway. 

Visitor's to the Buttonwood Inn

Little Lia (4) just arrived with her parents. They will be taking the Polar Express train this evening from the North Conway railway station and is she excited! During the tour of the Inn I showed them the Mt. Surprise room. We have the movie "Polar Express" playing on the 50 inch plasma and Lia's little eyes were wide... as they could be when she saw it. Lia and her mom also liked the New England Village ceramic houses in the Mt. Surprise room, all lit up with a snowy background. Guess what---our family of 6 just arrived. Alexander, Olivia, Jarred, and Aidan have been here before with their parents. They are like part of the family having first visited us back in 2007. They will be taking the Polar Express train ride tomorrow. By the way the Polar Express movie is based on the 1985 book written by Chris Van Allsburg.

The Buttonwood Inn - Special Holiday Gift Offer

Happy Holidays from The Buttonwood Inn!

Paula and I would like to extend to you this special offer.

Show Someone How Much You Care!

Special Holiday Gift Offer!

A memorable gift for that someone special. Give them the pleasure of a stay in a "magical place"! Enjoy blissfully old fashioned hospitality, cozy fireplaces, and gourmet breakfasts.

The Buttonwood Inn

For every $100 spent in gift certificates, we will give you $20 toward your next stay in 2010!

Our gift certificates can be used at any time for Holiday and winter weekends or for special packages such as: (Click on any of the following links for some examples)


New Year's Eve 2009 Package
Harvest to Holiday Shop 'til You Drop Package
"Ski It Your Way" Ski Tickets, Dinner and More
Ski & Stay Mid-Week Special

Or for one of our special theme weekends like:


Romance Package
March Maple Madness
Ghosts and Goblin Trail Package


Contact us toll free at 1-800-258-2625 by December 18, 2009
to ensure the mailing reaches you or the person receiving the gift certificate before the 25th.

The Mt Washington Valley Arts Association (MWVAA)

NORTH CONWAY 12/7/09: The Mt Washington Valley Arts Association (MWVAA) is featuring a special Bob DeIulio Exhibit and Molly Doe Wensberg Raffle during its "Affordable Art Show and Sale" through December 20, at the MWV Visual Arts Center, 16 Norcross Place.

As part of the MWVAA "Affordable Art Show and Sale," there is a tribute exhibit of deceased member Bob DeIulio's work. DeIulio's work features the vitreous flux medium. Vitreous flux is a watercolor medium where water is first loaded onto an impervious surface with pigment then being added. The pigment is then manipulated using a variety of tools to create expressionistic images. DeIulio was a student of David Baker, the originator of this unique watercolor method. The exhibit includes original framed worked and matted prints.

Member Molly Doe Wensberg, an award-winning oil painter donated an oil painting, "A View Toward Jackson" with a retail value of $2500 to the MWVAA to raffle off as a fundraiser. Raffle tickets are available at the MWV Visual Arts Center in Norcross Place during the "Affordable Art Show and Sale." Tickets are $5 each or three for $10. The winning raffle ticket will be drawn on Sunday, November 20at 4PM.

The "Affordable Art Show and Sale" runs Friday through Sunday through December 20, from 10AM to 5PM (4PM on December 20) at the MWV Visual Arts Center, 16 Norcross Place. The show and sale features the work of many local two and three dimensional fine artists, artisans and craftspeople with all work priced from $10 to $250.

For complete information on all events at the MWV Visual Arts Center visit the center online at mwvarts.org or call 603-356-ARTS (2787). The MWV Visual Arts Center is the place to see, learn and connect with the visual arts.