Archive for the ‘Gardens’ Category

Sweet and Savory Eggs For Breakfast

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Carol (resident chef at Hillcrest Hide-Away Bed and Breakfast in Lanesboro, Minnesota) likes to alternate between sweet and savory entree’s for breakfast.  Some days when she can’t decide, Sweet and Savory Eggs fit the bill.

Minnesota Bed and Breakfast - breakfast entree

Sweet and Savory Eggs with tomato and fresh pepper garnish

Carol likes to use fresh ingredients as much as possible in her recipes.  We have large sage and chive plants in our garden that provide two key ingredients to this recipe.

Apples offer an unexpected sweet surprise once you bite into the omelet.

Paired with one of Carol’s scones straight from the oven, this breakfast is one you’ll remember.

People have visited Lanesboro, MN for more than a century to enjoy its natural beauty. Located south east of Rochester, Minnesota, bluffs, valleys, meadows, rivers and wildlife are all part of the natural collage that surrounds Lanesboro.

Whether you enjoy the arts, biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, shopping – or just relaxing, Lanesboro has something to offer.  Remember us when you plan your next getaway.

Carol’s Sweet and Savory Eggs recipe is in her recipe book  “Hillcrest at Home“.   Here is the recipe for you to try at home.

Sweet and Savory Eggs

Served at Hillcrest Hide-Away Bed and Breakfast – Lanesboro, MN

2 tsp. butter or margarine
1 large tart apple, peeled, cored and sliced thin
1 small sweet onion, finely diced
6 oz. ham, chopped
8 large eggs
1/4 cup chopped chives or green onion tops
freshly ground pepper to taste
8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese
1-2 T. fresh sage or 1 tsp. dried sage

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In skillet, saute’ the onions in the butter or oil.   Add the ham, apple, chives or green onion tops, and sage.
When onions and apple are soft, spread mixture evenly in bottom of 8″ square glass baking dish.
Mix eggs and cheese; then pour them on top of other mixture in baking dish.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Remove from oven and let it sit about 5 minutes until set.  Cut and serve.

Bed and Breakfast Garden Labyrinth

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
Minnesota Bed & Breakfast Labyrinth

Backyard Garden Labyrinth

A year ago we installed a landscape labyrinth in our back yard.  My gardening rule of thumb is that it takes 3 years for perennials to get established.  As you can see from the photo, our labyrinth is ahead of schedule.  The labyrinth has 20 varieties of perennials of varying heights with a bubbling fountain in the center.

Landscape garden labyrinth

Red Yarrow Blossoms

One of the most prolific plants is  red Yarrow.  It has bushed out nicely in only a year.  I have already done some dividing and moved starter plants to other locations in the garden.

Other plants include Day Lilies, Lambs Ear, Black Eyed Susans, Asters, Carnations, Creeping Thyme, Bachelor Buttons, Geranium and Mullien.

Bee Balm - Monarda

Tasty Bee Balm Petals

Some flowers have two purposes: to adorn the garden and decorate our breakfast serving dishes.  Bee Balm (Monarda) has dainty petals that are very sweet to taste and add a nice touch to fruit entrees.  Hibiscus petals are edible and we have one that is taking hold nicely.

The plants we chose are “mostly” distasteful to deer.  But the Day Lilies need regular treatment to keep them safe from our four legged friends.

You can enjoy a morning walk in our garden by visiting our bed and breakfast – Hillcrest Hide-Away B&B.  We are located in Lanesboro, Minnesota 45 minutes southeast of Rochester.   Lanesboro offers lots of things to enjoy (an art gallery, live theatre, the Root River State Trail) and plenty of places to stay including more than 12 bed and breakfasts.  Lanesboro has been named the Bed & Breakfast Capital of Minnesota.  Visit us to discover a beautiful corner of Southeast Minnesota.

Couple Announces Engagement in Lanesboro

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Engaged Couple Enjoying our Garden

Chad and Amy (pictured here) visited us on Memorial Day weekend.  They had a lovely alfresco dinner Sunday evening at the Old Village Hall in downtown Lanesboro.

At breakfast, Amy announced that that Chad had “popped the question” the night before.  We hope that Lanesboro and the Hillcrest Hide-Away B&B will always hold special memories for them.

Consider visiting us when you plan your next celebration.

Minnesota Tundra Swan Migration

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Last week we took a day off and observed the  Tundra Swan migration near Brownsville, MN.  Brownsville, MN is located 10 miles south of LaCrescent, MN on MN state hwy 26.  The US Fish and Wildlife Services has created an overlook just south of Brownsville on the Mississippi River where the swans and migrating ducks can be seen by the thousands.

A Swan Family Feud

A Swan Family Feud

The swans are graceful birds with over a 7 foot wing span!  The swans migrate from their summer habitat near the Arctic Circle to their winter habitat in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.

The interpreters at the overlook told us that the swans fly non-stop from the Arctic Circle to the Mississippi River where they refuel for the next leg of the migration.  They remain in Brownsville until the colder temperatures and reduced feeding habitat pushes them on.  They may stop in Lake Erie for another refueling stop making their way to Chesapeake Bay.

Migrating Swans

Migrating Swans

The photos really don’t do the experience justice.  There are places where the sand bars are white with birds.  It looks more like snow in the distance!

We have had a warm November so the swans may be around for a few more weeks.  The viewing area is about an hour drive from Lanesboro.

Lanesboro is dressed for Christmas with new downtown decorations.  Take in The 1940′s Radio Hour at the Commonweal Theatre and stay with us at the Hillcrest Hide-Away.  We’re ready for  Christmas too  including Carol’s extensive Santa collection.

Lanesboro Farmers Market – the harvest is in

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Lanesboro has a lovely farmers market that operates on Wednesday afternoon and Saturday mornings.

Lanesboro Farmers Market

Lanesboro Farmers Market

Local growers bring their produce – vegetables, mushrooms, organic meats, eggs, honey, cut flowers, herbs, apples, etc.  On Saturdays, local bakers share their baked goods and a nursery sells flowers that are in bloom.

It has been a cool summer and

Farmers market produce

Farmers market produce

 the tomatoes are beginning to produce.  Garlic, eggplant, cabbage, potatoes, onions, leeks, cucumbers are just samples of what is in season.  Soon the September raspberries will be available.

Amish wares sold at the farmers market

Amish wares sold at the farmers market

On Saturdays, Amish families sell baked goods, vegetables, baskets, quilts and some furniture.  There is something for everyone at the Lanesboro Farmers market.  Lanesboro has many lodging options for you when you come to town.   From inns to bed and breakfasts to hotels.  All of them are owned by small business owners.  You’ll find no franchise hotels in Lanesboro.  Lanesboro was recently designated the Bed and Breakfast Capital of Minnesota.  Make your plans now for your next visit.

Lanesboro B&B Landscape Labyrinth Update

Friday, August 21st, 2009

Our July 1st blog entry provided the first glimpse of our landscape labryinth.  Now that we are near the end of August, many of the flowers are  in full bloom:

Labyrinth in bloom
Labyrinth in bloom

Paprika Yarrow, Coneflower, Blue Cornflower, Black Eyed Susan, Russian Sage and Bee Balm adorn the labyrinth pathways.  The Hybiscus has buds and should be blooming soon. 

Our B&B guests have enjoyed watching the finches bathe in the fountain and walking the path.  The crunch – crunch sound of the gravel under their feet marks their path from the entrance through the pergola to the fountain in the center.
The deer have been nibbling on the day lilies.  Fortunately, they were done blooming.  Tomorrow I treat them with repellant again. 

Lanesboro Minnesota Girls Getaway

Monday, July 27th, 2009

This morning we’re hosting 2 sets of women enjoying a girls getaway to Lanesboro, Minnesota.  We host many groups of women because 3 of our rooms have hide a beds allowing up to 4 women to share a room.

Especially when we have ladies for breakfast, we like to garnish our plates with flowers from the garden.

Bee Balm petals

Bee Balm petals

 

Recently, we planted some Bee Balm (also known as Monarda) in our landscape labyrinth.  The plants are incredibly hardy and have been blossoming since I put them in the ground (even without watering and no rain for 2 weeks)

 

The individual petals are so dainty AND they are incredibly tasty (and sweet) to eat.  No wonder the bees like them!

This morning we sprinkled the petals on Carol’s Apple Bacon Pancake – a great entree with maple syrup.  

See other blog entries to learn more about our landscape labyrinth. Visit our web site to see our Lanesboro, Minnesota bed and breakfast.

Lanesboro Minnesota Theatre Summer Season

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

One of the great blessings of owning a B&B in Lanesboro, Minnesota is the variety of things to do both for our guests and for us.   Many people who stay at our bed and breakfast come to enjoy the beauty of the landscape and the Root River State Trail. 

In the evening guests can take in high quality live theatre.    Since 1989, the professional artists of the Commonweal Theatre have brought to life soulful stories told with honesty and creativity. Located in the heart of southeast Minnesota’s bluff country, Lanesboro, Minnesota  (pop. 788) is home to the company’s new theatre in its historic downtown.  

The Lanesboro Commonweal Theatre summer season is in full swing featuring two plays: The Odd Couple and The Rainmaker.

The Odd Couple

The Odd Couple

May 15 through October 23, the Odd Couple is on stage in the theatre. Felix Ungar, neurotic fusspot news writer, and Oscar Madison, slovenly sports journalist, attempt to adapt to each other’s idiosyncrasies while trying to rekindle their social lives. In this classic comedy, Neil Simon gives us the story of a friendship that defies all odds.
ASL performance Sunday, June 14, 1:30pm

 

June 19 through October 24th, the Rainmaker by Richard Nash is on the theatre stage. Living on a farm stifled by drought, Lizzie has resigned herself to a solitary life —until a charismatic con-man named Starbuck comes promising rain. This 1950s American fable teaches us how love can overcome cynicism in the most tired of souls, and can bloom in the most barren of landscapes.

Come visit Lanesboro, Minnesota to see all that we have to offer.

Our Landscape Labyrinth is ready for you

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

We have just completed installation of a landscape labyrinth in our back yard.  A labyrinth is circuitous walking path with a single entrance and single entrance.  Entrance to the labyrinth is via an arched pergola. 

Welcoming Landscape Labyrinth

Welcoming Landscape Labyrinth

The pathways are bordered by perennial flower beds.  Day lilies, Lamb’s Ear, Beard Tongue,Black Eyed Susans, Snow in Summer, Sedums, Hen and Chicks, Creeping Thyme and Russian Sage are among the plants that are now taking hold.
The walking path is beautiful multicolored landscape gravel with a fountain in the center.  Watch for future posts with close up flower photos.  Visit our web site to learn more about our inn.

The perennials are starting to bloom

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Flowers are starting to bloom in our yard.  Perennials Iris, Dianthus, Bleeding Heart and Alium are blooming and all the annuals are planted.  The pathway through our new labyrinth should be installed this week.

Bleeding Heart

Bleeding Heart

This morning we served maple nut scones and a vegetable & ham egg bake with fresh sage from our herb garden for breakfast.  (more…)