Birthdays, Baking, and Brownies
Posted on March 11, 2014 by
We have continued to be busy at Bedford Landings. The snow and the continued cold winter didn’t slow down business. We have had guests every weekend except one since we opened in December. Some have been friends passing through the area and we are making new friends with others. The favorite room has been the FISHING room. We think that is because it has the cozy gas logs. The second most favorite is the FOURTH Room. It also has gas logs so I guess we will need to consider upgrading to gas logs in all of the rooms eventually. The Fourth Room is now decorated in BLUES and the Red decor been packed away until next Christmas season. It is fun collecting items around the house to change out the look of this room.
We received our final Certificate of Occupancy after Jack (and friends) completed the deck railings. With the glorious sunshine this week, we have been sitting on the deck a bit too! In fact our whole family was sitting on the deck last weekend. I just wish I had thought to get a photo of everyone. Jack and I have back-to-back birthdays in March. With a milestone birthday this year for me, he surprised me by bringing in my best friend from Michigan, both my sister and brother (and spouses). If that wasn’t enough, the rest of the crew showed up the next day complete with all our children and grand children. Fun, exhausting, but fun!
Not our deck, but the photo where most of them were sitting still!
For more Fun on the Deck, this Spring, we will be hosting a painting class with Nancy Rae Brown. Nancy has her art exhibited in Bedford Landings now in the great room and stairwell. Make an appointment to see it or visit her website. Watch for the date. There will be a fee and we are considering calling her class “Wine and Design!” Sound like fun!?
We have continued to test some recipes in the kitchen. Here’s a photo of Jack cooking his Fig Dijon Puff Pastry (thanks to his high school classmate who shared this fantastic recipe). http://www.twirlandtaste.com/
We also tested a new recipe for the sideboard. The sideboard is the table where snacks always appear for the guests. I will share this Lemon Brownie Recipe for all to enjoy.
Lemony Lemon Brownies
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 T fresh lemon juice
8 t. lemon zest (Just grate the peel)
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with butter and set aside.
Zest and juice two lemons and set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixture fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the flour, sugar, salt, and softened butter until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice until combined.
Pour it into the flour mixture and beat for 2 mins at medium speed until smooth and creamy. Pour into baking dish and bake for 23-25 mins, should turn golden around the edges. Allow to cool completely before glazing. Do not overbake, or the bars will dry.
Sift the powdered sugar and whisk with lemon zest and juice. Spread the glaze over the brownies and let glaze set. Cut with a plastic knife and serve.
Spring is almost here! The robins are back, our bees are busy and hopefully our grass will grow! Enjoy!