This is a great brunch dish.  Put together the night before, you will just need to pop it in the oven in the AM.  Serves 12

• 1 large loaf French Bread cut into 1 inch cubes
• 8 Oz Cream Cheese – cubed
• 3 Tablespoons Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 Cups Blueberries
• 1 cup Raspberries
• 8 large eggs
• 1/2 cup real maple syrup
• 1 1/2 cups half & half Cream
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Place a generous layer of  french bread in the casserole dish.  Scatter the cubes cream cheese over the bread

  Scatter berries over the top. Mix together the egg, half & half, sugar, cinnamon, syrup & salt.  Pour over bread, cheese & Berry mixture.

Cover dish with foil and refrigerate over night.  Bake for 30 Min at 350 for 30  minutes with the foil on.  Remove the foil and bake for 30 more minutes until it is puffed and golden on top.  Serve warm with  syrup.

The first Wild Asparagus Plant of the 2010 Season

Finding the elusive wild asparagus plant is a special spring treat.The first plants will begin to sprout around the first week in May. Although with warm weather hunters will sometimes be surprised by an early sprout or two.

The hunt begins in late fall when the ferns are easy to spot. When all of the summer grasses are starting to die back the wild asparagus ferns stand out proudly.  As Christmas approaches they take on the appearance of “Charlie Brown’s” Christmas trees, complete with small red balls.  Experienced hunters mark the patch with flags ensuring an early spring treat.

Stalks should be harvested early for the best flavor.

Wild Aspergus in the fall

Wild Asparagus Omelets are on the menu for tomorrow morning.  

Recipe for Asparagus Omelette

3 farm fresh eggs – divided, Whip the whites until frothy not stiff, whip in yolks

Saute for 1 minute in butter or olive oil 1 stalk of freshly picked asparagus, diced into 1/4 inch pieces.  This is just a quick saute don’t over do it.  The stalks are so tender they don’t need much.

Pour the egg mixture into the omplet pan and do the omlete swirl…..

Add the sauteed wild asparagus and enjoy.

Montpelier Wine Festival

Due to a last minute cancellation The Inn on Poplar Hill  has rooms available for the upcoming Montpelier Wine Festival.   Stay Sunday night and receive 2 admission tickets to the Montpelier Festival on us!  Reservations must be made by April 28th at noon by calling 540-672-6840.  This Last Minute Special is good for new  reservations made after 4/23/10 only. Sorry but we are sold out on Saturday nights. We do have rooms for Friday or Sunday night this weekend

James Madison’s Montpelier and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Montpelier Wine Festival, a weekend celebration of southern hospitality that showcases wines from 24 award-wining Virginia wineries, on Saturday, May 1, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, May 2, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The festival will also feature live entertainment, family fun, and the chance to discover James Madison’s Montpelier, located in the heart of Virginia’s famed wine country. Orange County is a leader in grape production in Virginia.

“James and Dolley Madison had a great appreciation for fine wine,“ said Beth Morrill, James Madison’s Montpelier media manager. “They always had a full stock of Madeira to entertain guests. Today, of course, people don’t need to cross the ocean to find delightful wine. The Montpelier Wine Festival will offer the perfect opportunity for guests to sample the variety of award-winning wines that are made right here in our own state.“

During the festival, old and new vineyard favorites will grace Montpelier, including: Afton Mountain Vineyards (Afton), Autumn Hill Vineyards & Blue Ridge Winery (Stanardsville), Barboursville Vineyards and Historic Ruins (Barboursville), Burnley Vineyards and Daniel Cellars (Barboursville), Chateau Morrisette (Meadows of Dan), Cooper Vineyards (Louisa),  Democracy Vineyard (Lovingston), First Colony Winery, (Charlottesville), Gabriele Rausse Winery (Charlottesville), Gadino Cellars (Washington), Horton Vineyards (Gordonsville), Ingleside Winery (Oak Grove), Lake Anna Winery (Spotsylvania),  Loudoun Valley Vineyards (Waterford) , Mattaponi Winery (Spotsylvania), North Mountain Vineyard (Maurertown), Old House Vineyards (Culpeper), Peaks of Otter Winery (Bedford), Phillip Carter Winery (Hume),  Prince Michel Vineyards (Leon), Rockbridge Vineyard (Raphine),  Stone Mountain Vineyards (Dyke), Sweely Estate Winery (Madison), Veritas Vineyard and Winery (Afton), and Villa Appalachia Winery (Floyd).

Festival-goers of all ages will enjoy a wide variety of entertainment, including:
History of wine and wine tasting tips
(Saturday and Sunday at noon)
Learn about Virginia wines and the proper tasting methods to give you the best results. Seminars are included with general admission tickets.
Cooking with wine demonstrations
(Saturday and Sunday, 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m.)
Learn new techniques of cooking with wine from area chefs and wine experts, who will tempt you with amazing tips on items from soups to desserts. All recipes use wines from the Montpelier Wine Festival. The demonstrations are included with general admission tickets and recipe copies are provided.

Saturday
1:15 p.m.: Dean Maupin, Executive Chef, Clifton Inn
2:15 p.m.: Robert Harllee, Market Street Wineshop
3: 15 p.m.: John MacMillan & Collins Huff, Gryffon’s Aerie Sunday
1:15 p.m.: Randy Cooper, Executive Chef, Elmwood at Sparks
2: 15 p.m.: Elinor Howell, In Vino Veritas
3:15 p.m.: Linda & Luke Trainum, Autumn Olive Farms
Picnics on the grounds

(All day Saturday and Sunday)
Spend an afternoon on the historic Montpelier Steeplechase Course.  Bring your own food or choose from a mouth-watering assortment of gourmet offerings including breads and cheeses, seafood, salads, ethnic selections, and gourmet coffees. Throw a blanket on the grass or arrange in advance for your own private table. There will also be barrel train rides for the kids and plenty of open space to play!

Live music and entertainment
Enjoy some of the area’s best jazz and blues music.
Saturday
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: Scuffletown
2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Blues Farm
Sunday
11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Blues Farm
2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.: Annie Sidley
Go Fly a Kite

(All day Saturday and Sunday)
. . . or watch spectacular kite demonstrations by the Wings Over Washington Kite Club. Kids can make their own kite creation and families will enjoy several kite challenge events. Kite making workshops will take place at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Shop (All day Saturday and Sunday)
Browse through the offerings of artisans and crafters from throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Enjoy the numerous selections, many of which feature a wine-related theme. Look for that one-of-a-kind treasure waiting for you!
Discover Montpelier
( All day Saturday and Sunday)
Montpelier is the home of James Madison, “Father of the Constitution” and president of the United States, and Dolley Madison, whose hospitality and flair inspired the title “First Lady.“ The Montpelier estate features the newly-restored mansion, active archaeological digs, a public archaeology lab, outdoor cooking demonstrations, a beautiful garden, a Hands-On Tent for kids, miles of walking trails, and history at every turn. Following the completion of Montpelier’s $25 million architectural restoration, researchers launched the “Presidential Detective Story: Rediscovering the Furnishings and Décor of James and Dolley Madison.“ Now visitors can experience first-hand the search for James and Dolley’s household furnishings, which has led researchers all the way across the ocean. At the Visitor Center for James Madison’s Montpelier and William duPont Gallery visitors can take in exhibits, an extensive Museum Shop, and a Café. Special Montpelier mansion and exhibits admission price is $8 for Montpelier Wine Festival Ticketholders.

Tickets
Wine Festival Ticket prices, including a souvenir wine glass and tastings with all festival vineyards, are $15 in advance (through April 28), or $25 at the gate. Special $5 tickets are available for designated drivers and youth 13 to 20.  Children under 13 are free. Reserved tables and hospitality packages are available. Tickets may be ordered in advance by calling 800.594.8499. Information is also available online at http://www.montpelierwinefestival.com.

The Montpelier Wine Festival
The Montpelier Wine Festival is a premier spring event for the whole family. The event is hosted annually on the grounds of Montpelier, the lifelong home of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States and the Father of the Constitution. The festival showcases distinctive arts and crafts, specialty food vendors, live music, “cooking with wine” classes, tastings, and children’s entertainment and rides. The Montpelier Wine Festival is sponsored by James Madison’s Montpelier and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. To learn more, visit http://www.montpelierwinefestival.com.

James Madison’s Montpelier
Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, architect of the
Bill of Rights, and president of the United States. Visitors can currently see the progress of “A
Presidential Detective Story: Rediscovering the Furnishings and Décor of James and Dolley Madison” through daily guided tours, now that the home’s recent $25 million architectural restoration is complete. They can also participate in hands-on crafts, cooking, and archaeology; leisurely stroll the garden and forests; and take in the galleries and many other attractions on the estate’s 2,650 acres. Nestled in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Montpelier is located in the heart of Virginia’s wine country on Route 20, four miles south of Orange, Virginia. Montpelier is a National Trust Historic Site, administered by The Montpelier Foundation. To learn more, visit http://www.montpelier.org.

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We hope you enjoy the pictures from our morning walk on April 22, 2010.  The trees are starting to explode with Spring Color.  I wish we had audio from out walk for you to enjoy.  We were serenaded all along the route by a melody of song birds and newly hatched chicks.

You are invited to celebrate
President James Monroe’s 252nd birthday

 Ash Lawn-Highland, the home of President James Monroe, will celebrate his 252nd birthday
Wednesday, April 28th. President James Monroe will be present to greet birthday well-wishers.
At 11:00 AM the bust of James Monroe, sculpted by Cathe Wallendahl, will be installed in its
permanent resting place just north of the statue of the Monroe statue.

Tour the newly finished reconstruction of the Ice House and the ongoing reconstruction of the
front porch and balcony of the Massey House.

The house will be open 9 AM to 6 PM, local residents will be admitted free. Light refreshments
will be served.

Ash Lawn-Highland is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the months of April
through October, and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the months of November through March.
Tours are $10.00 for adults ($9.00 for seniors and AAA members), $5.00 for children (ages 6 to
11), and $5.00 for local residents of Albemarle, Augusta, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene,
Louisa, Nelson, Orange, and Rockingham counties. Ash Lawn-Highland is located at 1000
James Monroe Parkway in Charlottesville, off I-64, exit 121, approximately two and a half miles
past Jefferson’s Monticello. visit online at www.ashlawnhighland.org.For more information,  or to make reservations to stay at the Inn on Poplar Hill please call (540) 672-6840

Nothing is more relaxing than a long walk in the woods.  The new Forestry trail opened at Montpelier today just in time for visitors to enjoy the woodland flowers in bloom.  Visitors will stroll past ancient Tulip Poplar, Black Walnut and other native trees that have been on the property for hundreds of years. 

Former Sen. Warner opens forestry trail at Montpelier | Culpeper Star-Exponent.

This is a healthy and delicious start to your day.

Cook about 10 minutes stirring often, 1/2 cup oatmeal & 1 cup milk. Set aside to cool

Stir into the oatmeal, 4 egg yolks,(save the whites for later) 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup blueberries, 1/4 teaspoon orange oil, a dash of salt.

Whip 4 egg whites with a pinch of cream of tarter until stiff.

Fold in cold oatmeal mixture.

Put in 4 ramekins and bake at 350* for 15 minutes until set. Don’t peek you may make them fall!

Enjoy