Despite the warm weather this past weekend, the leaves at peak color are showing us that we are certainly in “prime time fall”. According to the DNR fall color finder, we have reached 75-100% of color in our area. There is no better time to enjoy apples, and feeling warm and cozy as the Minnesota seasons begin to prepare us to settle in for a gentle, relaxing winter (we can dream, right?) We wanted to share some of the favorite recipes that we are cooking up at the B&B right now.

Can you just imagine the apple scents drifting into your room as you wake up and admire the fall colors reflecting off of Pokegama Lake? If you’re missing us and not able to come visit soon, we wanted to share some of our favorite recipes to help you bring a little bit of our “fall flavor” into your home.

IMG_1951Not sure you can ever have too much apple crisp or too many slices of apple pie, but keeping with the less sweet and super easy theme give this cake a try…

This recipe comes from Recipes from Minnesota… with love, by Betty Malisow. We received this cookbook from my sister-in-law Maureen as a wedding gift (many years ago). Surprised it hasn’t completely fallen apart. We’ve fed friends all over the world with recipes from this little book.

Bulgarian Apple Cake
(Don’t even have to peel the apples)
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour
2 cups chopped, unpeeled, red apples (about 3 small apples)
1 cup chopped nuts ( your choice)

Grease a bundt pan ( it is a Minnesota cookbook after all)

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees
Beat together eggs, sugar and oil.
Sift flour, soda and salt.
Add to first mixture and mix well.
Add apples and nuts. Stir in.
Batter is very stiff…don’t worry, cake will be heavy (weight wise) but moist.
Bake in bundt pan for 1 hour. ( if you don’t have a bundt pan use a bread pan…only 3 1/2 to 4 inches wide. Only fill 1/2 way to top)

IMG_1942We love apple cider, but not so sugary sweet. I tone it down with cranberry juice and a black tea bag. Imagine we’ll be making lots now that Chris found presses he likes!

Grown-up, non-alcoholic Hot Apple Cider
4 to 6 cups of your favorite cider
10 oz cranberry ( not cranapple) juice
1 to 2 black tea bags
3-4 sticks of cinnamon
7-8 whole cloves
Bring to a simmer. Enjoy!

IMG_1939We love recipes that have very few ingredients and can be put together in a snap. This is a “small bite” that has been loved every time I serve it. Pairs nicely with a Riesling or hot mug of apple cider. It comes from the Oct. 2014 issue of Food Network Magazine.

Apple-Cheese Toast
Mix 2 Tbls fig jam and 2 Tbls whole-grain mustard on crusty bread
Top with muenster cheese and slices of your favorite red apple
Broil until the cheese melts.
Sprinkle with black pepper
I use sliced French bread. Sometimes the apples are on top, sometimes the cheese…

Makes 6 to 8 slices.

10 min from prep to table

Ready to plan a last minute trip to come see us? We have a few openings left for the fall season (booking up quickly!) so visit our availability calendar now or call 1-218-999-5795 to book your getaway.