Blackberry Bramblings

July 18th - 19th HarborArts Juried Show in Camden!

2009-06-19T09:56:00.003-04:00

The summer HarborArts Juried Show is just around the corner. With over 100 artists displaying and selling their works along the Camden Harbor, in the Camden Amphitheater and along Atlantic Avenue, there is an abundance of art to review. With food, entertainment and more, this event is a fun-filled event for the art lover in you! And the views of the Harbor may just inspire a sailing trip while you are here! The sailing is on us with any two night minimum stay! This event is a bi-annual event and one of Camden's most popular! An event not to be missed!

Recipe: Beachcomber Cookies!

2009-06-08T09:33:00.002-04:00

This delicious recipe is a pleaser for the whole family and a wonderful variation on a tradtional oatmeal cookie. It is brought to you courtesy of the Food Network and Aida Mollenkamp.

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 sticks unsalted butter (1/2 pound), room temperature
1 3/4 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup milk chocolate chips
3/4 cup toasted flaked unsweetened coconut
3/4 cup finely chopped toasted pecans

Directions:
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle. Place flour, baking powder salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl and whisk to combine; set aside.
Combine butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat over medium speed until mixture resembles wet sand and is airy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, letting each fully incorporate before adding the next. Add vanilla extract. Reduce speed to low, add flour mixture in 2 parts, and mix until just combined, about 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients and mix until evenly combined.
Using a 2-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets, spaced about 1-inch apart. Bake until cookies are puffed, set, and tops and undersides are golden brown, rotating sheets halfway through, about 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool on sheets 2 minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely. Enjoy!

Get your FREE Copy of Jewel of the Maine Coast!

2009-06-03T10:39:00.002-04:00

For the most complete information in planning your next trip to the Maine coast, the 2009 Jewel of the Maine coast visitors guide is a must, and now you can request yours for FREE through the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce at http://www.camdenme.org/. Packed with travel tips and information, restaurant guides, must sees along the way and much, much more, you will have your trip planned before you even leave your house! Or you can bring it with you and plan along the way! Feel free to pick on up at the Inns too!

Our new website is here!

2009-05-11T15:36:00.006-04:00

Over the last several months, we have been reviewing our website, determining what changes would bring the best information to our guests, and establishing a website easy to navigate and gather information. As many of you may know, there is quite a bit of work involved in this task, and for that reason, we are thrilled that we were able to launch our new website last week! As always, we strive to make this the best tools possible for our guests, and would love your input and feedback! Take a moment to look at some of the changes, including new links, photos, room review navigation and much more, and leave us a comment, send us an email or give us a call with your thoughts, suggestions and ideas! As always, our website will continue to be a work in progress and a primary source of information for your our guests! Thanks in advance for taking your part in making this website the best it can be!

Vote for US as your favorite Inn!

2009-04-26T16:50:00.003-04:00

We love all of the wonderful comments our guests leave in our guestbook and on review sites like TripAdvisor! Here is another opportunity for you to tell us what you think! The Lanier B&B website is currently casting votes for your favorite Inns across the country, giving you opportunities to vote on such things as Best Bed, Best Cup of Joe, Best Breakfast and many more! There are over 80 categories to vote on if you wish. Vote for one or all! Just use this link, http://www.lanierbb.com/vote.php, find our Inn and cast your vote! The results will be posted on the website, sent to voters, and published in their annual guidebook! We hope you visit the site and select the Inns at Blackberry Common as your favorite!

Stonewall Kitchen in Camden!

2009-04-17T09:52:00.003-04:00

Are you familiar with the delights produced by the New England based company Stonewall Kitchen? The company began in 1991 in a small town in New Hampshire and has spread across New England. We are proud to have one of only 9 company stores right here in downtown Camden. The sauces, dips, mixed and kitchen and garden wares are a fantastic fit with the quaint shops in downtown Camden, and offer the best the company has to offer. You can also shop Stonewall Kitchen online at www.stonewallkitchen, and the company stores will be happy to ship your products to meet you at home as well! Be sure to make this shop a must see on your next trip to Camden, so you can bring home some of Maine's best!

How to enjoy long lasting Easter lillies!

2009-04-09T12:33:00.003-04:00

Easter lilies are a long standing traditional, and can be beautiful for weeks to come if properly cared for! When you first receive your lily, water it thoroughly and allow the water to drain. Going forward, water weekly, keeping in mind not to overwater which could cause the bulb to rot. Place your lily in a room that receives normal day light, but is not too hot, as the cooler the room is, the longer the flowers will last. As for saving our linens, snip off the pollen sacs found inside the blooms, as the droppings can be messy and create stains! This will also keep the flower clean. When the bloom starts to die, deadhead the flower by pruning back the stem.

Because the Easter lily is a forced bulb, it won't bloom again indoors, but there's a chance you might get it to bloom again outdoors. All you need to do is take it out when it's nice and warm, plant it in a sunny location, as deep as it was in the container. Keep it watered, fertilize it and then cross your fingers. There's a 50-50 chance it will bloom again.

More Household Hints and Shortcuts!

2009-03-31T08:25:00.002-04:00

Love these! Hope you find them useful!
1. To remove stains, fingerprints, even tape residue from stainless steel, use baby oil on a soft cloth. Leaves a nice shine too!
2. To remove the strong odor of onions from your hands, hold a stainless steel spoon in your hand while running water and rub your hands as though the spoon were soap.
3. To smooth the runners on a sticky drawer, rub the runners and drawer on a bar of soap. It’s amazing how much of a difference it will make!
4. Use vinegar all around house to disinfect and clean many surfaces, although don't use this on furniture made with fabric. It is cheap and chemical free! You can use vinegar straight or equal parts vinegar and water.
5. To remove crayons on walls, use WD-40. It removes it immediately, but if you use it on a flat paint it will leave a greasy line that can easily be washed off with soap and water.

Good luck and stay tuned for future tips!

Time to Start your Spring Herbs!

2009-03-29T12:41:00.004-04:00

Now is a great time to begin and indoor herb garden, ensuring a full season of use, and cultivating seedlings to transplant to an outside garden when the weather permits! If you are starting your herb garden for cooking purposes, consider starting with some popular herbs such as parsley, sage, rosemary, chives, mint and thyme. Starting these herbs from seeds is very easily accomplished with a planting container or containers, soil, and seeds. Label your containers so you know what is growing where, and be sure to use a container with holes to allow for drainage. Water the seeds well after planting and continue to water with small amounts daily to keep the soil damp. Some seeds can be covered to produce more of a greenhouse effect to start the growth, and place your containers on a window sill to allow for adequate sunlight. Your herbs will grow for your use great in this fashion, or you may transplant outside once you have seedlings established and the weather permits. First move the containers outside for a few days to allow the plants to adjust, then move to their permanent location by carefully removing the seedlings from their container, handling by their stems to minimize breakage, and plants in a prepared bed. Transplant on a cloudy day if possible, trim your plants and water regularly until the herbs are reestablished in their new environment. Each herb should be pruned differently to promote new growth. Visit Better Homes & Gardens at http://www.bhg.com/ for tips of pruning the herbs you choose. Good luck and enjoy the gardening and cooking world this will open for you!

The Inns featured in "Gourmet Getaways"!

2009-03-25T10:57:00.002-04:00

Just released this month, Joe David's new book, Gourmet Getaways: 50 Top Spots to Cook and Learn, features locales throughout the country, where chefs share their culinary expertise and recipes! We are very proud to announce that the Inns at Blackberry Common and our own Chef Jim has been featured as one of these, among culinary schools, inns and renowned chefs. The book offers recipes, including Jim's Blackberry Sage Sauce, cooking techniques, biographies of the chefs, and much more! Use it as a travel guide, cookbook or reference tool! An you can pick up a copy here at the Inns during your next stay!

Use this link to preview the book, including excerpts and recipes! Gourmet Getaways

A Traditional Irish Blessing!

2009-03-17T08:36:00.002-04:00

May the road rise to meet you;

May the wind be always at your back;

May the sun shine upon your face and

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

May God grant you many years to live,

For sure He must be knowing

The Earth has angels all too few

And Heaven is overflowing!

And, until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day! Hug an Irish person and have a fabulous day!

Recipe: Corned Beef and Vegetables in the Slow Cooker!

2009-03-16T11:41:00.002-04:00

This recipe is courtesy of Betty Crocker, and is the best and easiest version of traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage, just in time for St. Patrick's Day! Enjoy!

2 1/2 pounds medium new potatoes, (about 8), cut in half
2 cups baby-cut carrots
1 cup frozen small whole onions, thawed
1 corned beef brisket (3 to 3 1/2 pounds)
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup water

1 head of cabbage
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water

Mix potatoes, carrots and onions in 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Thoroughly rinse corned beef; discard seasoning packet. Place beef on vegetables; sprinkle with pepper. Mix 1/2 cup water and the Worcestershire sauce; pour over beef. Cut the cabbage into 6 wedges and arrange on top of the corned beef. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until beef and vegetables are tender.

Remove beef and vegetables from slow cooker; cover to keep warm. Pour juices from slow cooker into 1-quart saucepan; heat to boiling. Mix cornstarch and cold water until smooth; stir into juices. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce has thickened. Serve sauce with beef and vegetables.

Recipe courtesy of guest chef Erin Carey - Chocolate Madness!

2009-02-27T13:23:00.003-05:00

Chocolate Madness!
1 lb dark or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 lb unsalted butter
1 C. sugar
1 C. heavy cream
8 eggs

Combine cream, sugar, and butter in a sauce pan over a medium heat. Bring to a gentle boil, remove from heat and add chocolate. Stir until melted. Whisk in one egg at a time, do not add too fast! Pour into a 9 in" greased pan and bake at 325 degrees for 45-55 minutes. Test with a toothpick about 2 in" from center. Keep at room temperature until cool to the touch, then refrigerate at least 3 hours to overnight.

Chocolate Glaze
8 oz. dark chocolate
4 oz. butter

Melt butter and pour over chocolate cover and let stand a couple minutes then whisk till smooth.Remove cake from the pan and slowly pour glaze over cake to coat, use a spatula to create an even glaze. Leave at room temperature until glaze is set. Serve with vanilla sauce or raspberry sauce or whipped cream.

Helpful Household Hints!

2009-02-19T08:12:00.002-05:00

I love when I stumble across helpful household hints that I can really put to use, and so, I am sharing a few of my favorites with you today!

1. Removing Permanent Marker - Permanent marker on appliances and counter tops can be removed with rubbing alcohol on a paper towel. Easy as that!

2. Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time!

3. Fresh Smelling Clothes - Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linens too!

4. Cleaning Artificial Flowers - To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake, and the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new!

5. Removing Burnt on Food From a Pan - To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop. Wipe clean and rinse with water. What a pan saver!

Hope you find these helpful! Feel free to leave comments with your great tips and stay tuned for more to come!

Camden's Winterfest in Review

2009-02-12T20:18:00.002-05:00

This year was the 7th annual Winterfest held in Camden's Harbor Park, and the event grows each year! With ice carvings, sled rides, winter crafts and more, their were events to appeal to the whole family. With the weather this year, the snow and ice were abundant and melting was not a concern! Use the link below to visit out local website called Village Soup for the full story on this and other local events!
http://knox.villagesoup.com/Community/story.cfm?storyID=144398

Blackberry is Entered in the 19th Annual Toboggan Championships! Would You Like to Join Us?

2009-01-27T10:45:00.004-05:00

That's right! The Inns at Blackberry Common will be racing in this years National Toboggan Championships held right here at the Camden Snowbowl! The weather has been perfect, leaving a 24" snow base on the mountain and over 10 inches of ice on the pond! The event will take place the weekend of February 6th through the 8th and you are invited to join us for a toboggan ride on the 440 foot chute that is completed in less than 8 seconds! Just call the Inn and talk to Jim or Cyndi to reserve your spot! This is a fun-filled family event with activities throughout the weekend! Simply visit http://www.camdensnowbowl.com/ and click on Toboggan Nationals for a full calendar of events, photos and videos of prior years events and more! The mountain is open at designated times throughout the weekend for skiing, snowboarding and tubing as well! A great time is had here every year! Call us and become a part of this years events!

Camden is a Winter Wonderland!

2009-01-23T10:42:00.006-05:00

We have had such a beautiful winter so far this year! Conditions have been perfect for downhill as well as cross country skiing and snowshoeing! We have had over 4 feet of the white stuff so far this year, making for a great base, beautiful scenery and plenty of outdoor activities available! All of these activities can be fun for the whole family, and we love to recommend our favorite parks, paths and hills! Don't have your own equipment? You can borrow ours if available, or you can rent locally at Maine Sport in neighboring Rockland. One of our favorite hills is Mt. Battie, with breathtaking views of the Camden Harbor and the Penobscot Bay, and plenty of trails and hills depending on your skill level! We have lots of ideas and advice, and would love to help you plan your activities,... give us a call! This picture is of Jim snowshoeing last week. Need a guide? He would be happy to oblige as time allows! Any excuse to go out and play!

Recipe: Gingerbread Cake with Rum Sauce

2009-01-07T10:19:00.002-05:00

This recipe has been a hit every time we have served it and has been requested again and again by some of our favorite guests! We are sharing here with you, but must credit the Joy of Cooking with this fabulous recipe!

Cake Ingredients:

1 C applesauce

1/2 C molasses

1 tsp. baking soda

2 eggs

2/3 C sugar

1/3 C canola oil

1 1/2 C flour

1 tsp finely grated ginger or dry ginger

3/4 tsp cinnamon

4 tsp cloves

4 tsp salt

Preheat oven 325. Spray 8X8 glass pan. Bring applesauce in a saucepan to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in molasses & baking soda. Let rest. In separate bowl, beat eggs & sugar for 3-4 minutes. Gradually add canola oil to egg mixture. Sift together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Alternately add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the egg mixture, alternating with 1/3 of the applesauce mixture until fully incorporated and mix well. Pour into baking pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Remove from oven.

Butter Rum Sauce Ingredients:

6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter

2 Tbsp Corn Syrup

1 C Brown Sugar

2+ Tbsp Rum

About a pinch of fresh grated nutmeg

Fine Zest of one orange.

Combine ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook on medium heat until bubbly. Reduce heat and continue to heat 5 minutes longer. Remove from heat. Sauce will thicken upon standing. Serve the gingerbread with Rum Sauce drizzled on the plate, and over the cake with a little scoop of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream! Delicious!!!

NEW YEAR WISHES

2009-01-01T15:03:00.002-05:00

May peace fill all the empty spaces around you

And in you, may contentment answer all your wishes.

May comfort be yours, warm and soft like a sigh.

And may the coming year

show you that every day is really a first day,

a new year.

Let abundance be your constant companion,

so that you have much to share.

May mirth be near you always,

like a lamp shining brightly

on the many paths you travel.

May you be true love.

-- Author Unknown

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2008-12-25T13:39:00.003-05:00

We at the Inns at Blackberry Common would like to extend to you, our wishes for a happy, healthy, peaceful holiday season. We thank you for a great year and wish you the best in the year to come. Our guests truly make our home a special place throughout the year, and we hope you had an opportunity to stay with us and enjoy the wonders of Camden and the Inns. We welcome your return next year and in the years to come, and our promise to you is to do our best to make your stay a memorable one, building memories to last a lifetime! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Did you know you can track Santa's travels around the world?

2008-12-20T15:45:00.005-05:00

It's true! NORAD, an organization created in 1958, who is responsible for the aerospace and maritime defense of the United States and Canada, has a website that does just that! The site has a countdown to Christmas, and when Santa sets out on Christmas Eve, this site will use their satellite imagery to track Santa's path! In collaboration with Google Earth, you can even see his trip in 3D! Because of the time zones and international date line, Santa's trip actually begins on Wednesday at 6:00 am eastern time in the South Pacific! Visit http://www.noradsanta.org/ to check the countdown, learn many interesting facts about Santa and his travels, and most importantly, track Santa's trip on Christmas Eve!

How to keep your Christmas tree fresh!

2008-12-14T11:52:00.002-05:00

With so many products on the market and so many tales about what the very best way to keep your tree fresh the longest, how do you decide whose advice to follow? Well, it's actually very simple! WATER! This is all you need! When you bring your tree home, cut a few inches off the bottom, and trim the lower branches, and immediately place in a bucket of cold water until you are ready to bring into the house. Make sure your tree stand stays full throughout the season, and that's it! Your tree doesn't need sugar or candy or syrup or anything else. The true cause for a dry tree, is likely how long ago it was cut down. To ensure your fresh tree throughout the season, you may also consider a trip to a local tree farm and cut it down yourself! This is a long standing tradition in our family, and a great memory maker for the whole family. Best of luck with your tree this season and enjoy the beauty and joy a live tree brings to the season!

Opening Day at the Camden Snow Bowl!

2008-12-09T08:46:00.002-05:00

Winter is here! The temperatures have dropped, the wind is blowing, and what does that mean for Camden? The locals and fans of the Camden Snow Bowl and waxing their skis in anticipation of opening day, scheduled for December 20th! While the mountain is just barely showing a snow covering, the weather forecast is in our favor for great snow making and hopefully some help from mother nature! Now is the time to plan your season, with a variety of packages for the season, gift cards for holiday time and vacations to plan! Keep an eye on the condition by visiting the website at http://www.camdensnowbowl.com/ and check out the live cam with shots of the slopes so you can judge for yourself! And don't forget to visit our specials page regularly, as we always partner with the Snow Bowl to bring you all the great deals and packages available! See you on the slopes!

A New Favorite! Pumpkin Dip!

2008-12-02T12:05:00.003-05:00

This recipe was such a hit for our holiday celebrations over this past weekend that it just has to be shared! It was popular with adults and kids alike and is so simple to make anytime of year, but especially during the crisp fall months! Try serving it in a pumpkin shell for a nice presentation and the variety of "dippers" you can serve with it are abundant! Try ginger snaps, apple slices or graham sticks... a few of our family favorites!

Pumpkin Dip Recipe:
1 large can of pureed pumpkin
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 8 oz. block of cream cheese
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Allow cream cheese to soften completely. This is important to ensure mixing well with other ingredients for a creamier result. Blend with other ingredients and serve! So simple and delicious it will become a regular in your recipe book!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T08:46:00.004-05:00

We, the owners and staff at the Inns at Blackberry Common, would like to wish all of you a joyful, peaceful, happy and healthy Thanksgiving! Hopefully you are with the ones you love enjoying good company and remembering all of the things we have to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving and hope to see you soon at the Inns!