Murski Homestead Bed & Breakfast, Brenham, Texas » Fun

Greek Food and Fun

Pamela Murski — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:03:52 +0000

“The sharing of food whenever a bunch of friends gather is typical of the traditional Greek way of life. The meal begins with alcoholic drinks and a communal course of meze (or plural, mezedes), little plates containing various kinds of cold and hot foods: green & black olives; feta or other local cheeses drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with oregano; raw, cured or simply cooked seafood & fish; pickled vegetables and spreads; garlicky dips; intensely flavored rice- & herb-filled grape leaves; and vegetable or meat stews. Offered in small portions together with pieces of fresh country bread, the mezedes arrive at the table together with the drinks. Each meze is something like what the French call an amusegueule (a taste-teaser), but together, several of them can become a substantial meal…….”

The Culinary Queens were at it again with some fabulous Greek food and spirits….Garides Ala Plaka (succulent prawns), delicious earthy chewy breads to soak up all the incredible juices, Fava Skordalia (yellow split peas with garlic – “hummus style”), Horiatiki Salata (tomato, cucumber & feta salad), Dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves), Keftaidakia ( lamb meatballs), Tzatziki (herbed yogurt/cucumber sauce), Syka Sto Fournou (baked fresh figs with brandy & herbs), Peponi Me Ouzo (ouzo spiked melon), and Portokalia Se Marothaphne (Port laden Navel orange orbs). If you have never tried Greek cooking or food, you are missing out! These foods are “of the earth” and based on seasonality, freshness and bold flavours. Several good cookbooks to learn from are “Greek Cooking for the Gods”, “The Foods of the Greek Islands”, and “The Complete Book of Greek Cooking”. Look out for some great Greek recipes to appear in our Foodie Adventures at the B&B!

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Washington County Fair Brenham TX

Pamela Murski — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 20:07:45 +0000

The Fair has officially come and gone and wow, was it lot’s of fun…rodeo, dancing, live bands, carnival, cattle judging & auctions, bull riding, BBQ cookoff and of course, “exotic fair food”! Our guests this year turned us on to the “deep fried pickles, twinkies and other funky fried foods”. We did try some so be sure to ask me what my tastebuds had to say about them when you come for a visit! Only a mile down the road from the B&B, our guests get to experience all the fun without the hassle of parking as we will ferry them to and fro! If you’ve never been to a county fair, you don’t want to miss ours which is the oldest in the state. Be sure to set your calendars for the second week September 2011 and make your reservation with us now for an experience of a lifetime!

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Fall Antiques Fairs Rooms Available

Pamela Murski — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:52:31 +0000

Get your comfy walking shoes, hat and the truck ready. It’s time for the fall Antiques season! Washington County and neighboring Fayette County
transform into an antiques mecca twice a year (last part of March to
early April and last part of September to early October) I took these photos 2 days ago and you can see the tents are up for mile after mile. … The B&B has a few nights still open. Call now 877-690-0676 to get your room or book online! Don’t miss all the great fun and treasures to be found!

Cooking Class Texas Bed and Breakfast Ranch

Pamela Murski — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:54:29 +0000

Cooking Class Fruit Tart

Fun, fun, fun and lots of good food……that’s how our cooking classes are described by our participants. We just finished up another great weekend of cooking, harvesting, shopping at the Farmers’ Markets, visiting and most of all tasting and eating our way through many dishes. One of the favorites was the Roasted Fresh Fruit Tart made with buttery puff pastry and fresh peaches, plums and berries procured at the Farmers Market!

Antiques, Bed and Breakfast, Brenham Texas

Pamela Murski — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 08:47:55 +0000

Brenham Texas is known for its’ history, architecture, wineries, Blue Bell ice cream, shopping, restaurants and famous Fall and Spring antiques fairs. True antique hunters also know we also have several antique shows throughout the year here locally. At the most recent Summer show, held at the KC Hall just a couple miles from the Bed and Breakfast, I procured a new treasure that has already found a home on my pine harvest table. This English Copper Warming Tray has a beautiful patina from years of service. It will be put back in service during many of our Foodie events and cooking class adventures.

Antique English Copper Warming Tray

Foodie Weekend TX Bed and Breakfast Style

Pamela Murski — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:52:15 +0000

What a great time we had recently with the Foodie Weekend participants with adventures at several local farmers markets, harvesting herbs from the ranch gardens for class, snatching a few fresh figs for our dessert from a friends back yard after spying them ripening on the tree, an unexpected detour from the last market to take everyone on a scenic history drive through the country side back to the B&B, cooking together and lots of good food! One of the favorites’ from the Friday night heavy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails was this amazing Texas Slider, a Murski Homestead B&B classic recipe…..venison/turkey fresh herbed patty, oozing jalapeno jack cheese, house made remoulade, fresh avocado slices and buttered grilled bun! A little messy but oh, so, so good…….

Brenham TX Washington County

Pamela Murski — Sun, 09 May 2010 16:50:34 +0000

If you are looking for a reason to come visit the ranch and Washington County….look no further! Check out this cool youtube video! Washington County

Birding, Texas B&B, Washington County

Pamela Murski — Fri, 07 May 2010 20:53:52 +0000

Our local bird expert conducted another successful guide in the are recently at Camp Allen. The ranch has a very diverse birding habitat and home to various species year round. You can book a private guided tour with our expert when staying at the B&B. Just let us know your dates ahead of time so we can secure his services! You won’t be disappointed.

Nesting Baby Bluebirds

Some of the sightings on this latest tour were:

Blue-winged Teal- a pair on Lake Coffield

Little Blue Heron- one adult

Cattle Egret- 7

Black Vulture- 5

Turkey Vulture- 4

Mississippi Kite- 5

Red-shouldered Hawk- 2

Broad-winged Hawk- 7+

Crested Caracara- 1

Franklin’s Gull- 20+

Mourning Dove- 3

Yellow-billed Cuckoo- 1

Chimney Swift- 4

Red-headed Woodpecker- 3

Red-bellied Woodpecker- 4

Downy Woodpecker- 4

Pileated Woodpecker- 1 heard on Brindley Trail

Great Crested Flycatcher- 3

Eastern Kingbird- 4

White-eyed Vireo- 8+

Yellow-throated Vireo- one heard singing behind the horse stables

Red-eyed Vireo- 2

Blue Jay- 6+

American Crow- 20+

Barn Swallow- 8+

Carolina Chickadee- 4

Tufted Titmouse- 5

Carolina Wren- 3

Swainson’s Thrush- 2 heard singing

Northern Mockingbird- 3

Cedar Waxwing- 10+

Tennessee Warbler- one singing

Nashville Warbler- two singing

Northern Parula- 3

Pine Warbler- 10+

Black-and-white Warbler- 3 singing

Swainson’s Warbler- one observed well and 5 others heard singing

Common Yellowthroat- 2 calling/singing

Hooded Warbler- 5+

Summer Tanager- male, female, and imm. male

Northern Cardinal- 12+

Indigo Bunting- at least 2 heard singing in grassy clearing

Painted Bunting- adult male and immature male(both singing)

Dickcissel- 20+ heard overhead

Common Grackle- 4

Brown-headed Cowbird- 3

American Goldfinch- one heard overhead near horse stables

Cooking Class at Texas Bed and Breakfast

Pamela Murski — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:01:51 +0000

Another great cooking class recently with journalist and friends in the area was held at the ranch. The class got off to a fun start with house made Rosemary Peach Martinis and finished up with Tiramisu. Dinner was enjoyed on the century old front porch in the cool of an evening shower. The wildflowers were starting their show in the surrounding hills and fields.

Birding Near Brenham TX B&B

Pamela Murski — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:29:52 +0000

Our local birding expert and tour guide, Darrell Vollert, conducted another successful bird banding workshop recently where a variety of birds including a female Cedar Waxwing and an immature Sharp-shinned Hawk were caught and banded. The hawk was chasing a waxwing when it was netted in the woods. Workshop participant Phil held the hawk while we took pictures of the bird. Another bird banding workshop will be held in early June. Mist nets will be set up in the Navasota River bottom and the focus will be on nesting flycatchers, vireos, warblers, and buntings. Be sure to book your lodging now so as not to miss this event. You do not have to be experienced to attend. Darrell is a wonderful instructor and guide.

Below is the list of birds seen during this particular bird banding day.

Turkey Vulture

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Mourning Dove

Barn Swallow

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Carolina Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Carolina Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Eastern Bluebird

Hermit Thrush

Northern Mockingbird

Cedar Waxwing

Northern Parula

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Chipping Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Brown-headed Cowbird