Posts Tagged ‘Murski Homestead B&B’
September 15th, 2011 by Pamela Murski
Roses
The Antique Rose Emporium (ARE) hosts its annual Fall Festival of Roses in November with three days of free garden-related seminars presented by nationally and internationally known speakers and gardening tours. The ranch is located just a short drive down a beautiful country road from this amazing nursery & garden center.
Antique Rose Emporium, with its 8 acres of landscaped grounds, is located at 10000 FM 50 in Independence, Texas. For more information about the annual Fall Festival of Roses, call 979-836-5548.
Tags: antique rose emporium, Brenham Bed and Breakfast, Herbs, Murski Homestead B&B, ranch packages, roses, Washington County
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November 27th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Apple Pie
Nothing tastes better than a slice of homemade apple pie hot from the ovens at Murski Homestead B&B! Add a little Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream and you are really set…..this is one of the easiest recipes, so give it a try.
Super Easy Apple Pie
3/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp. lemon juice
zest of
1 lemon
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbsp. apricot brandy
pinch of salt
Apple Pie
5 baking apples, pared, cored, thinly sliced
2 oz. butter, melted
1 unbaked pie shell, 9-in. diameter
1/2 lb. apricot jam
1 oz. sugar
Combine sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, cinnamon, brandy and salt. Neatly arrange apples in pie shell; pour sugar mixture over. Brush with melted butter. Bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F; bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden. Combine jam and sugar in sauce pan; heat to boiling. Push through fine strainer; heat to boiling. Brush over baked pie. (I used twists of pie crust on the top of this pie for additional visual appeal and texture.)
Tags: apples, Blue Bell, Cooking, culinary, Desserts, Murski Homestead B&B, pie, ranch, Recipes
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November 6th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Blueberry-Ginger Cream
Blueberry-Ginger Cream
(4 – 6 servings)
1″ x 2″ piece of fresh ginger
2 C whole milk
4 egg yolks
1/2 C sugar, divided
2 Tb. + 2 tsp. cornstarch
4 Tb. butter, cut into small pieces
slight pinch of salt, to taste
2 C fresh blueberries
2 t water
2 T sugar, to taste
Peel and cut the ginger into thin slices. Pour the milk into a saucepan, add the ginger slices and 1/4 C sugar and bring to a low simmer, stirring to combine. Remove from heat, cover and steep for about a half hour, tasting for strength. Strain the milk to remove the ginger slices and reheat to a low simmer.
Whisk together the yolks with the remaining 1/4 C sugar. Add the cornstarch and whisk thoroughly until the mixture is light yellow. Slowly add the hot milk, whisking constantly to temper the eggs. Return to the heat and bring to a very slow boil, stirring slowly and constantly. Cook for about 2 minutes. Take off the heat and add the butter pieces, stirring until the cream smooths out. Add a slight pinch of salt, to taste. Pour into a clean container and press a piece of plastic wrap into the surface. Set aside to cool.
Combine the fresh blueberries, water and sugar in a saucepan. Cook over low heat for just a few minutes until the fruit gets saucy. Set aside to cool.
Layer the cream with the blueberries in a parfait glass or scoop into a bowl.
Tags: blueberries, Breakfast, Cooking, custard, dessert, Murski Homestead B&B, parfaits
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November 3rd, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Tortilla Soup with Chicken, Avocado & White Mexican Cheese
Nothing says “Fall” better than a really good bowl of delicious soup! Earthy, slightly spicy, sublime, down home good is how I describe really good homemade tortilla soup. The soup is simple to make and is even better the day after it is made. Serve it with chunks of hearth style bread for soaking up all the delicious juices while savoring every bite. Fresh avocado and Mexican white cheese is a must! Pair it with a spicy red wine, such as the ”Saucy Red” from our local “Windy Winery” located just a few miles down from the B&B.
Chicken Tortilla Soup:
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Tags: chicken, chicken tortilla soup, Cooking, culinary travel, Murski Homestead B&B, soup, tortilla, vegetables
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October 27th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
It’s that time of year again! The 2011 Ranch Cooking Class Schedule is now available. This is the perfect time to plan a fantastic Texas Ranch Culinary Vacation to one of our Cooking classes or Foodie Events. Even if you have attended a cooking class before don’t let that detour you.
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Cooking Class Tart
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Cooking Class
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Hors d’oeuvres!
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Ravioli Cooking Class
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Sweet Potato-Maple Cream Soup
Foodie Weekends, are for those who like to cook, for Foodies and for Spectators who love food in all forms! Guests determine the depth of their involvement, with options ranging from a visit to an area farmer’s market, local winery, garden harvest, cooking with me or just enjoying the great food! Whether you are a Foodie, avid cook, spectator or wannabe cook, these events are all about creating memorable experiences in a relaxing atmosphere involving food, spontaneous cooking and creating ways to take the everyday recipe to the next level.
Every class and event is chock full of new recipes that you can duplicate at home! This is a great gift idea for that home cook you know. Itinerary and dates…
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Tags: classes, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Food, Murski Homestead B&B, packages, ranch, wine
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October 21st, 2010 by Pamela Murski
“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
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Tags: Brenham, Cooking, culinary queens, culinary travel, Food, Fun, Greek Food, Murski Homestead B&B
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October 12th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
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Fall Cabbages
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Herbs for sale: Antique Rose Emporium
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Scarecrow
With dill as the herb of the year, it is a good idea to start planting it in the garden soon. Be sure to plant lots of its wonderful familial relatives such as parsley, fennel, lovage, cilantro, and chervil. Now is also a good time to start planting other cool season plants such as kale, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, chard, spinach, lettuce, collards, mustard, turnips, beets, and such. Stick some of these into your flower beds for interest. ‘Redbor’ and ‘Winterbor’ kales with their dark purple or soft green leaves look great with pansies, snapdragons, calendulas, dianthus, chartreuse lettuces, parsley and cilantro – the bonus is
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Tags: Fall, gardens, Herbs, Murski Homestead B&B, plants, ranch, roses, vegetables
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October 7th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Street foods have a rich and colorful history where all strata of society, from fishwives to royalty, have played a role in its evolution. Foods of the World—Street Food was chosen as the theme for the September Culinary meeting. My friends hall and back porch were converted into the “street” from which delicious foods such as Italian and Caribbean kebabs and Bolivian cheese empanadas were served. As we continued our “world tour” we sampled falafel from Arabia, spicy potato roti from India, and other delicious treats. Cranberry kvass is a popular thirst quencher in Russia. We were dubious about the mildly fermented creation, but were pleased to discover it was actually quite good. A favorite recipe
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Tags: chinese, Cooking, culinary travel, egg noodles, Murski Homestead B&B, Recipes, Salad, street food, vegetables
Posted in Sides/Vegetables/Pasta | Comments Off
September 26th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
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,
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Tags: activities, Brenham, culinary travel, Food, Fun, local scene, Murski Homestead B&B, rodeo, Washington County
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September 16th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
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Zucchini Gratin
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Leg of Lamb Persillade
Easy French food was the order of the day for the B&B Foodie Weekend Cooking Class recently! After a foray to the local Farmers Market, we settled into the kitchen to begin cooking. The menu included Scallops Provencal, Warm Cremini Mushroom Salad with Arugula and Prosciutto, Roasted Leg of Lamb Persillade, Zucchini Gratin, and Fresh Strawberry Sorbet! Look for some of the great recipes to come…..the lamb was especially succulent with no gaminess due to a new method of preparation I taught during the class.
The Method:
Lamb and Brine
1 (3 pound) boneless leg of lamb, trimmed
2 Tb. kosher salt
(or 1 Tb. table salt)
2 Tb. sugar
6 medium garlic cloves, crushed
Garlic-Parsley Paste
1 medium head garlic, outer papery skins removed and top
third of head cut off & discarded
1 Tb. olive oil
1 Tb. minced fresh
parsley leaves
Combine salt, sugar and garlic with 2 quarts water in large bowl; stir until salt and sugar dissolve. Open roast and remove all visible fat and connective tissue/coverings (this is a major step in reducing the gaminess!). Lightly score
inside of lamb roast, making ¼ inch deep cuts spaced 1 inch apart in crosshatch pattern. Submerge lamb in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
While lamb is brining, adjust oven rack to middle position and heat to 400 degrees. Place garlic head cut side up on sheet of foil and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap foil tightly around garlic; place on baking sheet and roast until coves are very soft and golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. When cool enough to handle, squeeze garlic head to remove cloves from skins. Mash cloves into paste with side of chef’s knife. Combine 1 tablespoon of garlic paste and parsley leaves in small bowl.
Remove lamb from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Rub garlic-parsley paste into scored surface working paste
into cuts. Season with salt and pepper. Roll lamb into compact roast, tucking in to form a log/leg shape. Tie with twine at 1 inch intervals.
Proceed with your favorite roasting method and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
Tags: classes, Cooking, culinary travel, Food, Lamb, Meat/Entree', Murski Homestead B&B, packages, Recipes
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September 7th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Longhorns
Washington On The Brazos located near Brenham, Texas celebrates Texas Independence Day in grand fashion. Murski Homestead Bed and Breakfast, an original Texas homestead ranch B&B, located just down Hwy 105 is the perfect place to stay while enjoying Texas history and touring the area. We recently stepped back in time to experience some Texas history following suit by our guests after fueling up for the day with a hearty breakfast at the ranch. The following article gives a enticing glimpse about experiencing Texas history: Washington On The Brazos Independence Day Celebration
Tags: activities, Brenham, history, lodging, Murski Homestead B&B, ranch, Washington County
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August 29th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Lemon Mousse Fresh Berry Trifle
I love the look of layered foods and dishes…..almost everything in life benefits from layering and textures. This trifle is scrumptious and light all at the same time. If you like Lemon Curd, you will devour this lemon mousse. Couple with the sweet tart flavor of fresh berries such as strawberry, blueberry and raspberry and pound cake, it is a dessert worthy of starring at your finest dinner….with our without company. (My granddaughter claimed it was better than birthday cake—both servings!) It is a recipe that will some day find its’ way onto a Foodie Weekend menu. Recipe:
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Tags: Brenham, cake, Cooking, Food, fruit, lemons, Murski Homestead B&B, Recipes, trifle, wine
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August 26th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
The summer brought on the grasshoppers and leaf cutters but the gardens transitioned beautifully from Spring to Summer producing zinnias, gladiolus, sweet peas, roses, flowering basils, incredible cardoon blossoms, and so much more. Our vegetable gardens at the B&B were chock full of cucumbers, squash, thyme, fennel, colorful swiss chard, bell peppers, basil, yellow and red tomatoes. We spied this fun cucumber that we had missed that was now firmly entrenched in the landscaping timbers! What were your gardens like this summer?
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Cucumber
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Gladiola
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Daylillies
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Figs
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Cardoon
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Yellow Tomatoes
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Zinnia
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Gomphrena
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Sunflower
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Coneflower
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Daylilly
Tags: Brenham, Flowers, gardens, Herbs, lodging, Murski Homestead B&B, ranch, vegetables, Washington County
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August 23rd, 2010 by Pamela Murski
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Herb Cooking Class/Batten Foundation Luncheon
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Pear Compote with Bay, Honey & Greek Yogurt
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Cooking Instructor, Pamela Murski
I was so pleased to be able to donate an herb cooking class luncheon benefiting the Luke and Rachel Batten Foundation recently. This rare childhood disease for which there is currently no cure, is extremely brutal and robs children of a full life span. The foundation raises money for research and awareness to give these children and their families a ray of hope during their battle. Thanks go out to that special group of Chappell Hill women who purchased the cooking class luncheon and came to the B&B for the special event!
We started off the class
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Tags: Batten Foundation, Brenham, classes, cooking class, Food, fundraiser, local scene, Luke and Rachel Batten Foundation, Murski Homestead B&B
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August 18th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Peach, Plum & Berry Tart
This buttery delicious fruit tart was made during one of our recent cooking class weekends at the ranch. It harnesses all the delicious goodness of fresh fruit of the season and only needs the addition of a little sugar and spices to really complement the fresh sweet-tart taste of the peaches, plums and berries creating a burst of flavor with every bite! This tart is best eaten the day of cooking but will still be good the next day even though the crust will have lost its’ flaky crunch. Most people want to top fruit tarts with whipped cream or ice cream but the deliciousness of the fresh fruit and buttery flavor of the puff pastry don’t require any addition!
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Tags: berries, Cooking, Desserts, Food, Murski Homestead B&B, peaches, plums, puff pastry, Recipes
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August 13th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
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!
Tags: activities, Brenham, classes, Cooking, culinary, culinary travel, Food, Fun, Murski Homestead B&B
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August 5th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
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
Tags: activities, antique fairs, Brenham, Fun, local scene, Murski Homestead B&B, shopping, Washington County
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July 27th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Greek Salad
Summer time screams tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and basil….all fresh from the gardens at the B&B. This Greek Salad is a favorite and equally delicious as a side or the main course. Paired with crusty bread, herb butter, glass of vino and you have a feast!
Put together equal parts of chunked tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, whole black olives, fresh mozzarella balls or cubes, bite sized strips of fresh basil. Mix 1/3 balsamic vinegar with 2/3 good quality olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and drizzle over vegies. Toss to mix. Garnish with basil flowers and serve. Be sure not to overdress the salad….you can always serve extra dressing on the side. This salad is great to adjust to your own taste buds by adding whatever you have on hand that is fresh and creating your own version of summer salad. Fresh edible flower buds are a great addition as well as herb fronds such as fennel, thyme flowers, and Fiddle Head buds.
Tags: Cooking, Flowers, Food, Herbs, Murski Homestead B&B, Recipes, Salad, vegetables, Vinaigrette
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July 24th, 2010 by Pamela Murski
Our gardens at the ranch are worked year round so that we and our guests can enjoy being outside and the wild birds have plenty of food, water, hiding places and nesting material! We had a great flush this past Spring after the hard freezes of the winter helped put nature back in balance with growth patterns, weeds and bugs. We use of a lot of the flowers, herbs and fruits in our cooking classes and food preparation. There is nothing better than “farm fresh”. We encourage all our guests and cooking class participants to use anything they can find locally and fresh from the farmers markets and meat markets…..
Some great photos of some of our flowers and herbs:
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Tags: Brenham, Flowers, gardens, Herbs, lodging, Murski Homestead B&B, plants, ranch, Washington County
Posted in At the Ranch | Comments Off
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