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August 10, 2021

Sticky Toffee Pudding Coffeecake

Our new cookbook includes the recipe for Chef Bob’s creation, Sticky Toffee Pudding Coffeecake. We include this recipe by popular demand—when it is served for breakfast practically everyone wants the recipe!

Sticky Toffee Pudding Coffeecake

Coffeecake

1 1/2 c pitted dates, chopped
1 t baking soda
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t kosher salt
4 T unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 c granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat a 9 x 13” cake pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper. In a small saucepan cover the dates with one cup of water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and whisk in baking soda; mixture will foam up. Let cool slightly. Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle beat the butter with granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. In 2 alternating batches beat in the dry ingredients and date mixture until must incorporated. Scrape the batter into prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn the cake onto a rack and peel off the parchment. Carefully return the cake, top side down, to the pan. Using a skewer, poke 15 to 20 holes in the cake. Pour half the warm sauce over the cake and let stand until absorbed, about 5 minutes. Invert onto a platter and poke another 15 to 20 holes in the top. Pour the remaining sauce over the top. Serve warm.

Sauce

1/2 c dark brown sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, cubed
1/2 c heavy cream
2 t brandy
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 t kosher salt

While the cake is cooling make the sauce. Bring the brown sugar, butter and heavy cream to boil over moderate heat, whisking to dissolve the sugar. Simmer over moderately low heat for 2 minutes, continually whisking. Remove from heat and whisk in brandy, vanilla, and salt. Keep warm.

August 5, 2021

Day Trip from Buckhorn Inn to the Biltmore Estate

My brother, Herb Galbreath, and his family invited me to join them on a day trip to the magnificent Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  The estate is about an hour and 40 minutes from Buckhorn Inn.  I recommend this highly as a day trip when you are staying with us.

Touring the Biltmore mansion is a wonderful day trip from Buckhorn Inn.

The magnificent Biltmore Estate is a short drive from Buckhorn Inn.

A Brief Biltmore History

George Washington Vanderbilt II built the estate between 1889 and 1995.  His daughter Cornelia opened the house to visitors in 1930 to help the area get through the Great Depression.  The French Renaissance-style house was designed by Richard Morris Hunt and was modeled on various grand chateaus.  Among its more than 250 rooms, the house features a bowling alley, an indoor swimming pool, and electric elevators.  

The 10 square miles of grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmstead.  Vanderbilt was interested in the environment and the surrounding forest was the site of the first forestry education program in the United States.

The Biltmore grounds feature a woven willow sculpture by Patrick Dougherty.

Here are my nieces, Megan and Jessica, posing by a stick work sculpture by Patrick Dougherty.

Tips for Visiting the Estate

1,  Be sure to buy your ticket in advance as they sometimes sell out.  

2.  If you can, plan your trip for a weekday when it will be a bit less crowded.  

3.  All tours of the house require a timed reservation.  The peak crowds arrive in the morning, so you may want to visit the gardens, conservatory, winery, and other areas first and plan your house tour for 2:00 pm or later.  

2.  Don’t forget to visit the amazing gardens—you will be glad you did.  

3.  The regular tours through the house are self-guided.  They offer an audio guide which tells you facts about the house, the family, and history of the time.  It is very informative.  

4.  Allow about 2 hours to tour the house.

The audio guide provides helpful details in each room.

Timing your visit for non-peak hours will provide a more intimate experience.

5.  Allow time to explore Antler Village with its crafts demonstrations, Vanderbilt museum, shops, and winery.  It is about five miles from the house.

For more information, visit http://Www.Biltmore.com