Calling All Soccer Fans!

Soccer fans have probably never associated International Soccer with Lorain, Ohio. So do I have some news for you! During the week of August 10-17, 2008 there will be a World Youth Soccer Tournament at the Premier Soccer Academy in Lorain, Ohio! Teams will be coming from all over the world, including the United States PSA Academy and Rush Select XI from Colorado. Also participating will be Chivas and Club America from Mexico, the Venezuelan National Team, the Chile National Team, Blackburn Rovers Academy from United Kingdom, and the Nigeria National Team.

The Premier Soccer Academy, created by soccer great Brad Friedel, opened just a year ago in Lorain, which is in Northeast Ohio. It's mission is to provide the highest quality soccer education, experience, training, and enjoyment to young, talented soccer players
from around the world. It is a residency training facility where selected players learn, train, and live together for a year. And now in August, they will compete with other elite teams in the first annual international soccer tournament.

Sunday, August 10th is the opening ceremony with ticket prices at $9.00 for the day. Monday through Friday, the tickets will be $7.00. Saturday, Aug. 16th tickets will be $9.00 and Sunday tickets for Aug. 17th will be $12.00 and this includes the closing ceremony. Tickets are limited so make your plans soon. For information and tickets call 1-440-282-2007 or visit the website at http://www.gopsa.com/.

If you are a soccer fan or you have a child that plays soccer, then you won't want to miss this exciting tournament! Come on over to Lorain, Ohio, only 12 miles north of Oberlin right on State Rt. 58. Northeast Ohio is becoming a great area for tourists. Come and visit! You know you want too!!

Menu for Today's Guests

Blueberries are finally coming into season and what better way to serve them than atop a lucious cream filled blintz. But wait, you may be wondering, just what is a 'blintz'? Well, the typical definition says that it is a thin pancake with a sweet or savory filling, rolled up and then baked. But here at Hallauer House we think outside of the box and our 'blintz' layers the creamy filling between two layers of pancake like batter. Because it is baked in a 9 X 13 inch dish, it is quick and easy to prepare for 8 guests. When it is served, the fresh mouthwatering blueberries are placed on top and a natural blueberry sauce is served on the side in miniture pitchers. That way guests can opt for more or less sweetness. So here is the menu we served to our Saturday guests!

Struesel Swirled Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Fresh Fruit Compote of Kiwi, Pineapple, and Banana infused with a hint of orange, topped with Vanilla Cream Yogurt and garnished with fresh Lavendar spear

Cream Filled Blintz with Fresh Blueberries and Natural Blueberry Sauce

Dijon Links of Sausate

Garnish of Beebalm Flower atop Leaf

of Tansey

Selection of Teas - bag or loose

Hot Chocolate

Coffee with Selection of Flavorings

Sorry! No recipes today! But if you would like the Blintz recipe, just respond to the Blog and I will gladly post it right away!

Have a great evening and if you need a vacation and a great breakfast, just give us a call! You know you want too!

Try this great recipe!

June is busting out all over so here in Ohio we have lots of local strawberries! Sometimes we can't use them fast enough so they become a little overripe. Not to worry! We have a great recipe for those berries that have become a little soft and out of sorts. Here is what we do!

5 cups washed, cleaned, and hulled strawberries

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1 cup whipping cream

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1. Put cleaned berries in blender and puree for 1 minute.

2. Add remaining ingredients

3. Whirl until mixture looks like buttermilk, then pulse a few times more to be sure all ingredints are well blended.

4. Store in refrigerator overnight or in freezer for up to one month. Allow to thaw overnight before serving.

Makes about 8-10 one half cup servings.

Guests love this 'soup.' We garnish it with a variety of things, depending on season and what we have on hand. So don't give up on a little past prime fruit. Make it into soup!!

Calling all Scots!

Northern Ohio is calling all Scots and all those interested in being a Scot for the day! The annual Ohio Scottish Games will take place next Saturday, June 28th at the Lorain County Fairgrounds in Wellington. It will be a day full of heavy athletics where you can see the ever popular caber toss, the stone put, hammer throw, weight throw, and many others. If you prefer something musical, then you can sit in on the fiddle or harp competitions and get a thrill listening to the bagpippers and the celtic bands.
Prefer dancing? Then stop by the Highland dance competition where you can watch the dancers perform such things as the Sword Dance, Highland Fling, Deann Triubhas, Scottish Lilt, and Hornpipe to name just a few. The events go on and on beginning with a barbeque on Friday, British car and motorcycle display, solo piping and drumming, the kilted mile, golf, crafts and vendors all weekend. If you are of Scottish descent, then you will want to stop by the Clan
Village where you can get assistance with family and genealogy questions pertaining to your clan. Tickets can be purchased in advance at numerous locations. Visit the official Ohio Scottish Games website: http://www.ohioscottishgames.com/ for tickets and more information.

If you've already made plans to attend the Games, then we say 'Welcome!" If you want to come, and you know you do, then visit the website above to get oh so much more information. You won't be disappointed and you'll have lots of fun!

A Food and Wine Celebration!

So what are you doing on Saturday, July 19, 2008? Would you like to make a tax deductable contribution to the not-for-profit Veggie U? Would you like to meet famous chefs from all over the country and taste wine from top U.S. vineyards? Would you like to sit in on a food demonstration given by none other than Iron Chef participant Michael Simon? If you answered yes to all of the above, then have we got an event for you! An annual Food and Wine Celebration is taking place at The Culinary Vegetable Institure in Milan, Ohio just 25 miles northwest of Oberlin. Not only will you meet famous chefs,
taste great wine, sit in on food demonstrations, but you can participate in a silent auction and be musically entertained all evening! The event takes place on Saturday, July 19 from 5-9 P.M. at the grounds of The Culinary Vegetable Institute, 12304 Ohio Rt. 13 in Milan, Ohio. Tickets can be purchased by calling 419-499-7500 ext. 119. Ticket prices are $145.00 per person with $75.00 of that cost going to the not-for-profit Veggie U. For more information visit The Institute's website: http://veggieu.org/assets/misc/TicketInformation.htm. There really is a lot to do in northeast Ohio. Come on and visit. You know you want to!

Hot Air BalloonFest!

Hey All! If you're looking for something to do this Friday, June 20, you might want to consider coming to Wellington for the first ever Hot Air BalloonFest! The launch sight is at the American Legion, 518 S. Main St. which is also State Rt. 58. It's about 1 mile south of State Rt. 18 which is the center of town. The festivities kick off at 5 p.m. with 11 balloons scheduled to lauch. There are many other events scheduled for that evening also. At 5 p.m. there is an ala carte dinner of hot dogs, steakbergers, bratwurst, potato salad, baked beans and beverages. At 6 p.m. is the Southern Star Band.
The flight launch is at 6:30 p.m. with Para-gliders at 7. The Four Lads perform at 8 p.m. (ticket prices are $8.00 per person) and at 9:30 there will be a balloon glow (lighted balloon in flight). Throughout the evening there will be children's games, face painting, balloon sculptures, clowns, and 50/50 raffles. In case of rain or high winds, come on June 21 for the launch at 7 p.m. If you do come, and you know you want to!, bring blankets, chairs, and don't forget your camera! The entire fest is FREE except for the dinner and The Four Lads tickets. For more information go to Wellington website. http://www.villageofwellington.com/CurrentEvents.asp?EID=132

Then you will want to spend the night at Hallauer House B & B so that you can enjoy the festivities in Oberlin the next day, June 21! Oberlin is hosting the very popular 3rd annual Chalk Walk which is sponsored by the Allen Memorial Art Musuem, Main St. Oberlin, Oberlin Public Library, and FAVA (Firelands Association of Visual Art). The
masterpeices are being done by professional sidewalk painters but everyone will have the opportunity to let their creative juices flow! Pick up the FREE supplies and create your own chalk walk creations! Last year more than 400 people put chalk to sidewalk and many more were on hand to watch.
For more information go to the AMAN website. http://www.oberlin.edu/amam/OberlinChalkWalk.htm

Also taking place in Oberlin on June 21st is the Walk the Walk; Chalk the walk at the Oberlin Heritage Little Red Schoolhouse. You can drop in there and enjoy a number of free, chalk related games, including hopscotch and beanbag toss, blackboards, slate boards. There will be full tours of the historic buildings at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. ($6.00 fee for adults) For more information go to the Heritage website: http://www.oberlinheritage.org/upcoming.html#chalk

So come on over to Lorain County to Wellington and Oberlin for some close to home fun! We'll see you there!

I Can't Believe It!

Like I said in the title, "I can't believe it!" It being the fact that my last post was on March 27 and here it is June 12! Where did the last two months go? Well, to begin, April is one of our busiest months with accepted Oberlin highschoolers coming back for 'All Roads Lead to Oberlin' for final decision. Then there are the very numerous OC Conservatory recitals along with high school juniors coming for a first OC visit! And considering that Joe and I do all the work, we barely had time to turn around!





Then May came and family issues took the forefront! Driving our Coast Guard (Our daughter's CG Cutter Mohawk)

daughter and her car down to Key West was the first order of business that required 8 days of travel and leisure. One can't go to Key West and not take in the sights!

The Key West sunset!

But while we were there, our new granddaughter was born 8 days early! So as soon as we arrived home by plane, we rushed to spend time with Baby Georgia! Then a last minute cancellation for Oberlin College commencement sent us scurrying to find a replacement. (Thus our new graduation policy!) And then a somber moment when our oldest daughter needed surgery and help with recuperation. So now it is June and things are getting back to normal. Time now to enjoy the summer, the pool, and the gardens. Come and join us! I just finished the 'bigger stream and bigger pond!' (Let's hope it doesn't leak! We're filling it tomorrow!) Come and sit in the
Pavilion. Listen to the water fall into the pond and think about the important things in life! You know you want to!