Geocaching - New Event

So how many of you know of or have participated in GEOCHACHING?  If this is a new term for you then let me explain what  geocaching is. It is a global scavenger hunt involving deposits of information and items hidden around areas in communities where you use your GPS to navigate to the hiding places. Website Geocaching.com gets more than 123 million visits annually and it noted geocaching has grown by 30 percent a year in recent years. The directory of GeoTours spans from our local Lorain County to Alsace, France, to 44 geocaches in the Andes Mountains of Peru. What a great way to explore the world! Extensive details can be found at the geocaching website.

Beginning in October this popular activity is coming to Lorain County and you are invited to participate! This is an adventure for individuals, couples, families, cyclists, teams. Come and play the game then stick around to enjoy the Metro Parks, the wineries, the shopping, the Zip Line, the museums, the fall colors, and much more. 

The kick off is this Saturday, October 4 where the cache coordinates will be revealed. There already are 49 geocaches hidden along the North Coast Inland Trail between Kipton, Oberlin and Elyria, and the trails that connect High Meadows, Bur Oak, Day’s Dam and the Steel Mill Trail of Lorain and Sheffield Village. There is also an Underground Railroad geocache trail around Oberlin. To find out the coordinates attend the breakfast from 9:30-11 a.m. Oct. 4 at the Black River Landing Transportation Center, 421 Black River Lane, Lorain. The new geocache trail coordinates will be released at 11 a.m. Then you are off and running or driving or biking. Have fun! And remember we have great accommodations here at Hallauer House so come, play, and stay!

Check out this article in the Morning Journal for some more information.

B & B's for Vets

For a number of years the bed and breakfast industry has had a program called B & B's for Vets as a way of thanking active duty military and veterans from all branches for their service to our country. Over 400 B & B's nation wide have participated in the program by offering a free night or discounts.

This will be the 5th year that Hallauer House B & B is offering all 3 of our rooms for FREE to active and retired military personnel. This is on a first to call first to get a room basis and spouses and significant others are most welcome to join you. The night we have set aside for you is Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014.

Here are some of the things you will find at Hallauer House:

• Civil War stories, artifacts, and uniforms (be glad you didn't have to wear one of those!)
• Complimentary breakfast
• Pool table
• Ping pong
• Exercise equipment
• Dry heat sauna
• Free WIFI
• Gardens
• Outdoor fireplaces
• Indoor fireplaces
• Whirlpool tub
• Friendly hosts - Joe is a veteran and our daughter is in the US Coast Guard and her close friend is in the Airforce

While here you can explore Oberlin: the Art Museum, the Heritage Center,  the restored movie theater, the quaint shops, the many fine restaurants, and Oberlin College campus. Just a short distance away is the Canopy Tour and Zip Line as well as our local wineries.

So don't wait. Pick up the phone and call 877-774-3406 or 440-774-3400 to get your free night! And be sure to check out the B & B's for Vets website for other b and b's in the free night program just in case we are full or too far away. Hope to see you soon and thank you all for your service.

Winery Entertainment in Lorain County

Coming to Lorain County this weekend? Do you like wine? How about entertainment while you drink wine? Then check out what is going on at the closest wineries to Hallauer House B & B.

Matus Winery is the closet at 3 miles down US Rt. 20 to Gore Orphanage Rd. Y
This weekend  drink wine or peach mango and sangria slushies while you listen to guitar music by Dan Robertson.

Paper Moon Winery offers acoustic entertainment by Big Fin and on Saturday enjoy jazz by Two-Bari Saxes.

And if you like classic cars and good food, you must go to Vermilion Valley Winery where they are hosting a clam bake and a classic car show on Saturday and Sunday the 6th and 7th.

Have a great time and enjoy the wine!

Recipe - Blueberry Oatmeal Streusel French Toast

So this mornings menu consisted of

Mango and cherries topped with Cherry Sorbet, 

Jelly Doughnut Muffins

Blueberry Oatmeal Streusel French Toast

drizzled with Warm Maple Rum Sauce

Honey Mustard Sausage links

The votes came in that everything was great especially the blueberry french toast and all three guests requested the recipe. So below find said recipe!

BLUEBERRY OATMEAL STREUSEL FRENCH TOAST

serves 8

12 1- inch thick slices french bread 

1 pint blueberries

8 large eggs

3 cups half and half

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1 T. vanilla extract

1 T. ground cinnamon

1. Coat a 9 X 12 inch baking dish with non-stick spray.

2. Cut bread into 1 inch cubes and layer evenly in baking dish.

3. Sprinkle blueberries on top of bread cubes

4. Combine eggs, half and half, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon and beat for 2 minutes on med. speed. Pour mixture over bread.

TOPPING

1 cup toasted pecans

1 stick softened butter

1 cup packed light brown sugar

2 T. dark corn syrup

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats (not instant or quick)

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1. Place pecans in single layer on cookie sheet and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 5-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

2. Combine butter, sugar, and corn syrup and mix on medium high speed for about 2 min. until creamy.

3. Fold in pecans, oats, and nutmeg and mix just to combine.

4. Dollop topping on top of  bread. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning:

1. Bring the dish to room temperature while preheating oven to 375 degrees

2. Place dish in oven with rimmed baking sheet underneath to catch drippings (It will drip!)

3. Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes.

4. Remove foil and bake another 10 - 15 minutes until set.

5. Lower oven temperature to 275 degrees and leave for another 10-15 minutes.

6. Remove from oven and let rest for at least 20 minutes until firm.

7. Drizzle with warm Maple Rum Sauce

MAPLE RUM SAUCE

Makes 2 cups

11/2 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup plus 3 T. spiced rum

3 tsp. cornstarch 

1. Combine the cream, sugar, maple syrup, and 1/3 cup rum in sauce pan and bring to a boil SLOWLY over low heat.

2. Dissolve corn starch in remaining 3 T of rum.

3. Whisk the cornstarch mixture, lower the heat, and cook for another 2 minutes, until thickened.

4. Remove from heat. Serve warm. Store in refrigerator for few days or freeze up to 3 weeks.

 Recipe adapted from The Art of Breakfast by Dana Moos