Cherry Almond Muffins

Posting a recipe on this little blog of mine is long overdue.  Sorry!  And, since I got a request this morning for this very one mentioned on Facebook, well, I thought why not just get to it...  It is yummy after all, and a good one to try for any morning breakfast treat, but especially for Sunday.  Which is tomorrow.  So, get shopping and be ready to go.  It will be worth it.  Just be sure to use all the cherry preserves to get enough of this very important flavor in each bite!

Thanks, Cathy, for spurring me on!  And, thanks to repeat guests, Jim and Diane for sharing.  It only took me 4 years to make them!

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, Bella Rose, Canandaigua, foodies, new recipe, romantic getaway

All joking aside, it is Spring, although the weather and the calendar aren't in agreement with one another here in Canandaigua, NY.  Winter, and everything that comes with it, is past and we are ready to take on a new season with gusto!  Vacation break in the sunny south is over, and we have tackled our winter "to do" list in earnest.  Carpets have been cleaned, everything that could be scrubbed and polished, has been, and painting, touched up.  The B&B looks brand new again, which is our annual goal.  Cushions have been "restuffed" for Ann Eliza's Suite loveseat, an antique chair has been reupholstered because, well, it just needed it.  We have also upgraded our flat-screen HDTV's in two rooms - Ann Eliza's Suite now has a big honkin' 37incher and Evie's Chamber has the 26incher from the suite.  We still have a couple of minor things to tend to before hitting the great outdoors, but the place looks great - if I do say so myself!  We have also added a couple new recipes to the rotation, one being bacon wrapped eggs in polenta that is just YUMMY.  So, we are ready!  Plan your visit to the beautiful Finger Lakes, Canandaigua, and Bella Rose B&B, SOON!  Spring has sprung!

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, Bella Rose, Canandaigua, Finger Lakes, foodies, guests, new recipe, romantic getaway, vacation

How can it be a new year already?  It seems as if I published a similar title just yesterday, but it must have been a year ago.  Doesn't seem possible.  Time flies by so fast and sometimes it feels like just a blur.  I'm sure you know the feeling.

But this year is just slightly different, and I must admit, I'm glad we aren't the superstitious type.  It is the year 2013 and if that isn't bad enough, we are starting our seventh year.  Some people might think the number 7 is lucky, but others might be thinking......uh oh, it's the year one gets itchy.  You know, "the seven year itch".  THAT doesn't sound positive does it?  Mix that with the number 13 and one might be a bit intimidating going forward.

Well, that's poppycock.  We have nothing to fear as life in the B&B world just keeps getting better.  Already this year we met a wonderful young couple visiting the area from Florence, Italy.  They were here five nights, which isn't so special by itself, but when you take into account that they were only going to stay ONE, it becomes pretty neat.  They enjoyed their time here enough to keep adding a night until they had no more to add.  It was a delight to get to know them and talk of Italy (you know I'm Italian, right?) and fondly remember our trip there in 2010.  But, I digress....  The point is, if that's any indication of how 2013 will be, it will be great.  More people to come from far away lands, more people to meet and talk to and learn fun things about other parts of this great world, and more people to feed!  Yes, I know you know that we like to do a pretty darn special breakfast at Bella Rose, and this year will be no different.

So, "BE GONE" with any bad luck the number 13 could bring, or any "seven year itch".  We look forward to another great year with our B&B and seeing you anytime you feel like coming by.   Speaking of which, isn't it time you planned a little getaway?   Here's to a great 2013 for you, for us, for everyone!  Cheers!

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, breakfast, Finger Lakes, guests, romantic getaway, vacation

And, with blink of an eye, summer in the beautiful Finger Lakes is gone.  Just like that.  History. One wonders (or at least I do) why does it go so fast???  smh.  Amazing, really.

But the Fall brings some new and different things to Bella Rose B&B.  Well, maybe one is new and different....  We often put out fresh baked cookies in the colder months when guests are more prone to stay in more and go out less.  This year we decided to add the option of self-serve coffee, tea and hot chocolate in the form of a......wait for it......yes, you guessed it, a good ol' Keurig machine.  It was time. And even though it is just little over a week old, it is already a hit.  We set it up for the evening and take it down at bedtime.  For those who still like that early cup of java to jump start their morning, we oblige with fresh coffee from the kitchen.  (We still like the chance to say "good morning"to you, as silly as that might sound).  So no Keurig in the morning, but those cold, "snuggle your honey" evenings, it's all yours.

Winter will be here in Canandaigua soon.  Too soon, I imagine.  That means you should plan to come and enjoy a little getaway, camping out in front of your own toasty fireplace, sipping on a cup of something hot, and relax, relax, relax.  And, go ahead and try to watch a movie from the DVD library....see if YOU can get through it without falling asleep.  I dare you to try.....

Happy Fall, everyone!

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, Bella Rose, Canandaigua, Finger Lakes, getaway, romantic getaway, vacation, Winter

Man, is it ever hot in the Finger Lakes! This is one of the hottest summers in Canandaigua, NY, in a very long time, at least as long as we've hug the "Open" shingle outside Bella Rose B&B, which is now in its sixth season.  (Wow, can that be true???)  Anyhoo, today is in the upper 90's and the humidity almost just as high.  Wicked hot!  Why does this matter in a blog post, you ask?  WELL, I have a bit of "cool" news to share....  This year we elected to add to our already fantastic central a/c system and boy are we thrilled we did!  It couldn't have come at a better time!

If you stayed with us in years past, you will probably fondly recall that our upstairs bedrooms were always cold compared to the downstairs.  I guess if any room should be cool in a Bed & Breakfast, especially for sleeping, it should be the bedrooms.  So, I gave us high points on planning that very well.  But, what we neglected to consider when renovating the house all those years, is how warm the dining room could get during breakfast time when all the cold air was being enjoyed in the bedrooms.  The empty and CLOSED bedrooms at that time of day, I might add.  It just didn't dawn on us until it, well, summer arrived and some days it was a tad warm during breakfast.  Too warm for us as hosts who might "sweat" the details from time-to-time.  (Like the pun?)

Well, that's all changed.  Bella Rose B&B is no longer too warm during breakfast.  It is a cool 73 degrees and now our guests not only get to enjoy an incredible breakfast (if I do say so myself), but they get to enjoy it comfortably too.  So, now there is no reason to not come to the Finger Lakes for your next getaway, even in the dog days of summer.  We have your room ready, it is downright cool, and so is the rest of the house.  Yahoo!  Our current guests don't even know it, but they are happier this year and because of that, so am I!  Bring On Summer!!!!

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, Bella Rose, Canandaigua, Finger Lakes, getaway, guests, romantic getaway, vacation

CMAC Schedule of Events  Well, by now you have all heard of Canandaigua's fantastic concert venue, called CMAC.  It stands for something I can't quite recall exactly, but that's unimportant.  The important thing to know is this is where the action will be starting very soon.  June 1 to be precise.  And people will come in groves, from all over the country, following their favorite music group or artist.  The line-up this year is particularly good, and true to form there are a lot of great country artists scheduled.  Anyone who loves country music knows these concerts are always a huge draw here in Canandaigua whether you want to be under the shell and protected from the elements, or sitting on the hillside looking up at the stars dancing your little hearts out.  Out of the gates to start the year off right is Steve Winwood on June 1, followed closely by Lady A (Lady Antebellum) on June 3.  Lady A was announced last Fall, so you know the anticipation will be high.  Soon after will be Crosby, Stills and Nash; Tim McGraw, Journey, Kelly Clarkson, and so much more, right up until Sept. 2.  So, if you haven't planned your summer getaway for a concert under the Finger Lake stars in beautiful Canandaigua, New York, you should.  Time waits for no man and it's best to think ahead -- especially if you plan to make it a true getaway and need accommodations.  We at Bella Rose B&B are ready and waiting for your call.  It will be so worth the trip!

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, Bella Rose, Canandaigua, CMAC, Concert, Finger Lakes, getaway, vacation

Labels: Bed and Breakfast, Bella Rose, Canandaigua, Finger Lakes, NYS, romantic getaway, Sonnenberg, vacation