CLASSIC BLUEBERRY CRUMB CAKE

CRUMB TOPPING

1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. coarse salt

1/2 c. packed light brown sugar                      1 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

In a medium bowl, combine cinnamon, salt, sugar and flour. Cut in butter using your hands, two knives, or a pastry cutter until well combined and crumbly.

CRUMB CAKE

2 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, plus more for pan

1 c. granulated sugar                  3 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 c. sour cream

3 c. wild Maine blueberries

confectioners sugar for dusting

crumb topping from above

Preheat oven to 350°. Into a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Butter a 9 X 13 baking pan. In the bowl of an electric mixer with paddle attachment, cream butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Add vanilla and beat until combined. Add reserved flour mixture and the sour cream and beat just until well combined. Fold in 2 cups of blueberries. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Toss remaining cup blueberries with crumb topping. Sprinkle crumb topping over cake. Bake until golden brown and cake tester comes out.

This has been an amazing year for us. We recently won Best B&B in Village Soup’s Best of the Best annual poll and then we get word that we have won another award from Yankee Magazine!!!

Their annual Best of New England issue, on newstands now, gives us an award in the Best in Maine Lodging category for Best Wraparound Porch!! As always, we are incredibly humbled!

And now for a picture of the porch.  We have always said this it is one of the best spots in Rockland.  Since it faces north, it is also one of the coolest spots on a warm summer afternoon, the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or a refreshing beverage in the afternoon.

Of course, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Here at LimeRock Inn, we offer all the modern amenities you would get at any high end hotel and more and we don’t charge extra for any of it. All our guest rooms feature flat panel TV’s with built in DVD players and Ipod docking stations. We have a 24 hour guest pantry that offers complimentary waters, soft drinks and a variety of snacks. The guest pantry also has an office center with computer, printer and fax machine and we have free secure wifi throughout the inn. Lastly, and most importantly, a three course gourmet breakfast is included in the room rate!!

This is really just the tip of the iceberg as to our offerings. Check out our website to learn more!! Or stop by and see for yourself!

The Company has been hugely successful since its recent inception having produced critically acclaimed performances of ‘The Man Who Came to Dinner’, ‘Gaslight’, ‘Private Lives’, ‘Two By Mann’ (by Camden’s Robert Manns), ‘The 39 Steps’ and more recently wrapped on their sell out performances of ’84 Charing Cross Road’. 

LimeRock Inn is proud to partner with Everyman’s Repertory Theatre to offer a package which includes one nights lodging in our luxurious inn and two tickets to the event on one of the dates above.  One night packages range in rate from $155 to $201 plus tax.  Add an additional night to your stay from $119 to $165 plus tax!

LimeRock Inn is located in Rockland’s downtown historic district on a quiet side street just steps from fine dining, eclectic shops and galleries and the World Renowned Farnsworth Art Musem.  Our eight luxuious guest rooms contain either a queen or kind bed, full private bath, some with jetted tubs.  A full gourmet breakfast is served each morning and is included in the room rate.  Come see why we were recently named the Best Location for Walking to Downtown Shops & Restaurants in 2011 by Lanier International!

Here is a composite shot I took of the super moon. It really was an amazing site!

The International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association’s (IFWTWA) Excellence Awards program recognizes the world’s finest travel and tourism industry professionals as experienced by the organization’s journalist members. Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine earned IFWTWA’s Award of Excellence in Hospitality for its outstanding inns and exemplary guest services.

According to the IFWTWA member journalist who nominated Historic Inns of Rockland for recognition: “The Historic Inns of Rockland (4 properties) all work together in setting and complying with high standards of service. In addition, they have received the State of Maine award for conservation practices. During the past two years, I have stayed at the inns, toured, eaten, interviewed innkeepers, videoed their kitchens and have been impressed with their commitment to service, cleanliness, green practices, friendliness, and delicious food.”

The award nomination was carefully evaluated and recommended by IFWTWA’s Excellence Awards Committee and the award approved by IFWTWA’s Board of Directors.

“As a winner of an IFWTWA Excellence Award, Historic Inns of Rockland demonstrates the professional standards that represent the best in the hospitality industry,” said Maralyn Hill, IFWTWA President. “This company and others in its class set – and raise – the bar in the hospitality field worldwide.”

About IFWTWA: The International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) is a global network of journalists who cover the hospitality and lifestyle fields, and the people who promote them.

So tonight for dinner, Spinach ravioli served with a traditional brown butter and sage sauce.  To solve the problem of an absence of protein, I stopped at Hannaford and picked up some Al Fresco chicken sausage seasoned with roasted peppers and Asiago cheese.

Sausage in Sage and Brown Butter Sauce

Why the blast of domesticity, you ask?  Well, that’s the best part.  I hope you will consider joining me at Café Miranda on Saturday morning, March 19^th for a Pasta Throwdown between me and chef owner, Kerry Altiero.  Café Miranda is known far and wide for their homemade pastas and specialty sauces featured on their eclectic menu.  But last time we talked, Kerry challenged me after teasing me about my more traditional hand–rolled pasta making style.

The finished dish was quite delish!

Ciao for now!

We got a tour of their winemaking process where they were currently working on a Blueberry wine and a Chardonnay.

The vineyard is located on a former horse farm on a hilltop in Owls Head with absolutely stunning views of Penobscot Bay and the Camden Hills.

The main house contains the tasting room where we sampled a Reisling, an Oak Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir.  Now, I don’t normally care for Riesling as I find it too sweet but this was absolutely delicious.  It was not too sweet and had a slightly crisp and tart finish. 

The tasting room is stunning and has a small shop with Breakwater Lighthouse gift items with proceeds going to the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Light.  They also sell their wine of course and branded gift items.

Breakwater Vineyards offers free tasting every Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5 pm in season.  If your in the area, this is not to be missed! 

Thanks again to All Aboard Trolley for transportation.  The stretch Escalade, complete with 4 TVs, ambient lighting, fireplace, laser lights, fog machine and every imaginable bell and whistle made us feel like movie stars!!!