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Members of the Fresh START initiative from left to right - Henny Nagora (Seven Gables Country B+B),
Carla Carlson in tree ( Niagara Nature Tours, Bonnybank Bed and Breakfast), myself, Jodie Godwin ( Bushy House B+B ) |
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| Future home fries for my guests! Renee Schmitz, owner of Palatine Fruit and Roses, harvesting potatoes with his crew. Renee and Eva are always researching soil conservation and better farming methods. They have a diverse farm and stock heritage varieties of fruit trees and roses which are no longer grown commercially. Their nursery is open Monday - Saturday, a worthwhile visit for amateur or serious gardeners! We have also become close friends with some of their workers and have enjoyed visiting their families in Jamaica! |
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| Guests enjoying an early morning coffee on our one acre property are often rewarded with the site of coyotes or wild turkeys ambling through the forest behind. From hummingbirds to herons to great horned owls , they can all be found in our neighbourhood ! |
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| Spring is a glorious time in the Hollow! Many of these daffodils are from the original homestead site of the Servos family who settled here in 1793. The baltimore orioles and mockingbirds arrive around the same time the daffodils bloom and fill the forest with their amazing song! The Niagara lakeshore is an important migratory route for northern songbirds and a favourite for destination for birdwatchers as a result! |
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| Your Host |
Born and raised in Niagara, this unique area provided a fertile environment for fostering my love of local history, music and art.
The intersection of neighbourhood stories and our natural setting have culminated in exquisite pieces of handmade work in hydrastone and encaustic which I sell through the bed and breakfast and local shows.
Another passion is quite obvious to my guests as they sit down to breakfast, a great opportunity to showcase the fabulous flavours of Niagara!
I remember my mother canning hundreds of quarts of peaches, pears, fruit cocktail, tomato and grape juice in August and September. Every winter we savoured homemade jams and currant jelly that my grandmother cooked without the aid of certo ( or air conditioning )!
It was only natural to continue that tradition when we started Applewood Hollow in 1999 . In the last ten years I've appreciated the growing interest of my guests in the story of where their food comes from. As our population has become increasingly urban there is little knowlege of what it takes to make food grow or whose hands do the tending of the orchards or vineyards.
In 2008 I began the Fresh START initiative, guaranteeing my guests a mimimum of 85% Niagara grown produce. I was joined by three bed and breakfast owners who wish to actively promote the philosophy of eating local and supporting farms in our neighbourhoods.
The other members of Frest START are :
Bushy House Bed + Breakfast Lakeshore Rd., Niagara on the Lake. Owned by Jodie Godwin and Dave Parker
Seven Gables Country Bed and Breakfast, Wall Rd. ( just a few doors down from Applewood Hollow ) Owned by Gary and Henny Nogara
Bonnybank B+B, Niagara Nature Tours , Vineland Station. Owned by Carla Carlson
One of our goals is to encourage other members of the hospitality industry to take up the challenge to support and promote Ontario farmers.
Teaching my guests about how we grow food in Niagara is a most enjoyable and positive exercise! Enjoying tree ripened peaches and produce picked the night before is a new experience for most of my guests and they love to visit the farms to load up before the trip home!
Since 2005 I have also helped to direct the Caribbean Workers church service which is held on Sunday nights May and June. It has lead to many friendships with the offshore workers who are employed by local farms, some arriving as early as February and staying as long as eight months. There are close to 2,000 workers from the Caribbean and Mexico and they are a very much appreciated part of the community here in Niagara. In 2009 I will be making my third trip to Jamaica to visit many of the workers and their families, always a highlight of the year! You can learn more about some of these activities I am involved with on my Youtube site.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
In response to the many emails of guests asking for recipes I've decided to post a requested recipe each month. My most asked for recipe is the signature dish of Applewood Hollow - Carmelized Apple French Toast
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 tbsp. corn syrup
1 cup chopped pecans
2-3 empire apples, peeled and sliced
4 eggs
1 cup half and half cream
4-5 drops pure vanilla
A loaf of calabrese bread, sliced thick with crust trimmed
Cinnamon
Fresh ground nutmeg to taste
1. Combine first 3 ingredients and cook over medium heat til thickened, stirring constantly. Pour into 9x13 baking dish.
Sprinkle with pecans and layer apple slices over the pecans covering the entire dish.
2. Combine cream, eggs and vanilla in blender and pour over bread slices in separate pan. Ensure all sides are evenly soaked and let sit for a few minutes before putting on top of apples in baking dish. For best results refrigerate overnight.
3. Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon before baking at 350o for about 50 minutes or til golden and puffed. Garnish with whipped cream, yummm!
Why does this taste even better at Applewood Hollow?
I use whole ingredients, local apples and pure vanilla. The nutmeg is from my offshore worker friends in Jamaica and I grate it fresh before using!
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