Our Recipies: Part 4

With summer about to start, and fruit more than plentiful, you might get bored of just eating plain ole pears. well there is a great recipe for that! Introducing butterscotch bakes pears, a perfect way to mix it up and still eat your fruit.


BUTTERSCOTCH BAKED PEARS

12 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS:
6 medium ripe but firm Bosc pears, peeled, halved lengthwise
6 Tbls (3/4 stick) of unsalted butter
¼ cup (packed_ golden brown sugar
1/8 tsp salt
2 Tbls Scotch
½ tsp vanilla extract

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Using melon baLler or small spoon, scoop out core from each pear half.  Melt butter in large ovenproof skillet over medium heat.  Whisk in brown sugar and salt.  Arrange pears, cut side down, in skillet in single layer. Spoon some of sugar mixture over pears. Place skillet in oven.  Bake until pears are tender, basting once with syrup, about 30 minutes.  Transfer pears, cut side up to large shallow bowl, leaving syrup in skillet.   Mix Scotch and vanilla extract into syrup. Using oven mitts as aid, place hot skillet over medium high heat (mixture may ignite) Cook until syrup is reduced by half, whisking often, about 2 minutes.  Spoon syrup over pears and serve.

Spring in Full Force

     Spring has officially landed in Garrett County! With the summer season just around the corner, many businesses and residents are preparing for a fun filled summer. The Bear Project for the deep creek lake state park is making a huge impact on what they hope will bring a new canopy. The bears are one by one moving into their new "foster homes" where they will be found until November. So this summer and fall, when you visit, why not go on a bear hunt? Join in the fun by picking up a Bear Trail Guide at each of the sponsor locations, the Discovery Center, Visitor Center in McHenry and other locations.   Those that find all 20 bears, verified by the participating sponsors, will be eligible for a grande prize drawing of a carved bear! We will have our very own and he will be serving lemonade to thirsty searching parties!
     In other news, the state parks are opening for longer days and more visitors, both local and beyond. Six State parks are located in Garrett County. All offer picnic, and fishing areas, while all but Casselman River State Park have hiking paths. Mountain bike paths, swimming areas, and boat launches and rentals are available at Deep Creek, Herrington Manor and New Germany State Parks. Rental cabins are available at Herrington Manor and New Germany State Parks. Big Run, Deep Creek, Herrington Manor and New Germany State Parks all offer canoeing, while campsites may be found at Big Run, Deep Creek, New Germany, and Swallow Falls State Parks. Nature is a thing some people often overlook. But, when you are here, you stop to take a look around. And what you see, it truly one of a kind.

Rapids

As spring moves into full swing, there is one thing that can be seen almost everywhere. rafting, kayaking and canoeing. garrett county boasts some of the best world class rapids and a center of man made river channel complete with rapids where championships, trials and world class athletes practice. it is the world's only mountaintop whitewater course, and can be enjoyed by beginners, families and paddling enthusiasts. ASCI hosts national and international caliber events, as well as races, competitions and festivals for children and developing athletes. Along with the man made river there is rock climbing for all levels of expierence. For early and late season rafting when asci isn’t open, there is the Youghiogheny River. A tribuitary to the Monongahela River, the Youghiogheny is popular for whitewater kayaking and rafting. A few sections of the river, varying in difficulty, are available on a predictable basis for whitewater recreation: Top Yough, near Swallow Falls State Park (Class IV-V), Upper Yough, from Sang Run to Friendsville, Maryland (Class IV-V), Middle Yough, from Confluence, Pennsylvania to Ohiopyle (Class II). There is also Lower Yough, which runs through Ohiopyle State Park from Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania to Bruner Run (Class III-IV). For a begginers class on rafting to a challenge for even the most expierenced white water rafter, we have something to offer you.

Leo Beachy

Not many people know how much history this county has. a man by the name of Leo Beachy, a school teacher in 1874, began to take photographs to express the natural beauty here in western maryland. he had a severe illness, but that didnt stop him from seeing the wonders of our world. in 1927 at his death, thousands upon thousands of his photographic plates were destroyed. now only 2887 reman. these are held by the garrett county historical society in oakland, maryland. Their website holds an archive of all of his plates. There may be almost 2900, but only a select few have been printed. His pictures span the years of 1905 to 1927, and feature everything from portraits to striking landscape photography. Many people call his work and amazing display of photography and are very proud this man hails from our area. He has many books and a documentary that was on public television. Be sure to look out, and look through his eyes when you visit. You might be surprised at what you find.

Caroline is Retiring

Breaking News at Lake Pointe Inn

After 14 years as the Innkeeper of the Lake Pointe Inn, Caroline is retiring.  Yes, it is true! After cooking many breakfasts, adding her style to many of the physical additions to the Inn, and the constant tweaking of amenities--- she deserves to finally take time to relax at Deep Creek Lake at her own pace and also take time to travel and visit friends and family around the country.

We welcome Ed Spak as our new Innkeeper/General Manager.  Ed comes to us with 25 years' experience in the food & hospitality industry and brings his passion for food and will continue the Lake Pointe Inn tradition of genuine hospitality.

Originally from the west coast, Ed has found home in the mountains of Maryland where his wife was born. He lives in McHenry with his wife and two young children. Most recently, Ed was the General Manager of Cornish Manor Restaurant in Oakland.

Kudos to Caroline for a job well done and the Lake Pointe Inn staff are enthusiastic about Ed’s arrival at the Inn!

Da Bears

 Lately, there has been an effort at the state park to build a canopy for elevated walking tours and bird watching. This year, a new fundraiser has come to light, bears. A local artist, who does chain saw pieces carved in wood, is carving huge bears. These aren’t just any bears though. They will be sponsored by local businesses, and will be painted by local artists with their unique ideas, many of which are inspired by the county itself. These are then going to be placed around the park for people to go on “bear hunts”. When you go to the park, maps will be available to find the bears.  Some sponsors are even offering discounts and special sales for those who go on the hunt and find their bear. The bears will be all over the park all summer, and hen a little longer than that. During autumn glory, these bears will be auctioned off to raise even more money, bringing the canopy closer to reality for everyone working on this project. The lake pointe inn is sponsoring a bear, so come on up. Go on the bear hunt and have fun at the state parks here in Garrett County. Who knows what you might find.

The Ducks

Every business has their little traditions. At the Lake Pointe Inn, there is one that stands out: the traveling ducks. Originally the ducks were a gift from the company who installed the tubs at the inn. After a while it was noticed a few were missing. This is when they decided that the ducks would be a bigger part of the inn. Since then, the ducks have been taken and have been traveling, much like the character from flat Stanley. Every once and a while a picture will be sent to us here and here are a few recent ones from the cherry blossom festival in Washington D.C. The ducks have become part of the inn that people remember, our own little mascot, next to Wanda the goldfish of course. They change from season to season, a new design every year, and many regular visitors collect them. So wherever you go, be on the look out for a Lake Pointe Inn duck.