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Posts Tagged ‘Kids activites’

Apple picking time in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region

August 25th, 2010 by janelmartin

You Have to Make it FallWe are coming upon my favorite time of the year.  The weather gets cooler, the trees start to prepare for their magnificent show and apples are ripe for the picking.  We are so fortunate to be surrounded by apple orchards that have pick-your-own for those who want the full experience.  McKenzie’s Farm in Milton, NH has many varietes of apples, one of which is Honey Crisp, so juicy and sweet.  Great for eating, baking and just about anything one could think of.  Jock is very knowledgable on his apples and will even take you on a hay ride down to the lower orchard.  What fun for the kids!!!!  I could not think of a better way to get kids to eat more fruits than taking them apple picking.  Then, once home, make a batch of apple sauce together or maybe a pie!!

Butternut Farm in Farmington is just a little further down the road, and along with apples they have peaches galore.  They have wagons to pull small children and fruit around as you go about the beautiful lanes of fruit trees picking these fall treasures.  Pick up some apple salsa or cider, all made from their apples.

Have you caught the farming bug?  Head on over to the New Hampshire Farm Museum just down the road from McKenzie’s and take a tour of the grounds and the house.  Well worth a stop, and their gift shop is filled with NH Made products to take back as a momento of your trip. 

Here is any easy scone recipe to use some of those fresh picked apples:

Wakefield Inn Apple-Oat Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour (or 1 cup each AP and Whole Wheat), 

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup rolled oats (quick cooking are o.k.)

1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 whole apple, peeled, cored and diced

1 egg

1 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix dry ingredients together and then toss in apples to coat.  If you wish you can also mix in some walnuts or pecans for added interest.  Whip together egg and cream, then add to dry mixture and fold together in as little strokes as possible.  5 to 6 is optimum. Turn out onto floured surface and form into two rounds about 6″ in diameter.  Cut each round into 4 or 6 pieces (your choice) and place on a baking stone or baking sheet lined with parchment.  Bake for 12-15 minutes. 

For a quick glaze mix together maple syrup and powdered sugar to a thick consistency and drizzle over warm scones, let set until dry to touch.  ENJOY!

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Cooking Classes for All, hands-on learning and tasting.

August 9th, 2010 by janelmartin

Cooking in a PanThe summer is going by fast, and my mind turns to the fall and beyond, and putting together the schedule for the cooking classes.  This year I will offer 3 different days and times for the classes to allow more flexibility for the busy lives everyone leads.  There will be a Wednesday Evening class from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, a Saturday morning class from 10:00 am-1:00pm and a Tuesday morning class from 10:00am-1:00pm.  The classes are set in a series of six to eight, and can be taken in succession or just one or a few and the cost is $50.  I cover different french techniques in each class, so one could take just a specific class that they were interested in without taking the whole series.

Some of the classes will have a theme and others will focus on a type of cooking, or food group.  Of course I am always open to suggestions and am willing to put together a customized class.  The 2 hour class is hands-on, with some techniques demonstrated and then those who wish can try their hand at it.  All the classes are for any experience level, and each class offers something for everyone.  Following the cooking portion of the class is an hour of enjoying all the wonderful items made paired with a wine, and Q&A session as well.  Everyone will leave with recipes and enthusiasm to go home and try something new.

Fall class of apple stuffed pork

The class schedule is updated often, and new classes are added throughout the year, so check back often.  Summer will be the only time that classes will not be offered, since the kitchen is just too hot for most people, and we are busy serving our summer dinners as well.  We will also offer kids classes during school breaks and are for ages 8-14.

Please feel free to call and discuss any specific questions or concerns you might have or to register for one of our classes.   Our classes are also a fun bridal shower or girlfriend get-away, and we would be happy to put a weekend package together for your group.

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Blueberry season in New Hampshire..so many tasty possibilities.

August 4th, 2010 by janelmartin

Blueberries close upI just love blueberries of any kind; high bush, low bush, wild or cultivated.  There are many in New England that are very particular about their berries, I think that each have their own redeeming qualities, and shine in different ways.  The high bush or cultivated kind are easy to pick, easy to freeze, last longer when fresh (that is if you do not eat them all real quick) and make great sauces and jams.  The wild blueberries are fantastic in muffins, scones, pancakes and any application where you do not want to get a large cooked berry squishing out. They do freeze well as long as they are not handled much before hitting the freezer, though they tend to have a shorter fresh storage life.

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Cardboard Box Derby at King Pine great fun for kids.

March 18th, 2010 by janelmartin

King Pine Ski Area in Madison, NH is holding their Cardboard Box Derby on March 21st from 12pm-4pm.  Bring a creatively decorated cardboard racer for two or four people and race down a special course, even bring theme music and they will play it while you race the course.  Sounds fun!!  This seems like a blast for the family to do this weekend, get some fresh air and enjoy time together.  Prizes will be awarded for speed, appearance and durability; so head on down to the local appliance store and see if they have a few refridgerator boxes hanging around.  Grab the kids and some craft paint and have fune creating a masterpiece to fly down the hill.

This weekend there is also an Open House E. T. Hines Mercantile in Sanbornville.  The shop is just a mile from our Inn and they have a great selection of home decor and gift items.  This is a great place to put together a gift basket for Easter or Mother’s Day and the staff is very helpful if you need some suggestions.  The entry price for the Open House on March 20-21 is a bag of non-perishable food to be donated to the local food pantry.

While you in the area pick up some New Hampshire Maple Syrup at one of the many sap houses all around the state. If the steam is rising from the sap house they are open, March 27 and 28 is NH Maple Weekend and the sap houses are open for tours, they have tastings and fun activities.

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Kids Cooking Classes at the Wakefield Inn Bed and Breakfast

February 2nd, 2010 by janelmartin

New for 2010 we are offering cooking classes for kids.  Your child will learn how to make pizza dough, bread, puff pancakes, chocolate mousse, and so much more.  One class will even focus on making dinner for the family.

Pasta Making by Hand

Pasta Making

To start the kids classes off we have acheduled 2 classes for each of the school vacation weeks.  Classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 am- 1:00 pm.  Space is limited to 10, and pre-registration is required.  The cost is $25, and includes lunch at the end of class.

Any child between the ages of 8-16 can attend these classes, all that is required is listening skills, respect for each other and the teacher and a willingness to learn about cooking.  I promise to make the class entertaining, informative and fun. For more information visit the Classes at the Inn tab under The Inn tab or click on the link.

Feel free to contact me if you need additional information or if you wish to schedule a class for a group of kids at a different time.

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Gingerbread house of Wakefield Inn B&B

December 2nd, 2009 by janelmartin

Front of InnI entered the Stonegate Manor gingerbread contest, and pictured is my entry.  It was so much fun playing around with various types of candy. Making a replica of the Inn really challanged me to think outside the typical gingerbread fixings and find solutions for realistic looks.  

I used red confectionary coating and cut out pieces for shigles for the roof.  Hot Tamales for the bricks, and even used fish crackers in the pond and the water was made of sugar.  The lattice is spagetti dipped in white chocolate.

Next year we will have a kid’s gingerbread making class, and have fun creating a great take home work of art.

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New England Bed and Breakfast Nearby Historic Places to Visit

May 29th, 2009 by janelmartin

What fun living in the geographic center of New England.  There is so much to do within a few hours drive that one visit would just not be enough.  History is all around us here, as the Wakefield Inn is one of 26 homes on the National Registry of Historic Places.  We have a booklet and walking map visitors may borrow with history of each home and location. The walk takes about an hour and is a unique look into our forefathers lives in New Hampshire.

Rural life in NH

Rural life in NH

Just a few minutes drive away is the New Hampshire Farm Museum that offers a glimpse into the rural New Hampshire life.  Take a tour of the Jones farmhouse and walk through time from Joseph Plumer’s Revolutionary War Era cape, to Levi Jones early 19th-century tavern, into the Victorian parlor and dining room and ending in the early 20th-century farm kitchen. Then tour the 104 foot Great Barn filled with farm implements, tools and machinery.  There are many hands on kids activities, and animals to meet.

15 Minutes away is the Willowbrook Museum Village, a picturesque village comprised of 30 structures full of objects used in the 19th century. They have fantastic demonstrations by historic crafts and trades people. Plan to spend at least 3 hours since there is so much to see and do.  Many who have visited say you need 2-3 days to see all that is there. Bring a picnic lunch, which we would be glad to provide for our Inn guests, or eat in The Sandwich Shop which features a nice selection of sandwiches, warps and other lunch items.

One more location to top off you Historic visit to the center of New England is the Remick Doctor’s Museum. They have ongoing workshops and hands-on exhibits for the whole family to enjoy. See a working farm with a large variety of animals and walk into the 1830′s garden and view historic crops and vegetables.  The Binsack Trail is a 6/10 mile low-impact hike offering great views of Remick Museum, Mount Chocorua and the Ossipee Mountain Range.

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