Festive Recipe for Eggnog French Toast

We added a new recipe for french toast to the breakfast menu for the month of December. It is soooo easy and very festive.
We use the same Great Harvest Farmhouse White bread that we use in our caramel french toast recipe, but if you can't find that in your town just use a good quality bread.

One loaf Great Harvest Farmhouse White Bread - sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
4 jumbo eggs
2 1/2 cups quality eggnog
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons Bourbon (optional)
cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter for griddle
2 cups heavy cream whipped to soft peaks

powdered sugar to garnish
raspberries to garnish
mint leaves to garnish

In large bowl mix the eggs, eggnog, vanilla and bourbon well. Soak each slice of bread until well coated and place on cookie sheet. Heat griddle to medium high and then coat with butter. Add your bread slices and sprinkle each with cinnamon. When one side is golden brown flip each piece and cook until other side is also golden brown. Keep warm in 100 degree oven until ready to serve.
We cut each slice on the diagonal. Then place two or three slices on each plate. Dust with powdered sugar, garnish with the whipped cream and raspberries and serve with maple syrup.

Winter Welcome

This is the perfect time of the year to visit with us at Woodhaven. The decorations are glowing in every room. Shopping at the malls and boutiques and art galleries is at it's best. The rooms are cosy and the whirlpools, steamshowers and fireplaces are great for relaxing after the fun of a busy day shopping.

The Inn Decorated for the Holidays

We have been busy little bees just decorating non stop to dress the Inn in it's holiday finery. Since we are a Victorian era inn we tend to go overboard or as my sister says "encrusted". Each year there are many new additions to display along with the special ones collected over 61 years.
The 11 foot tall tree takes the most time and energy...and at least 500 ornaments! Theresa, Laurel and I spent two full days just on the ornaments. (No one wants to string the 1800 lights so I end up doing it)

October at the Inn

This fall has been beautiful in Louisville with colorful foliage everywhere and warm sunny days. It's a great month to travel into town to visit friends and family and see the trees along the way.
While the days are still warm we have finally started a long awaited renovation on the back porch of the Main House. All the railing is being replaced with a replica of the original on the front of the house. Now it will all match! Probably doesn't make much difference to my guests but it sure makes me a happy camper!

Haunted Happenings in Louisville!

October brings out the ghostly happenings around town. There are great walking tours and haunted house tours. One of the best places to tour...and you can actually go year round...is Waverly. It used to be a tuberculosis hospital, and as you can imagine many people passed away in the building. It is supposed to have paranormal activity all over the huge Gothic building. The Ghost Hunters show even filmed a Halloween night special there!
These pictures were taken at a night tour. I've never had the little spots happen on my digital camera before and it was not raining....so what could it be?
The owners hope to renovate it and turn it into a wonderful five star hotel someday....but in the meantime you can see it at it's spookiest!

Cool nights and Samores on the front porch

Now that the nights have begun to cool we have set up a little station on the front porch where the guests can make their own samore. Good news.... you don't have to build a fire! Just light the candle and toast your marshmallow. Take a choice of Hershey chocolate bar or a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Gooey and So Good!
Spend the day shopping at craft fairs or the antique shops, and then dine at one of Louisville's fine local restaurants. Or visit the beautiful parks around town to see the spectacular fall colors and enjoy a picnic lunch. The Science Museum has a great Titanic exhibit and Churchill Downs fall meet will open this month.
Much, much more to do in town...just ask us for suggestions.

KENTUCKY STATE FAIR

The state fair was fabulous this year! So many things to do, see and eat that there never seems to be enough time. And we had fair weather with temperatures in the 70's and 80's. We arrived early one day and immediately headed through the critter barns to see our favorites and on out to the amazing booths full of every imaginable good thing to eat. Who cares if it is only 10:30 in the morning...corn dogs are calling!

The three of us managed to sample cinnamon and sugar coated elephant ears, peanut butter and chocolate fudge, jalapeno and regular corn dogs, chicken pita sandwiches, and the best ever corn on the cob. This is not 1/100th of the possible items to eat out there...

Other areas are full of midway rides, and farm produce, and the baking competitions. ( definitely will make you hungry viewing all those blue ribbon pies and cakes!)

We loved the Ugly Lamp Competition from Lynn's Paradise Cafe and the Roster Crowing Contest. I am happy to say I managed to get past the bunnies without buying one this year!



Many of my guests attend and compete in the Grand National Five Gated Horse Championship, others come for the great concerts held each night.