Monthly Archives: November 2011

Recipes

Chocolate Chip Muffins (Makes 12)

If  you like Chocolate chip cookies, you will love chocolate chip muffins, especially during the morning for breakfast! It’s fun and easy to make.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup white sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

3/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons white sugar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Grease bottoms only of 12 muffin cups or line with baking cups.

2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, chocolate chips, and salt; mix well. In a small bowl, combine milk, oil and egg; blend well. Add dry ingredients all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened (batter will be lumpy.)

3. Fill cups 2/3 full. Sprinkle tops of muffins before baking with a combination of 3 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoon brown sugar.

4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 1 minute before removing from pan. Serve warm.

Jonathan, Innkeeper

American Guest House in Washington DC

Regional News

The Prematurity Prevention Symposium Conference

The Prematurity Prevention Symposium Conference will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel on January 19th - 20th 2012.

Jonathan, Innkeeper
American Guest House in Washington DC

Recipes

Pumpkin Muffins at the Guest House

Here is one of our seasonal recipe, especially when it’s the holidays!

  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs, beaten slightly
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. allspice
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375.

Mix the flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda together on a piece of wax paper.

In a bowl, mix the pumpkin, eggs, water, oil, and spices. Add the dry ingredients and mix well, but not too much.

Stir in the nuts if you’re using them.

Pour into muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes.

Options: Pour into a loaf ban and bake at 350 for one hour.

Enjoy!

Jonathan, Innkeeper
American Guest House in Washington DC

Washington DC Museums

Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History is a part of the Smithsonian Institute. The museum contains a variety of exhibits of both cultural and natural sites from dinosaurs to ancient African artifacts. The museum is several floors, and choice of exhibits is varied.  This museum is often crowded so visiting the museum website and choosing your exhibits ahead of time may be a wise decision, as this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Washington, DC.

The Museum of Natural History is open Monday – Friday from 7:30am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am – 6pm with some extended hours during the week during the summer. Admission to the museum is free. Please visit the website for additional information.

The National Museum of Natural History is accessible by the Smithsonian Metro Station on the blue and orange lines. The DC Circulator also provided service along the National Mall. Please visit metro’s website for additional information.

Enjoy!

Alexis, Innkeeper
American Guest House in Washington DC

 

Washington DC Activities

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing which is accessible by the Smithsonian metro station serviced by the blue and orange lines, provides a free 40 minute tour to the public, where you will see millions of dollars being printed. The tour features currency production, beginning with large, blank sheets of paper, and ending with paper bills. Same day tickets for the tour are on a first-come, first-served basis.  The ticket booth opens at 8 AM – Monday through Friday, and closes when all tickets have been given out.

Tours are given Monday through Friday every 15 minutes on a special schedule and Tickets are not required during non-peak season from September to February.

Free tickets are required for admission during March through August, peak season.

Jonathan, Innkeeper
American Guest House in Washington DC

Recipes

Strawberry Bread at the Guest House

A delicious bread full of fresh strawberries and a hint of cinnamon… : this is wonderful hot or cold, for breakfast or a dessert. A definite American Guest House Favorite!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh strawberries
  • 3 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 1 1/4 cups chopped pecans

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter and flour two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.
  2. Slice strawberries, and place in medium-sized bowl. Sprinkle lightly with sugar, and set aside while preparing bread mixture.
  3. Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in large bowl: mix well. Blend oil and eggs into strawberries. Add strawberry mixture to flour mixture, blending until dry ingredients are just moistened. Stir in pecans. Divide batter into pans.
  4. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until tester inserted comes out clean. Let cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn loaves out, and cool completely.

Enjoy!

Jonathan, Innkeeper
American Guest House in Washington DC

Recipes

Homemade Bread Pudding Cake

Tomorrow morning, our guest will try for breakfast our Bread Pudding Cake! It’s very easy to make, so why don’t you put your apron on?

Ingredients:

2 cups whole milk (or 2 cups half & half)
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup brown sugar (light or dark, depending on taste preference)
3 eggs
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups bread, torn into small pieces (French bread works best)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Directions:

1. In medium saucepan, over medium heat, heat milk (or half & half) just until film forms over top. Combine butter and milk, stirring until butter is melted. Cool to lukewarm.

2. Combine sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 1 minute. Slowly add milk mixture.

3. Place bread in a lightly greased 1 1/2 quart casserole.

4. Sprinkle with raisins if desired. Pour batter on top of bread.

5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes or until set. Serve warm.

If you make the sauce to put on top of your bread pudding, adjust the sugar in the bread pudding recipe, change it to 1/3 cups sugar (the sauce has the other 1/3 cup in it).

Bread Pudding Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk
2 Tablespoons butter
1/3 cup granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon flour
dash of salt

Directions:

Mix everything together and bring to a boil for 3 – 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Set aside for 5 minutes, and then pour on warm bread pudding.

Enjoy!

Jonathan, Innkeeper
American Guest House in Washington DC

American Guest House Breakfast Menu

Savory Crepes with Mushroom and Bacon Filling

This is one of our most requested and raved about menu items at American Guest House!  Use these simple step by step instructions to recreate the experience at home.

Savory Crepes with Mushroom and Bacon Filling

For crêpes

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • vegetable oil for brushing pan

For filling

  • 6 slices bacon
  • 1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced thin
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Instructions:

Make crêpes:
Combine egg, milk, butter, and parsley by whisking well. Add flour, salt and pepper and whisk until smooth and uniform.

Heat a 6-to-8 inch crepe pan over medium high heat until hot. Brush pan with oil and heat until hot, oil should not smoke.  Remove pan from heat. Stir batter and half fill a 1/4-cup measure with it. Pour batter into pan, tilting and rotating pan quickly to cover bottom with a thin layer of batter, and return any excess to bowl. Return pan to heat and loosen edges of crêpe gently with a spatula.

Cook crêpe until underside is lightly browned. Turn crêpe and lightly brown other side. Transfer crêpe to a plate. Use the reminded of batter to make additional crêpes, brush oil to pan as needed between batches. (Crêpes may be made 1 day in ahead. They must be stacked and wrapped well in plastic wrap before refrigerating.)

Make filling:
In a large heavy skillet cook bacon over moderately high heat until crisp. Drain excess fat off of bacon onto paper towels. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet and chop bacon. Add one tablespoon butter to remaining bacon fat and add mushrooms. Sauté over moderately high heat, stirring, until mushrooms release their liquids and liquids have evaporated, approximately 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.

Preheat oven to 200°F..

In a heavy saucepan melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter over moderately high heat and whisk in flour. Cook roux, whisking constantly, approximately 3 minutes. Add milk gradually, whisking constantly until all milk has been added to the roux The mixture should be smooth, no lumps. Stir occasionally while cooking for 5 minutes or until thickened and smooth. Add mushrooms, cream, parsley, bacon, salt and pepper to taste and simmer 10 minutes, or until very thick. Cool filling slightly.

Spread each crêpe with about 1/4 cup filling and fold in quarters. Transfer filled crêpes to an ovenproof platter. Heat crêpes in oven until heated through.

Enjoy!
Alexis, Innkeeper
American Guest House in Washington DC

 

American Guest House Breakfast Menu

Breakfast Burritos

At American Guest House Bed and Breakfast, we like to keep our breakfast offerings diverse, to please our guests!  Today or this weekend  try the  breakfast burrito:

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons canola oil
  • 1/2 small yellow onion, diced (1 cup)
  • 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 eggs, scrambled
  • 1/3 cup ( shredded pepper Jack cheese
  • Cooking spray
  • 4 (10-inch) whole-wheat tortillas (burrito-size)
  • 1 large tomato diced
  • Hot sauce

Instructions:

Heat the canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over a medium-high heat. Cook the onions until they are translucent and peppers are softened, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Whisk together the eggs. Lightly coat the skillet with cooking spray. Reheat yous skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low to prevent sticking and add eggs, scrambling until cooked through, about 3 minutes.  Melt cheese over eggs about a minute before they are done cooking.

Layer each tortilla with 1/4 of the scrambled eggs, some diced tomato and 1/4 of the onion and pepper mixture. Serve with hot-sauce. Roll up burrito-style and serve.

Serves 4

Enjoy!
Alexis, Innkeeper

American Guest House in Washington DC

Washington DC Conventions

2012/2013 EVENT CALENDAR, Washington DC

Coming to Washington DC for a convention or a conference?  Please CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR EVENT CALENDAR.  Many of these upcoming events are steps from DuPont Circle, Woodley Park, Adams Morgan and the American Guest House Bed and Breakfast.  Our location is perfect for conventions at the Washington Hilton Hotel (3 minutes walk), Omni Shoreham Hotel  (10 to 15 minutes walk), Wardman Park Hotel (10 to 15 minutes  walk) and much more.   Stay with us and save on hotel rates, breakfast and Internet.  Please click here to check our Availability and Very Competitive Rates.   Our service is superb and rates range from $159 to $219 per night.

Lucia Rosan

American Guest House in Washington DC

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