Blue Door Ginger Snaps

Hello, again! We hope you have enjoyed reading our blog as much as we have enjoyed writing it over the past several months! One of our favorite aspects of running a B&B is the chance to provide our guests with delicious meals and snacks that they will remember. If you've stayed at Blue Door, you've most likely tasted our signature Ginger Snaps. Well, we have exciting news. Now, you can create a taste of Blue Door right in your own kitchen! Enjoy!

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2 ½ cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
2/3 cup canola oil
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup dark molasses
1 large egg

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves together into a separate bowl.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the oil, brown sugar and molasses until well blended.  Add egg and mix until blended.  Mix in the flour mixture until it is incorporated.

Using a melon baller to form cookies, place mixture on baking sheets.  Bake the cookies until the tops are set and crackled, 15-18 minutes.  When a little cooled, transfer cookies to wire racks until completely cooled.

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Don't forget to check out our other Blue Door recipes!

Meet Miranda

Hello! My name is Miranda and I'm Blue Door's graphic designer. I started working with Blue Door right from the beginning, designing their logo and all their marketing materials. Blue Door is my favorite kind of client. They have a strong vision of what kind of experience they want to provide to their guests, and my job was to translate that into their visual identity. I think we did pretty well!

I have spent a lot of time with Roger and Cecelia at Blue Door, and they have proven themselves to be wonderful hosts. Something is always baking in the oven, tea is on the stove and there is always plenty of relaxed conversation.

The other great thing about Blue Door is the location. I live in Upper Fells Point with my husband and children just a few blocks south of Blue Door, so it's no surprise that I love this area. One of my family's favorite pastimes is taking beautiful, scenic walks along the Waterfront Promenade. My daughter, Fiona, loves feeding the ducks along the way, and my stepson, Elijah, is thrilled to have an opportunity to ride his bike.

We usually start out on Thames Street in Fells Point with a coffee at the Daily Grind. If we're in the mood for shopping, the kids love to hit aMuse Toys and I can always find something fun and unique at Trixie's Palace.

Next, we walk along the Waterfront Promenade to the vibrant Harbor East area, where we grab a quick lunch at Taco Fiesta, or if we're looking for a more upscale experience, The Oceanaire or Roy's. If we're without the kids we may even catch a movie at Landmark Theater (quite the luxury as parents of young children!).

We often walk just a few more minutes to the Inner Harbor and depending on the day, it's fun (and free!) to watch live street performers at the HarborPlace Amphitheater and check out the historic ships. In the summer, Barnes & Noble provides a perfect break from the heat.

The kids especially love it when we decide to end the day with a relaxing trip home on the Water Taxi from the Inner Harbor to our stop in Fells Point!

For more information about the Water Taxi, please see this post, and don't forget to visit our Trip Planner page.

Weekend Night Giveaway Winners!

Recently, we launched the Blue Door Blog, Facebook and Twitter pages and knew we wanted a big way to celebrate. We thought, what better way than to give away some free nights right here on the Blue Door Blog? The turnout with comments and new Facebook fans was amazing, so we are excited to announce there will be three winners. One winner will be chosen from only the giveaway post comments, one from only our Facebook fans and one additional winner chosen from both put together.

To choose the winners, we used a random number generator, so here goes!

Winner #1

I not only "Liked" you on FB but love your B&B. As a patient at JHU MC, you were a perfect retreat for a very stressful and scary time. Thanks! Liz Smith

Winner #2

Facebook Fan, Kerry Dillon

Winner #3

Liked you and praying for a night away from the kids!! Looks like a beautiful place! Beth Morrison

Congratulations to those who won! We will be in touch shortly with information on how to claim your prize!

Blue Door Mixed Fruit Salad with Warm Orange Sauce

About a month ago, we shared our recipe for Blue Door Chocolate Coconut Macaroons. Today, we're back again with another Blue Door favorite, our Mixed Fruit Salad with Warm Orange Sauce. For rave reviews to start your morning brunch, try this colorful fruit salad straight from the kitchen of the Blue Door.

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Total Cook Time: 45 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Serves 8

Ingredients (Sauce)
2 Cups Orange Juice (No Pulp)
1 Cup Water + 2 TBS (for adjusting)
2/3 Cup Sugar + 1TBS (for adjusting)

Ingredients (Salad)
2 TBS lemon juice
2 Quarts of Water to fill bowl for preparation
1 Granny Smith Apple – skins on
2 Red Delicious Apples – skins on
1-2 ripe seasonally ripe Pears or Peaches – skins on
2 Navel Oranges – peeled
2 cups Blueberries or Blackberries (6-8 Berries placed on top of salad when serving)

Additional Garnish (optional)
Confectionary Sugar
Mint Leaf

Step 1(Sauce): Combine Orange Juice, 1 cup of Water, and 2/3 cup of Sugar in saucepan and place on stove at medium heat until it begins to boil.  Lower stove temperature to a slow-boil (medium/low) and reduce to ¼ of the original volume in pan (about 45 minutes). Stir occasionally with non-metal spoon until sauce consistency coats the backside of the spoon. Adjust to taste adding 1 TBS at a time (water for less sweet, sugar for a sweeter sauce).   If the Sauce fails to thicken 1TBS of sugar can be added while cooking. Turn off heat until ready to serve.

Step 2: (Fruit) While sauce is reducing, in a large 4QT bowl place lemon juice and fill half way with water. The lemon-water mixture will prevent fruit from turning brown and will highlight colors. Dice apples, (pears/peaches), and oranges into bite-size pieces and add in layers to the bowl.  Add water to fruit bowl to submerge all the fruit in the bowl if necessary. Set-aside until ready to serve. Put Blueberries or Blackberries in a separate dish and set aside. Do not prepare diced fruits the night before or refrigerate, as they tend to get soggy and may turn color.

Serving: Hold the sauce and fruit until everyone has arrived at your breakfast table. When ready to serve gently heat sauce until warm. Strain water off the bowl containing the fruit and place approximately 1-½ cups of fruit mixture on desert plates for each guest, mounded slightly in the center. Spoon on the warm orange sauce so that a small puddle just begins to form under the fruit. Place several berries around the fruit and plate to add yet more color. Dust with confectionary sugar, add Mint leaf, then serve.

The presentation of this dish will receive wows for its brilliant color and you will be returning empty plates to the kitchen!

B&Bs Kick Gas!

Haven't decided yet whether to book that trip to stay at Blue Door?

Well, here's a little something to make the decision even easier! To help remove the sting at the Gas Pump, we are taking part in the Better Way to Stay's Savings Program called B&Bs Kick Gas! We are offering credits for responsibly saving energy on your travels! When you travel with friends from April-August (by train, plane or carpool) and book two rooms for two nights or more you will receive a credit of 20% toward your lodging cost. Reserved nights must occur Sundays through Thursdays from now until August 31st. Use promo code KICK-GAS for on-line reservations and when contacting us. Offer does not apply to holidays or special events. Must show proof of energy saving travel upon check-in.