This recipe is a favorite with many of my guests at the inn and I make it a lot in the fall when I can go out and pick the apples right off the tree.

Cook  

1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar  

3/4 cup butter  

3 tablespoons of light corn syrup for 5-8 minutes, until it starts to thicken.  Pour into an ungreased 9 x 13 inch baking pan.

Peel and slice 4 large apples and arrange on top of sugar mixture in the pan. 

Beat

3 eggs,

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 cups of milk.

  Dip sliced french bread into egg mixture coating both sides well, place on top of apples.  If you have a little egg mixture left you can pour it onto the bread.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Take out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.  Bake uncovered at 350 for 45 minutes or until tops of toast are brown. 

The Old Tobacco Warehouse was built in 1766 and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the United States associated with the transportation and sale of tobacco.  Sailing vessels from England were manned by British crews and owned by English and Scottish merchants who came seeking tobacco in exchange for goods and supplies.  James Mills, a scottish merchant, purchased the and between 173and 1867 and built a public warehouse.  The warehouse sits on a gentle hillside overlooking the old tobacco rolling road to Urbanna Creek.

Virginians raised tobacco to trade for manufactured goods from the mother country, England; first using the barter system.  The Barrels - hog heads when filled would be approximately 500 pounds.

The warehouse served as a private residence for a time; and also was the Middlesex County Library until 1991 when the new library was built.  The Town of Urbanna took control of the Old Tobacco Warehouse in the mid-1990's and restored it back to its original condition and made it into the Urbanna Visitor's Center lending support to historic preservation showing its importance as a 17th century Colonial building connected with tobacco and water transportation in the develpment of our nation.  Behind the structure, the Historical Gardens Preservation group has started an English Kitchen Garden or otherwise known as an herb garden.

We would love to have you come and spend a few days with us at the Dragon Run Inn and explore historic Urbanna, www.urbanna.com.

This is a recipe I've used many times for wedding receptions or for parties.  Cucumbers are in season this time of year and it makes a refreshing nibbler.

• 1 (8oz.) package cream cheese
• 1 large cucumber, shredded and drained extra well
    (I spread it out on paper towels and squeeze the water out.)
• 2 teaspoons chopped chives
• 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper

Mix well.  Makes 1 3/4 cups.
Use a pastry bag with large star tip and squeeze a star of spread onto 1" rounds of bread or spread on crackers.  One cup will make 50 open face bread rounds.

Looking for "Something Different"? You can find it in downtown Pine Tree. Our guests love to visit the deli and experience all the many flavors of real country cooking. Here you will find the best country ham you can sink your teeth into, she crab soup, barbeque on their homemade buns and of course homemade cakes and ice cream for dessert. One of our guests wanted to try their soup, but it was their anniversary and thought they should go somewhere a little more upscale, so they decided to stop at Something Different for soup and then go into town for their main meal. Wrong, once they experienced the soup they ended up spending the rest of the evening and had their complete anniversary there. "Righteous Ribs and Bodacious Butts - We do slow food fast", is one of their slogans. If you see an item on the menu you are not sure about trying like "HOT Chocolate Ice Cream w/ Chili Peppers", just ask for a sample, they will be glad for you to try it.

Check out their website, http://www.pine3.info/, for hours of operations, take a look at their menu and so much more. Subscribe to their facebook page if you want to know what's on special for the weekend or when the raisin bread is coming out of the oven.

When you're visiting the Urbanna area this is a must see and try for yourself!

Growing up we raised blueberries in our back yard.  Mother created this recipe and it was always one of our favorites.

Mix together:  1 cup sugar, 1/2 scant cup shortening and 1 egg.

Stir in: 1/2 cup milk

Stir in:  2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

Sprinkle: 2 1/2 cups of blueberries with a little sugar and flour and add to mixture.  Batter will be stiff, spread in a greased and floured 9 inch square baking pan.

Bake 25-35 minutes at 375 degrees.

You'll never know what you'll discover exploring the uniquely beautiful waterways of the Middle Peninsula.  Enjoy an extraordinary sunset, wild life or a beautiful home just around the bend.  This is the ideal way for a family to enjoy an afternoon or sunset cruise.  Get a group together and call 804-366-1778 and they will help you plan a cruise suited to your special interest. 

 Visit them at www.UrbannaCruises.com for rates.  The Dragon Run Inn would love to also host your group at our B&B just six miles from Urbanna.  www.dragonruninn.com

This is one of my most often requested recipes!  It's good as a pastry for breakfast or dessert for dinner served warm with ice cream. 

Ingredients

• 1 tube (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls
• 2 small Granny Smith apples, peeled, quartered
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup Mountain Dew soda
• Cinnamon sugar

Directions

Unroll crescent rolls and separate dough into 8 triangles, spread lightly with butter and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon sugar.  Cut each apple into four wedges. Wrap a crescent dough triangle around each apple wedge. Place in a greased baking dish or small pie pan.

In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup butter; spread over rolls. Slowly pour the soda around the rolls (do not stir). Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.  Yield: 8 dumplings.

Experience the thrill of feeling the air rush by as you take a ride in our beautifully restored 1943 Fairchild PT-19.  The Fairchild PT-19 was designed as a replacement for the PT-17 biplane primary trainer.  This aircraft offered flight characteristics more similar to the combat aircraft those aspiring pilots would later fly in the war.

This Pt-19, N323CJ was built in 1943 and went through a full 11 year restoration that included an upgrade to the 200HP Ranger engine and an electrical system.

Michal Kuhnert, pilot, is originally from Germany, has logged over 4,000 hours of flight time.

To arrange for a flight or flight training check out Mike's website at
http://www.bayaviationonline.com/

Come plan a getaway weekend at the Dragon Run Inn and enjoy a flight over the Chesapeake Bay with Mike.

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
• 1 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice (seeds removed-4 or 5 large lemons)
• 1/2 cup crushed raspberries
• 1/2 cup raspberry vodka

Make Lemonade base, in a saucepan heat and stir water and sugar over medium heat till sugar is dissolved, remove from heat; cool 20 minutes.
Add peel, juice, sugar, and vodka to sugar water, refrigerate for up to 3 days.

When ready to serve combine equal parts of base and water and serve in ice-filled glasses, stir. Makes about 8 cups.

Do you enjoy great wine!  If you do the Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail is for you.  Our guests enjoy taking the loop and visiting the wineries, participating in their tasting and bringing some home to enjoy later.  The Trail has a passport program too!  Visit one of the wineries to pick up your passport map and get it validated as you travel the trail.  Once you have visited 6 wineries on the trail your passport becomes a 10% discount voucher.  The passport is valid for the rest of the year at each winery for wine purchases.  When you receive that 6th stamp on your passport you qualify for a chance in their Getaway Drawing.  You need not be present to win.  So what are you waiting for checkout their website www.chesapeakebaywinetrail.com, it'll give you directions and a list of special events coming up, so start your tour.  We would love to have you stay with us at the Dragon Run Inn www.dragonruninn.com where you can relax in the country after your busy day.  Cheers - Enjoy!!!

'Tis the season for local fresh strawberries Oh My!  Here is a good recipe for fresh fruit salsa I hope you will enjoy.

2 Golden Delicious apples                              2 Kiwi

1lb strawberries                                             3 TBS strawberry preserves

1 cup blueberries                                           1 TBS brown sugar

2 TBS white sugar                                         

10 tortillas

1 cup cinnamon sugar

Dice up all of the fruit.  Mix sugar w/preserves.  Pour mixture over fruit and mix.

Chips:  Cut tortillas into triangles, like a pie.  Lay tortilla triangles on cookie sheet and spray with Pam.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and bake them at 350 for 8-10 minutes until crisp.  Cool chips and eat with salsa.

Enjoy spring and summer's bounty.

Enjoy the splendor of exploring Virginia's River Country with Captain Laura Lohse aboard the Schooner Serenity for a 2 hour afternoon or sunset sail on the Rappahannock River.  The cruise will depart from the Town Marina in historic Urbanna, tickets need to be purchased in advance to make you don't miss this special event.  The Serenity is a 65' gaft rigged schooner certified to carry 30 passengers for daysails.  You feel like you've stepped back in time to the old sailin ships.  Six and relax and enjoy the breath taking scenery with your favorite beverage or become a sailor and lend a hand at setting sail.  Each cruise is different with the possibility of sighting dolphins, osprey, or watermen working the River.  Have a special occassion coming up call 757-7101233 and make plans for a private charter, what better way to enjoy your birthday or anniversary with friend.  The Serenity will begin running the end of May or early June call (800)979-3370 or (212)209-3370 for tickets.  We at the Dragon Run Inn would love to have you stay with us while you enjoyyour special weekend. 

Warm weather makes you want something light and delicious for dessert.  Here is a recipe I've found that really hits the spot and is not too dangereous to your figure.  It can be made ahead in just a few minutes, my kind of cookin.

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. (.3 oz) sugar-free lime gelatin
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 2 cartons (6 oz. each) key lime yogurt
• 1 carton (8 oz.) frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
• 2 reduced-fat graham cracker crusts (8 inches)

Directions

In large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water.  Whisk in yogurt. Fold in whipped topping and pour into crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until set.  Yield 8 servings.

You can make it fancy with a little cool whip piped around the edge and some berries on top.  I have done this with several flavors of gelatin and yogurt, but the key lime or lemon are my favorites.  Do not use the gelatin with sugar, it will not turn out the same.

Enjoy!

The unique character of the Dragon wilderness and its awesome natural beauty exist primarily because it is remote. Several highway bridges cross its 35 mile run to the Piankatank River. Most access points are, however, only reached by way of nearly a mile trek over rugged back country. This natural protection of the million year old swamp has contributed to its abundance of wild life.  Concerned land owners, who over the years have exercised good land use judgment, can be credited with the conservation of this threatened gem.  Learn more about the Dragon Run at http://www.dragonrun.org/.

Wildflower Walk on May 8

Mark Chittenden will lead a wildflower walk on the Big Island Preserve,  Saturday, May 8.  Meet at in the Food Lion parking lot, Route 17 in Saluda, at 9:30 AM.  Bring a lunch and something to drink.  There are about 3 miles of forest roads and trails in this preserve.  To sign-up contact Mark at (804) 642-6060, or email markc@vims.edu

Bikes, Bands and Bay Festival is May 14-16, 2010 in Matthews, VA.  "This year Bike Walk Virginia, Matthews County, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation are partnering to make the Tour de Chesapeake even better", said an event spokesperson.  Don't miss this fun-filled weekend of pleasurable bike riding, great music and water activities that embrace the scenic beauty and precious ecology of the bay.  A few things participants can choose to do include:  Friday evening music and fiesta dinner; 4-mile family fun ride suited to young riders; full tour routes from 12-80 miles depending on your level of cycling, green education exhibits and farmers market, evening bluegrass concert; riders recovery yoga; "Cyclist for the Bay Ride" on Sunday; and a guided canoe trip provided by Chesapeake Bay Foundation.  For more details check www.bikechesapeake.org. Sign up early.  Make your plans and come stay with us and then go out and enjoy a weekend in nature.