Christmas

We still have a few spaces for Christmas. Why not leave the cooking to us and come celebrate?

~ Christmas Eve ~

Ginger Baked Ham with Bourbon, Brown Sugar and Dijon 

Confetti Vegetables

Cranberry Compote

Sweet Potato Gratin

Our House Rolls with Sweet Butter

Murphin Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

Christmas Yule Log

~ Christmas Day ~

Shrimp Cocktail Our Way

Roast Beef with Madeira Sauce and Herbed Yorkshire Pudding

Roast Turkey with Apple Sage Dressing

Vergetable Gratin

Whipped Potatoes with Celery Root and Garlic

Winter Salad with Cider Vinaigrette

Our House Rolls with Honey Butter 

English Trifle

Both dinners are served buffet style, with the perfect Christmas morning breakfast in between. No word on whether Santa will be attending, but we're keeping our fingers crossed...

Holidays on the Ridge.

The first icy frost settled on Adams County this past week, and believe it or not - we love it! Our halls are decked, our stockings are hung by he fireside and our famous cider has the whole Dining House smelling only a little better than the crisp country air outside.

These queit days on the Ridge are the perfect time for a holiday time-out for couples overwhelmed with the spirit of the season. Lots of our "regulars" stop by this time a year for a romantic weekend to themselves before the family and presents and parties. It's become a tradition for them and we love having them as part of our own holiday traditions.

Ready for a break? Check out what some of our guests are saying about their stay and begin your own Murphin tradition - you'll see why this time of year is especially magical in our neck of the woods.

November Happenings.

The leaves may be fading as the first frost approaches, but there's still a lot happening here on the Ridge. Here are just a few of the specials we have going on this month.

• Our Annual Gift Certificate Sale is on for the Holidays! Purchase a gift certificate between November 1st, 2011 and January 15th, 2012 and receive a 10% discount off of the face value. Grab one for the boss, the in-laws, or the overworked couple in need of an escape. Or stock up for your own romantic getaway - we won't tell! Call us and we'll take of the rest: 877-687-7446
• Fools coming to Adams County! The Appalachian Regional Theater is starting their new season with Fools, a play set in a small town in the Ukraine that's be put under a curse that stupefies all its residents. The troupe's past two shows have gained quite the following around here, not to mention our own maitre d' extraordinaire, Levi Grooms, will be on stage to steal a scene or two.The show is running for two weekends, November 11, 12 and 13th and November 18, 19, and 20th. As a special treat, we're offering 2 free tickets two anyone staying with us for the last performance on Sunday the 20th. Call to book your stay and pick up your tickets at check-in!
• Thanksgiving on the Ridge! Our Thanksgiving menu is set and we can't wait to loosen our belts a notch or two! Why not let us take care of the big meal while you relax and enjoy the last few sighs of Autumn in the country?

Sherry's Oyster Gratin and Portofino Cranberry Salad

Homemade Rolls and Sweet Potato Biscuits with Honey Butter

Apple Sage Pork Loin Roulade

-or-

Herb-Roasted Turkey with Pear and Mushroom Stuffing

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots

Joan's Sweet Potato Crisp

Amish Whipped Potatoes

Cardamom Pumpkin Pie with Fresh Whipped Cream

-or-

Old Fashioned Pecan Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

31.50 per person, plus tax and gratuity - Children 12 and under are half-price

A Little Birdie Told Us...

The Amish Bird Symposium was last weekend, and like every year, we loved having old and friends and new scour the grounds for some fantastic bird watching. For those of you who couldn't make it, we wanted to share a great recipe for Hummingbird Cake, a not-too-sweet layer cake that we thought appropriate for our birding friends. Try it for yourself and let us know what you think! (The recipe also makes great cupcakes!)

Hummingbird Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

For the cake:
3 c all purpose or cake flour
2 c sugar
1/2 t salt
2 t. baking soda
1 t cinnamon
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/4 c canola oil
1 1/2 t vanilla
1, 8 oz can of crushed pinepple, well drained
1 c chopped pecans
2 c chopped banana

For the frosting:
16 oz cream cheese, room temp
1 c butter, room temp
2 lbs confectioners sugar
2 t vanilla
chopped pecans for decorating

Preheat oven to 350. Sift together the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. Add eggs and oil and stir until ingredients are moistened. Add vanilla, pineapple and pecans. Add chopped banana, which should be ripe but still firm enough to stay chunky in the cake batter - do not use overripe bananas as you would for something like a banana bread. Divide the batter evenly between 3 greased and floured 9" cake pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. When done, let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before turning them out on a cooling rack.

While the cakes are cooling, you can make the frosting. Combine cream cheese and butter and beat until smooth and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, and try to forget that you're using two pounds of it - it'll be worth it, we promise! Stir in the vanilla. When the cakes are fully cooled, frost the tops of all three, then stack and frost the sides. You can cover the top in pecans, cover the sides or make any kind of design you like.

We'd love to show you a picture of what it should look like, but it was nothing but crumbs by the time any of us thought to document it for posterity. Silly us. So send us your pictures! Who knows, there might just be a free shipment of granola in it for the best looking Hummingbird Cake!