Cape Cod Gift Ideas

To help out with the holiday shopping, we have been posting Cape Cod gift ideas on our Twitter page. Every day at noon, we have been listing a great Cape Cod present to help you out with your shopping. We have posted 10 so far, and will do another 20. Follow along on Twitter, or wait 10 more days and we will update them here.

1) A wine club from Truro Vineyards.
2) A beautiful Cape Cod necklace.
3) An antique map of Cape Cod or one of the towns that make up the Cape.
4) Spa appointments at Sol Spa in Harwich or Le Petit Day Spa in Chatham.
5) Delicious jam and jelly made at Chatham Jam and Jelly shop.
6) Hire Bob Hessler to be your personal chef for a relaxing, romantic dinner at home.
7) An aerial tour of Cape Cod.
8) A Captain's House Inn mug - a great way to wake up in the morning.
9) Chocolate covered cranberries (or any thing else) from the Candy Manor.
10) A Nantucket Basket made on Nantucket.

Happy shopping.

Cranberry Pecan Bread Recipe

Part of the Captain's House Inn's holiday high tea menu...

Oven Temp: 350f
2 large loaf pans

4 Cups Unbleached all-purpose flour
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1Tsp Baking Soda
2 Eggs
½ Tsp Salt
½ Tsp Ground Cloves
½ Tsp Ground Cardamom
1 ½ Sticks Unsalted Butter,(melted)
1 1/3 Granulated Sugar
2 Cups Fresh or Frozen Whole Cranberries (coarsely chopped)
1 ½ Cup Pecans (toasted and coarsely chopped) - optional
Finely Grated Zest and Juice of 1 Large Navel Orange
2/3 Cup Buttermilk

Method:
Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cloves and cardamom into a medium mixing bowl. Set aside. Combine the melted butter, buttermilk, and orange zest and juice in a small mixing bowl .Set aside.

On a high speed beat together the egg and sugar in a large mixing bowl until they are thick and light yellow in color. Beat on a low speed the melted butter mixture. Scrape down the sides with a spatula several times during the mixing. Mix in the flour mixture and finally the cranberries and pecans just to combine. Pour and scrape the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the top with the spatula.

Bake until cake tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, 55-60 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn the loaf out onto the rack. Set it aside and let it cool completely until slicing.

The baked and cooled loaf can be stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 2 days, or refrigerated for up to 1 week. It may be frozen for 3 months.

Skibo Castle Ginger Shortbread

Part of the Captains House Inn's holiday high tea menu...

Oven Temperature 350F
Yield Makes about 5 dozen
Pan Size 13 x 9 inch Metal Baking Pan

Ingredients (Shortbread Base):
1 ¼ Cups All Purpose Flour
3 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Ground Ginger
¼ Tsp Salt
1 Stick Cold Unsalted Butter, cut into pieces.

Ingredients (Topping):
¾ Stick Unsalted Butter
1 Tbsp Lyles Golden Syrup (British Cane Sugar Syrup)
1 Cup Confectioners Sugar
½ Tsp Ground Ginger
½ Tsp Vanilla

Method (Shortbread Base)
1. Sift together dry ingredients and blend in butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
2. Press evenly into bottom of pan. (Base will be thin)
3. Bake in middle of oven until golden and crisp. 12 - 16 minutes (at 9 minutes start topping).

Method (Topping):
1. Melt butter in a small saucepan and whisk in remaining ingredients until smooth.
2. Bring to a boil and simmer, stirring for 30 seconds.
3. Remove shortbread from the oven and pour topping over, tilting pan to cover.
4. Leave to set and cut into sqauares.

Holiday High Tea Menu Starting Soon

On November 28th, the Captains House Inn will kick off its annual holiday high tea menu. Served throughout the month of December, our festive menu includes treats like smoked salmon pate stuffed cucumber cups, vidalia onion and carrot tea sandwiches, homemade cranberry bread with citrus cream cheese and mouth watering desserts like our signature mini English trifles, Skibo Castle ginger fingers, and stollen scones.

Whether you are a guest at the inn and decide to add a high tea to your stay or you're a local resident in search of a special meal, the Captains House Inn holiday tea menu is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Tea is served daily with seatings from 3:00 to 4:30; reservations are required, preferably 48 hours in advance. Price is $18/person for outside guests and $7.50/person for in-house guests.

We look forward to making your 2009 holiday season special.