A Breezy but Beautiful day at the Point

We made a brief stop at Sodus Point Park yesterday afternoon, and the view was spectacular! After the storms that went through the area the previous evening, the skies were an unbelievable blue, with fluffy white clouds, and a freshening breeze made the waves on the lake as ocean-like as I’ve seen in a long time. The maintenance crew was hard at work clearing the parking lot of the sand that had blown up during the storm. There were not too many brave souls out on the beach on this breezy day, but on days like this the Point has a beauty all its own.

 

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The Carriage House Inn’s Best Egg Casserole

Best Egg Casserole

Here is a much requested recipe of one of our popular egg casseroles!!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray or grease a 9″x13″ casserole dish with cooking oil or shortening

Ingredients:

  • 18 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 1/2 tsp Lawry’s seasoned salt (or to taste)
  • 1 1/8 stick butter or margerine
  • 3 cups hash brown potatoes (thawed)
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped red pepper
  • 12 oz of diced ham slice
  • 1 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
  1. Beat eggs, yogurt, and seasoned salt together
  2. Melt butter, and lightly saute’ onion and peppers.
  3. Add diced ham and thawed potatoee, stir to mix.
  4. Pour into egg mixture and lightly stir to blend ingredients
  5. Pour into casserole dish.
  6. Sprinkle grated cheese over casserole

Bake at 350 degrees for one hour, or until knife comes out clean when inserted.

Cut into 12 squares

 

A Perfect Sodus Summer Afternoon

blog2As a new poster to the View From the Point blog, I should probably introduce myself. I live in the Finger Lakes region of New York, and for that reason I’m fortunate enough to be able to visit Sodus Point quite frequently on day trips, although on occasion some of our out-of-town visitors have been guests of the Carriage House Inn. Jerry and Claudine have given me permission to post on their blog occasionally from a visitor’s point of view.

As a habitué of the area, I have come to appreciate that every season in Sodus Point has its own charm and beauty. The crisp brightly-colored leaves crunching underfoot in the fall, the solidified frozen “waves” that stand like apparitions against the breakwater in the winter, and the tulips and lilacs that bloom in the spring are all beautiful in their own way. Yes, Sodus Point is a destination that should never be overlooked when visiting Lake Ontario, regardless of the season.

That being said, Sodus Point probably gets the most visitors during the summer months, when the outdoor water activities at the local parks and beaches can be enjoyed to the full. This past Sunday my family and I had the opportunity to visit the Point with friends from nearby Cortland. The weather forecast that morning didn’t look very promising – scattered thunderstorms all afternoon, just when we would be wanting to walk around the Point and see the sights. But knowing the capricious nature of Lake Ontario weather, we decided to go ahead with our plans in spite of the forecast.

We first had lunch at one of our favorite area restaurants, Skipper’s Landing, on Great Sodus Bay. We dodged raindrops on the drive up Lake Bluff Road, and while we ate our lunch it continued to look like there would be no walk around the Point that day. But we focused on enjoying our meal, and enjoy it we did! The soup & salad bar at Skipper’s was a hit, as usual. The Cheese Lasagna was delicious, as was the Fried Haddock dinner, and the portions were ample enough to bring home for dinner the next day! Our friends enjoyed their Shrimp Scampi pizzas, and we had several mouth-watering desserts – some eaten on the spot, and some taken “to go” – Hot Fudge Lava Cake, Bread Pudding, Lemon Berry Mascarpone Cake,
Key Lime Pie, Salted Caramel Vanilla Crunch Cake, and Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake. They were all delicious.

As we finished our leisurely meal with dessert and coffee, we noticed that the skies were clearing, So after lunch we headed up to the Point. Our first stop was at Sodus Point Beach Park, where we walked out the pier all the way to the outer lighthouse. There was a light breeze, but the sun was warm, and the skies were a hazy blue which only served to make the color of the water stand out that much more. (Photo courtesy our guests from Cortland.)sodus

From there we drove over to the Sodus Bay Lighthouse & Museum, which is just a stone’s throw from the Carriage House Inn. The grounds around the Lighthouse are always a favorite spot, and this visit was no exception. We took a leisurely stroll, enjoying the sights on the well manicured grounds, and headed down the back, past the pavilion where the free Sunday concerts are held (which will begin July 4 weekend), through the arbor, and down toward the rocky beach.

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As we approached we saw a family of geese on the lawn, close to the edge of the beach.

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We watched them for a while, and they started heading toward the water. We followed behind and found a nice log to sit on at the edge of the water, and watched the little family swimming along, following the shoreline east toward the sandy beach of the Park.blog-4We sat there for the longest time, just drinking in the beautiful weather and the quiet lapping of the water on the rocky beach. Too soon it was time to leave and head home, but we had enjoyed a perfect summer afternoon in Sodus Point.

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Jerry and Claudine warmly invite you to join them at the Carriage House Inn to enjoy the beauty of the area, and partake of the many activities offered, or just to sit and drink in the quiet beauty of their little corner of Sodus Point.

Lilacs and Lighthouses

Lilacs and LighthousesLilacs and Lighthouses is a good description of Sodus Point this week. The Point is in bloom, and this view of the lighthouse framed by lilacs on the left and Chimney Bluffs on the right is absolutely beautiful.  This shot was taken from the bluffs at the Lighthouse Museum, just a few hundred feet from the Inn.

And we’re blooming at the Carriage House Inn, too!  We’re planting, pruning, mowing, and enjoying the warm spring days and cool nights.  The fragrance of the season is wafting through the Inn, augmented by the occasional aroma of chocolate chip cookies in the oven.

Ready for a change of pace? Take a trip to bloomin’ Sodus Point, and join us for a night or two at the Carriage House Inn!

Sunrise!

sunrise over sodus pointSunrise signals the start of a new day, and today’s, and this one  was spectacular!  The orange rising sun poured its light across the shimmering waters of Lake Ontario, bathing the lighthouse in its warm glow. (Isn’t that too many adjectives??)  Suffice  to say it was flat out beautiful!

This is also the beginning of the summer season at the Carriage House Inn, where we are getting ready to welcome back old friends and looking forward to meeting new ones. If you haven’t already, look at the calendar and and book your favorite room for your Sodus Point visit at the Carriage House Inn, where you are just a few hundred feet from sunrises like this.

Speaking of calendars, be sure to check out the online calendar on our website.  Click on the tab “Explore Greater Sodus” and select “Local Events” from the drop down box.  Artfully designed by Cherie at TMB Studios, it’s an exciting website feature that we hope will  help our guests enjoy their Carriage House Inn experience even more.

Chocolate Chip Cookies! Baking Up Some Goodness II

cookiesAt the Carriage House Inn, we feature comfortable rooms that make you feel at home, and a bountiful breakfast of savory and sweet meals that will please your palate and tickle your tummy.  After a relaxing stay, however, what some guests remember the most are those wonderful chocolate chip cookies that Claudine makes several times a week.

Featured in our dining room on the buffet, those cookies are available 24/7, and a plateful may not last the night.  Kids (young and old!)  enjoy this sweet snack that are “just like Mom used to make”.  Recently the world champion crew of the 8 metre racing yacht “Gefion” claimed that the Carriage House Inn cookies powered their sailboat to victory in the North American championship regatta held recently in Sodus Point!  We don’t quite believe that’s true, but the crew did put a hurting on the inventory that week!

So simple, yet so good, here’s the recipe:

Carriage House Inn Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups  chocolate chips
  • 1 large portion of motherly love

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.chef claudine 2

Here’s a picture of Claudine making another wonderful batch!  If you think the recipe is suspiciously like the Nestle’s Toll House Cookie recipe, you are absolutely right.  We have adjusted  the chocolate chips and added some motherly love…..just like Mom used to do.

Think I’ll have one now!!

 

Chillin’ at the Gazebo

gazeboOne of the most peaceful spots at the Carriage House Inn is the gazebo that sits just north of the house. From early morning coffee, to a relaxing afternoon reading your favorite book, or an after dark candlight wine sipping, the gazebo is a great place for peaceful moments, and a beautiful view overlooking Lake Ontario. Here you can see Head Landscaper Claudine relaxing with a book after caring for the flora around the gazebo.

We’ve added quite an array of plants and flowers in the grounds around the Inn this season. Around the gazebo you will find geraniums, hostas, begonias, vincas, red coleus, echinacea, pansies and mums. In the front yard and entrance, joining the rhododendrums, azaleas, hydrangea, corn flowers and peonies we’ve added carnations, marigolds, phlox, boston ferns, petunias, and some beautiful flowers we don’t know the names of!!

Everyone is enjoying the flowers around the gazebo, including this hummingbird, who was sampling the nectar of the hosta’s flowers. This rare photo was captured by Beverlee Lewis one morning as she was enjoying coffee at the gazebo. Thanks, Beverlee!!

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Fresh New Linens!

linensIn this picture, Improvement Coordinator Claudine Karczewski inspects new linens for the beds at the Carriage House Inn.  We are always looking for ways to improve the comfort our guests experience when they visit us  in Sodus Point, NY.

Fresh new linens, pillows and comforters are just some of the items we have added in the past year.  Here are some of the other amenities we’ve added or upgraded:
–New towel sets
–Environmentally friendly shampoo, conditioner and lotion
–Homemade chocolate chip cookies in the dining room
–Fresh fruit available in the dining room
–Keurig coffee maker with coffee, tea, and other hot drinks available all day and night
–Complimentary bottled water in the guest refrigerator
–New dishes and water glasses
–Expanded breakfast menu
–New York maple syrup and local produce featured at breakfast
–Guitar in the dining room for guests to use (we’ve had some takers!)
–Kisses at the registration desk (Hershey’s Kisses!!)
–And last but not least: Focus on Coffee!!
These are just a few of the changes we have made to make your stay better….there are many others !!Come discover them for yourself when you visit the Carriage House Inn, where you will truly “Feel like home”.