GIZMO'S GOSSIP 

Hi again everyone.  Gizmo here.
Every month,  as soon as the newsletter goes out,  I begin to think  about my next column.  Those of you who write know that sometimes  it's easy,  while at other times the words just don't seem to  come.  Often I can just whip off a column in no time.

This time however,  I wanted to take extra care and be particularly  careful.  You see,  Feb 14 was my birthday  and I knew that with  over 40,000 readers I was going to be inundated with cards, letters and emails.  So I wanted to be sure that I expressed my appreciation from the bottom of my heart,  not like those phonies on the Emmys or Academy Awards  who make a "spontaneous" speech  thanking everyone from their Kindergarten teacher to the limo driver who brought them to the ceremony.  Every word, every  phrase,  every bark was meticulously crafted so you would know how  much your love meant to me.

February 14th dawned with the threat of heavy snow,  but I knew that neither rain etc would stop our trusty mail person,  nor does weather stop emails and phone calls.  My one worry was that the volume of emails might shut down our Internet Service Provider.  So I had a healthy breakfast,  held my breath and waited  -  and WAITED  -  and waited.

NOTHING !!   I MEAN NOTHING  ABSOLUTELY NOTHING !!!  WHERE HAVE  I GONE WRONG ? What a waste.

PS:    Is it really just a coincidence that I was born on  Valentines Day and Utah was born on April fools day ?

Bulgur Cranberry Muffins

This recipe has been a hit with vegans and non-vegans alike.  They're high fiber, protein and low in fat. As per many requests here is the recipe.

1 cup milk or soymilk
1 egg or 1/4 cup applesauce
3 tbsp melted butter or margarine
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
3 Tbsp sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup COOKED bulgur wheat
1/2 cup dried cranberries

1.	Preheat oven to 400 F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

2.	Beat egg (or applesauce) slightly, stir in milk (or soymilk) and melted butter (or margarine). Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Combine with wet ingredients; add cooked bulgur wheat and cranberries. Stir until moistened.

3.	Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 15 minutes. Yield: 12 muffins servings. Note: For a vegan muffin use the substituted ingredient in parenthesis

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 VERMONT SKI REPORT  
Buck Hollow Farm is only 30 minutes from Smugglers' Notch, below is the daily  ski report.

Vermont Maple Festival

True Vermont maple syrup is more than a sweet treat-- it's an experience. And the best time to celebrate the wonders of maple syrup is in early spring, the only time when the real thing can be made. The maple sugaring season is usually from late February to early April. As with fall foliage, it is impossible to predict exactly when the maple sugaring season will start or peak. Maple production usually begins in the southern part of the state, where it is warmer, and ends in the north.

 

For people who just can't get enough maple syrup, there's the Vermont Maple Festival. St. Albans hosts this maple extravaganza every year at the end of April. There's something here for everyone: a pancake breakfast, a gourmet food sale, a craft exhibit, an antique show, musical performances, and various concessions and carnival rides. Kids and adults alike will love the big parade, which features the Maple King and Queen! Awards are given to the best maple products in many categories. More than 50,000 people go to the Maple Festival every year, making it the biggest annual event in the area.

 Also note, the hugely popular Vermont Quilt Festival is scheduled for June 29 - July 1, 2007. It is held at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction VT, a suburb of Burlington. There are displays, workshops, lectures, merchants mall, appraisals, kids classes, and award ceremony. If you want lodging on those dates, now is the time to get them. This festival fills most of the rooms in the Burlington area. For details, see Vermont Quilt Festival
Brad & Jacquie
 

VERMONT EVENTS  February 2007

Vermont Flower Show- Mar 9, 2007 through Mar 11, 2007 in Essex Junction Vermont's premier flower show offers 3 days of Spring in March. Champlain Valley Exposition (Route 15) Friday & Saturday, 9 am-6 pm Sunday, 9 am-4 pm. Admission. 888-518-6484 Web Site

Russian American Kids Circus- Mar 11, 2007 in Burlington This amazing performance of 6 to 18 year old, high-flying prodigies offers an electrifying taste of Russian circus arts. Flynn Center for the Performing Arts (153 Main Street) 3 pm. Admission. 802-863-5966 Web Site

Maple Open House Weekend Mar 17, 2007 through Mar 18, 2007 in East Berkshire Annual sugarhouse tour and tasting. Ox Pasture Maples Sugarhouse (1477 Montgomery Road) 10-4 pm. Free. 802-933-8913 or 802-878-6043 Web Site Web Site

Vermont Rails Model Railroad Show - Mar 17, 2007 in Essex Junction See model trains and elaborate layouts up close. Meet the people who made them. A great family event. Champlain Valley Exposition (105 Pearl Street) 10-5 pm. Admission. 802-655-7769 or 802-878-5545 Web Site

Quilt Show Saint Albans Historical Museum - April 7, 2007 The Franklin County Quilters Guild will display new quilts at City Hall and St. Albans Historical Society along with the Old Stone House Museum will show antique quilts from their collections on the third floor of the historical society building at Church and Bishop streets. Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Information: 802-527-7933.

14th Annual Vermont Antiquarian Spring Book Fair - Apr 15, 2007 in Burlington More than 30 dealers selling used, rare and antiquarian books and ephemera in all subjects. Sheraton Burlington (870 Williston Road) 9:30-4 pm. Admission. 802-527-7243 Web Site

41st Annual Vermont Maple Festival - Apr 27, 2007 through Apr 29, 2007 in St. Albans Parade, crafts, antiques, talent show, carnival, maple exhibits and more. Downtown 10-6 pm. Free. 802-524-5800 Web Site

Guest Comments

Thanks Alex and Michelle for sharing the wonderful pictures taken during your visit to Buck Hollow Farm. For those interested in viewing their website with photos during their stay. Go to: Vermont -February 2007