September Happenings

     Fall is quickly approaching and there is going to be so many amazing opportunities to visit Sulphur Springs and participate in something new and fun.  We hope that you will take advantage of our space to grab a great nights sleep and then hope into town and experience Sulphur Springs.

    September 2-3 - G5 Cattle sale at the Civic Center. 

    September 3 - Celebration Market on the square

    September 9-11 - Texas Ponies of America 

    September 9-18 - Main Street Theater presents Melodies of Broadway

    September 10 - Republican Party will be hosting a rally at the civic center

    September 11 - various fire departments, gyms and volunteer departments will be celebrating a remembrance of the day.

    September 16 -18 - Region 4 Rodeo at the Civic Center

    September 17 - Gun Show at the Civic Center

    September 23-24 - Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild will host their 21st annual show at First Baptist Church's ROC 9 a. m. - 5 p. m.

    September 23 - 25 - Bar G Cowgirl Roundup at the Civic Center

    September 24 - The Sulphur Springs Corvette Club will host their annual Show and Shine on the square 10 a. m. - 2 p. m.

    September 30 - October 2 - Region 4 Rodeo at the Civic Center

Travel East Texas ~ Commerce, Texas

 

    Commerce, Texas is probably best known for being the home of Texas A & M at Commerce University's campus.  That is not all Commerce has to offer a visitor.  While there are great adventures that await visitors on campus, such as rock wall climbing or high adventure ropes course be sure to meander downtown to explore the shops and dining options that the city has to offer.

sometimes you run into friends. 

    Start your visit at Mugs, with a great cup of coffee.   They happen to serve coffee from the same roaster we get our coffee, so it it 100% approved by The Oaks.  Addison Coffee roasters does such an amazing job with their coffee, that we are always happy to see it served locally.  Mugs has a great atmosphere in their shop, if you are wanting to meet up with friends, get some work done, or just hang out.  Their location and tasty beverages will sure to keep you company.  They even have  a cute, fresh cut flower bouquet area set up for people wanting to freshen up their homes with flowers.

    As you make your way around the shops, be sure to check out The Shop. This adorably curated shop, has over twenty different vendors selling their goods in one place.  You can be sure to find a gift for everyone on your list, from here.  The owner of the space also has her items on display and for sale as well, which makes The Shop a perfect stop for exploring new items for your house or a gift.  

   

 Need something a little sweet along your journey be sure to stop in the sweet shop, Too Good Treats.  They offer gourmet popcorn, candy, ice cream and more.  This might be the perfect place to hit up after you eat lunch at Laredos.  A little bit of Tex-Mex then on to dessert.  

    As you continue your way around downtown, walking off lunch and dessert there are several cute antique shops to check out and see what hidden gems you can discover.  You never know if the perfect item is waiting for you in the next shop you visit.

    For a little bit of night life entertainment there are a couple of options for you to try.  Our favorite now, is Cork and Brew.  Craft beer options, or a wide variety of wine to choose from.  They offer small bites to eat and even have a giant pretzel that is worth the visit.  Don't forget about bingo.  Come play a few games will enjoying your favorite beverage.  

    If you want a little more variety in your drinks be sure to check out either The Spot or Little Bit Country.  Both have a night life to offer any visitor you just have to decide what you are looking to do and how you want to be entertained. 

    If you are looking for more family entertainment, you can always check out The Northeast Texas Children's museum.  The children's museum is hours of fun geared towards children age 3-8 years of age.  Their admission is reasonably priced and fun for kids to learn and explore.  

    Commerce is a great place to visit and discover, with family and friends, there is something to do there for everyone.  So if you are in town for Parents weekend, checking out your Alma mater or just visiting for the day.  Be sure to explore a little more and find your new favorite activity in Commerce.  

Let's Eat ~ Stefanos

 

    When you think of East Texas you do not think of food other than maybe barbeque or Tex-Mex.  In rural East Texas that pretty much goes without saying, but somewhat hidden in Emory, Texas is a little Greek Restaurant called Stefanos.  

    We love to explore and find little hole in the wall places to eat, and Stefanos fills that desire, easily. They offer a good amount of Greek food, to help expand the palate in East Texas.  We have been a few times and each time we have not been disappointed.  

    Since we wanted to explore their menu a little more we ordered a few items we might not have otherwise.  To start we began with their dip sampler, two types of humus, tzatziki and a white bean dip.  I'm a huge fan of humus as it is and their choices were delicious.  The white bean dip had to be my favorite though.  The flavor combination and texture were perfect.  The tzatziki was the only option that I felt was lacking flavor, and maybe it just needed to be paired with a dish as the condiment instead of a dip in its self.

    Their limited special that day, was a Greek Creamy Tomato Tortellini and Lobster Bisque.  The soup had good flavor, but seemed to be lacking a thickness that I associate with a bisque.  Other than that the soup was tasty, even on these hot Texas, summer days.  I loved how it had tortellini in the soup and bits of lobster.

    For our main course, we combined Greek food with East Texas and had a basket of Greek French Fries.  An inventive way to get those East Texas people try something new with something that they are already familiar with.  Feta cheese and lamb top the fries with little explosions of Greek flavor.

    We also had a grilled veggie pita.  The veggies were cooked perfect, just soft enough to be done, with a little bit of crispness in each bite.  They made me want to recreate these at home.  I'll let you know how that works out later.

    Of course you cannot forget about dessert.  We went by way of tradition and had baklava but made with pistachios.  Definitely a dish made to share, the sweetness is always so much when eating baklava but worth it in the end.  

    We really enjoyed our meal at Stefanos, and hope that you too will head down to Emory to explore a bit of homemade Greek food in East Texas.  Be sure to check their Facebook page for  hours of operation, right now they are only open Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. - 9p .m. and Saturday 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.   They also list their daily specials there, so it's a good resource to see what might be new that you would enjoy. 

    

Herb Infused Cocktail ~ Rosemary Orange Cooller

     

    This month our herb infused cocktail features rum and rosemary for a light refreshing summer drink.  The process to make this drink takes a little more time, but is worth the wait in the end.  Rosemary is such a versatile herb that can be used in cooking, mixing drinks and aromatherapy.  

    As an herb rosemary retains is fragrance even when dried.  Which makes it the perfect complement to any grilled or cooked meat, or for a relaxing scent in the bath.  In many Mediterranean cultures, rosemary is thought to bring luck to newlyweds, and baskets of the herb are offered to couples at their weddings.  Rosemary is a fairly hearty herb and can usually withstand most cold weather.  

    We use it as a visual addition at the Bed and Breakfast along our guest parking, leading up to the garden area.  When it blooms rosemary has a beautiful light purple flower.  It's a beautiful compliment to any garden space.

    This cocktail, has a tasty and simple flavor but is a little complex in its creation.  Caramelizing the orange slices, with the rosemary will make your home smell amazing for days after your party.  Plus it has the added benefit of bringing a different flavor to your drink from simply using fresh slices of citrus.  The added sweetness of caramelizing the oranges makes this drink perfect for summer.  

Rosemary Orange Cooler

2 oz White Rum

6 sprigs of Rosemary

4 slices of orange or other citrus

1 tsp. Sugar

Slice your oranges into disks or quarters, depends on the look you are going for in a garnish.  Dip your slices into the sugar, and add to a heated pan to caramelize for about two minutes.  Add rosemary to the pan as well.  Once done, add the orange slices to a shaker cup and muddle with a fresh sprig of rosemary.  Add in the white rum, sugar and ice.  Shake until the drink is cold.  Pour the cup over a glass of fresh ice, and garnish with a orange slice and a fresh rosemary sprig. 

    We hope you like this drink and are able to make it at your next party.  The above recipe is a single serving but you can make it in a larger batch for a bigger event.  As always please drink responsibly and have a designated driver. Cheers!