The “Maurini” guesthouse

The Mauriņi guesthouse is seven kilometres from Sigulda and in the middle of the forest.  The farm has a large oak, a pond for swimming, and a park that covers nine hectares.  The guesthouse has a warm pool, a sauna, a tub and a sauna barrel outdoors.  All around the guesthouse are ancient and typical Latvian flowers, including tiger lilies, phlox, peonies, dahlias, etc. 

Owners Andris and Māra Zemdega built the guesthouse themselves and have managed it for more than 15 years.  Māra bakes yeast breads, including rye wholemeal bread, rye bread with dried meat and onions, scalded rye bread, seed bread and yeast white bread. 

Visitors will learn how to bake bread and will receive yeast and a recipe to bake bread at home.  While waiting for the dough to rise, Māra will offer various activities such as gathering wild herbs for tea, cooking jam and baking pierogi.  An alternative programme involves the ability of guests to spend the night at the guesthouse when it takes longer for the dough to rise.  Visitors will have access to a sauna and a pool.

THE PROGRAMME:

A master class in baking bread:

• Preparing mash with yeast and then taking the necessary amount to mix it with flour and water;
• Preparation of the dough by adding flour, water and other ingredients for the specific types of bread;
• Activities while the dough is rising -- gathering ingredients for herbal teas, cooking jam, baking pierogi or just relaxing at the farm;
• Shaping and baking loaves;
• Presentation of a loaf to each participant, along with yeast and a recipe to bake bread at home.