Top 5 Favorite Spring Recipes From Our Innkeepers

After months of cold temperatures and snow covered everything, it's time to "Think Spring"! What better way to do that then to create some delicious new spring recipes using a variety of fruits and vegetables you typically find in the season. We have put together, and are happy to share, these recipes from some of our foodie innkeepers. With these "Think Spring" like recipes for you straight from the garden, you will be inspired to cook and bake and leave that spring cleaning for another time! Bon appetit!

Top 5 Spring Recipes From Our Innkeepers

 

From Honeybee Inn, Horicon:

Spring Recipes

Frog Eye Salad

Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup pineapple juice
1 egg
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup acini de pepi pasta
2 cans mandarin oranges, drained
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapples, drained

In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix together the sugar, flour, and salt. Stir in the pineapple juice and egg. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add the lemon juice and set aside. Cook the pasta and stir into the pineapple juice mixture. Let cool in the refrigerator. Add the remaining ingredients and cool before serving.

 


From Four Gables B&B, La Crosse:Spring Recipes

Coq au Vin

Ingredients:
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 cup butter
Brandy
8 shallots, peeled
1 1/4 cups good white wine
1/2 pound morel mushrooms, or a combination of wild mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon Herbes de Provence
1/4 cup heavy cream

Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper; dust with flour. Melt the butter carefully in a large saute pan or flameproof casserole, watch carefully so that it doesn't burn. Quickly brown the chicken on both sides. Remove from pan and keep warm. Pour a splash of brandy into the pot and set alight. When the flames have died down, add the shallots, wine, and mushrooms. Return the chicken to the pan and season with Herbes de Provence. Cover and simmer for approximately 30-35 minutes, or until done. Remove chicken and arrange on a serving platter. Bring the juices to a rolling boil and allow to reduce just a bit. Lower the heat and add the cream, stirring to make a smooth sauce. Adjust the seasonings and pour the sauce over the chicken breast to serve. 

 


From Cream Pitcher B&B, Blue River:

Spring Recipes

Eggs Taos

Ingredients:
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk, heated
1 7-oz. can chopped green chilies
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
10 eggs, whisked
2 avocados
8 flour tortillas
3 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese (and/or Cheddar)
1 cup sour cream
1 tomato, chopped or 1 cup salsa

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large skillet, sauté garlic and onion in butter over high heat. Stir in flour. Add heated milk and whisk constantly until thick. Add green chilies, salt and pepper. Remove sauce from heat and set aside.

In a large skillet, scramble eggs, set aside. In a small bowl mash or slice avocados. Spoon 2 tablespoons sauce, 1/8 of the eggs, and 1/8 of the avocado on each tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese. Roll up and place seam down in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spoon remaining sauce over tortillas and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until hot.

To serve, top with sour cream and tomato or salsa.

 


From Phipps Inn, Hudson:Spring Recipes

Rhubarb Pie

Heat oven to 425 degrees F.

Crust (for 9” pie):
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Butter Flavored Crisco
4 1/2 Tablespoons ice water

Mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening. Add water mix until all flour is moistened. Gather dough into a ball and divide in half. Shape halves into flattened discs. Roll one disc 2” larger than pie pan. Place bottom crust in pan. Trim edges to edge of pan.

Filling:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup flour
4 1/2 cups rhubarb cut in 1/2” pieces
2 Tablespoons butter, divided

Mix sugar and flour, add rhubarb and toss to coat. Scoop rhubarb and all sugar/flour mixture into crust. Divide butter into 4 or 5 pieces and place on rhubarb.

Roll out top crust. Cut a few slits in crust. Place over rhubarb. Fold extra crust under bottom crust and seal and flute or press with fork. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar. Cover edges with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.

Bake 40-50 minutes or until juice begins to bubble through slits in crust.

 


From Franklin Street Inn, Appleton:Spring Recipes

Apricot-Orange Cream Scones

Ingredients:
2 c. flour
3 Tbs. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. grated orange peel
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. dried chopped apricots
1/2 c. white vanilla chips
1 1/3 c. whipping cream

Frosting:
2-3 Tbs. orange juice
Zest from 1 orange
1 c. powdered sugar

Directions:
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Lightly grease cookie sheet. In large bowl combine first seven ingredients. Mix well. Add whipping cream all at once, stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. (If not moist enough, then you can use more cream usually by about 1/4 c.). On a lightly floured surface, knead dough 6-7 times still smooth, do not over mix! Divide in half and pat into two 6 inch rounds. Cut into 4 wedges. Place rounds 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-13 minutes till golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Mix powdered sugar and orange juice, then drizzle over warm scones.

Best served warm. Makes 8 large scones. Kitchen tip: you can combine first seven ingredients and store in air tight bow on the counter. Then in the morning add the cream and follow recipe from there. Grate orange for zest flavor & then juice orange. Combine and refrigerate. In the morning, add powdered sugar to the orange mixture to make frosting.

 


Enjoy these spring recipes! Do you want further inspiration? Then check out our "We are Foodies ~ Recipes" page on our Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association website. We are always adding both sweet and savory breakfast deliciousness for you to try. Know that if you don't want to cook, you can always choose to experience one of our many wonderful Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association member inns where you leave the cooking and hospitality to them and just enjoy your time!

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The Ultimate Road Trip

  Did you know it’s the 80th anniversary of The Great River Road, that ribbon of highway that hugs the Mississippi River? Now that you do, do make plans for a road trip to end all road trips. The GRR, for short, has loads of B&Bs along the way. The Great River Road may be turning 80 this year, but its ability to deliver an awesome scenic tour along the Mighty Mississippi never gets old. If you’re looking for an epic road trip, this is it. First, a little background. The route was formally established in 1938 by stringing together existing roads, auto tours and state trunks. It is Wisconsin’s only National Scenic Byway. There are 33 historic river towns along the 250-mile Wisconsin stretch, with some of those communities dating back to the 1600s. [caption id="attachment_2523" align="aligncenter" width="202"] Mississippi River Bluffs along The Great River Road[/caption] O.K., now on to a couple of recommendations on what to see and where to stay: Tritsch House B&B in Alma, WI is in an area that hugs the beautiful river banks of the Mississippi. The B&B itself is nestled into the river bluffs with wonderful views of the river. Nearby, you will find walking paths, rivers activities such as boating, fishing, canoe or kayaks, art galleries and wonderful shopping. Just imagine sitting out with a glass of wine while you watch the beautiful Alma sunset with that someone special. Another B&B you will find nearby to The Great River Road is Rainbow Ridge Farms located in Onalaska, WI, where you can relax in their turn-of-the-century farmhouse and 35 acre working hobby farm. As their guest, you are invited to feed animals, milk a goat, bottle feed a "kid", or collect eggs. In this area, you can enjoy antiquing, visiting Amish farmsteads, or participate in one of the area's many festivals like Oktoberfest, the Great River Folk Fest, Jazz Fest, Art Fair on the Green, and Riverfest. Some of the tallest bluffs along the Great River Road are located around La Crosse. La Crosse is the largest city you’ll pass through on your Great River Road journey. Castle La Crosse B&B and Four Gables B&B are the places to be if you're stopping to enjoy the variety of great restaurants, stores, museums and historic attractions that the city has to offer!   WBBA Seek the Unique

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Live It Up at Live Concerts

  Foodies book vacations around a destination’s authentic food offerings. Exercise enthusiasts map their road trips around triathlons and marathons. History devotees head to reenactments. Music lovers fill up their summer calendar with live concerts. Let’s make this the summer of music getaways in Wisconsin. You may be surprised at the line-ups! Hand it to Wisconsin to host every kind of music genre around – jazz to rock, indie to folk, up-and-comers to today’s biggest headliners. Seems we just love a good party with good tunes. If music is your thing, here’s a Billboard-esque rundown of top concerts in Wisconsin this summer and suggestions on where to stay after the final curtain call. [caption id="attachment_2500" align="aligncenter" width="304"] Waterfest, Oshkosh WI[/caption] June 15-16: Metro Jam, Manitowoc. This free music fest features performers across nearly every genre. Westport B&B and Red Forest B&B offer impeccable accommodations not far from the festival. Thursdays, June 21-August 23: Waterfest live concert series, Oshkosh. Soak up the atmosphere at the outdoor amphitheater, then stay at the Brayton B&B, where it captures the best aspects of a B&B: wonderfully inviting rooms, tantalizing food, and the personal touch of Innkeepers that happily serve as concierge during your stay. July 6-7: Eaux Claires Fest, Eau Claire. This indie music and arts festival is getting lots of national attention. The Otter Creek Inn offers one acre of wooded beauty located within city limits and is abound with flowers in the summer, while the nearby Inn on Lake Wissota is famous for being tucked away in the pine-filled shores of this picturesque lake. August 2-5: Mile of Music, Appleton. After all that walking at this free, 100% original music festival featuring emerging artists, you can walk to and rest up at Franklin Street Inn, where Victorian Charm with Modern Comfort give you the experience of comfort and elegance when you sleep. August 17-18: Big Bull Falls Blues Fest, Wausau. Stewart Inn is fit for music celebrities, where it offers unmatched charm and amenities in a beautiful arts & crafts mansion. [caption id="attachment_2502" align="alignleft" width="300"] Big Bull Falls Blues Fest, Wausau WI[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2503" align="alignright" width="240"] Eaux Claires Fest, Eau Claire WI[/caption]               August 24-26: Great River Road Folk Festival, La Crosse. Four Gables B&B and Castle La Crosse offer very unique overnight experiences - Four Gables B&B is a lovely Victorian Queen Anne home listed on the National Register and tastefully furnished with antiques. Castle La Crosse, also designed in the Queen Anne form, is a grand bed and breakfast featuring numerous bedrooms, beautiful leaded and stained-glass windows, a library, and a music room. September 28: Kilbourn City Live, Wisconsin Dells. Hear up-and-comers before they hit it big, then head to peaceful Bowman’s Oak Hill B&B to enjoy 8 acres of park like setting and 23 acres of woods to wander. You will have the opportunity to rest, reflect, relax and be renewed both in body and spirit during your stay.  

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Multi-Destination Getaway: The Driftless Area

Multi-Destination Getaway: The Driftless Area [caption id="attachment_1794" align="aligncenter" width="300"]WI Driftless Region WI Driftless Region[/caption] Taking a page out of European travel, why not plan a trip that takes you to multiple destinations instead of just staying put. The Driftless Area in the southwest part of the state, with its deeply carved river valleys untouched by glaciers, would be a great place to give it a try.

If you’re looking for a stateside getaway that carries the same types of discoveries you’d expect to find on a multi-destination European holiday, we bring you the Driftless region of Wisconsin. The last continental glacier bypassed this area, giving it its distinctive terrain of deeply carved valleys and the largest concentration of cold water streams in the world. The earliest inhabitants of this southwest corner of the state were Native American Mound Builders. Today the region is home to hundreds of artists who take inspiration from the hills and valleys and the Kickapoo River and mighty Mississippi. [caption id="attachment_1795" align="alignnone" width="300"]bikers The Driftless Region in Wisconsin offers a variety of choices for bike riders, from rugged mountain trails to challenging on-road routes to constructed bike trails.[/caption] Bird migrations are a mainstay in the spring, farmers’ markets abound, and mountain biking is plentiful. And you can forget malls, as independent boutiques and Amish goods define the shopping experience here. As for places to rest your head, there’s the Tritsch House B&B in the Mississippi River town of Alma. It’s a Queen Anne house hugged by river bluffs. Walnut Ridge Log Cabin Guest House in Platteville offers two handcrafted log cabins set on six wooded country acres. [caption id="attachment_1797" align="aligncenter" width="300"]Westby House Inn Westby House Inn, Westby, WI[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1796" align="alignright" width="300"]Walnut Ridge Log Cabin Guest Houses Walnut Ridge Log Cabin Guest Houses in Platteville, WI[/caption] Four Gables B&B in La Crosse is listed on the National Register and serves guest a four-course country breakfast. The Westby House Inn & Restaurant in Westby has a rich history, but it is the inn’s modern amenities that are a pleasing point of difference. They also serve lunch and afternoon tea. The Driftless Region is a unique part of Wisconsin's geography.  An area where visitors will find a wide variety of places to explore.  The Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association member Inns in the Southwest region of Wisconsin are also plentiful, each one of them unique in their own way.  With a little research, we are confident you will find one that suits your personality.  We always like to remind our readers that all WBBA members are licensed, inspected and insured.  So rest asured, you will get a good night's sleep when you stay at a WBBA B&B, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated the next morning.  Are you ready to Seek the Unique?WBBA Seek the Unique

Which Wisconsin City Was Named the Most Romantic in America?

La Crosse, Wisconsin is known for its state parks, dynamite bike trails and cruises on the mighty Mississippi.  And for being the most romantic city in America.  This sweet honor was bestowed by Redbox, the movie rental company, based on the number of romantic comedy DVD rentals from the city. Looking for a La Crosse B&B getaway that has romance written all over it?  Try the Wilson Schoolhouse Inn, an old school house that rents to one party only, so you’ll have the entire inn to yourself.   The Four Gables B&B is on the National Register of Historic Places, with suites furnished with couples in mind.  In nearby Onalaska, the Lumber Baron Inn, also on the National Register, will make you feel like the royal newlyweds with their afternoon high tea, plus all the bedrooms have views of Lake Onalaska.  We’re thinking a B&B weekend in La Crosse could be a great anniversary gift to the one you love, hint, hint. [caption id="attachment_547" align="aligncenter" width="195" caption="Steeped in tradition, The Lumber Baron in Onalaska near La Crosse has been serving the Victorian tradition of Afternoon Tea for over a decade. Sandy works her magic, ensuring an authentic and memorable experience - from your very first sip of our secret Tea blend tea, right through to her freshly baked biscuits served with heavy cream and strawberry preserves."]Lumber Baron Inn, afternoon tea, La Crosse, most romantic Wisconsin City, redbox[/caption]
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