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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Are you ready to Seek the Unique?

Let the Leaf Peeping Commence

 

It’s next to impossible not to be happy during fall in Wisconsin. The colors are brilliant, the temperatures just right, and the home decorating possibilities endless. Take a peek at Wisconsin inns that are the stars of autumn, thanks to pretty country settings and Pinterest-worthy fall decor. Sure, most guests like to grab a shot of the B&B before they head back home, but some inns show up more often than others on Facebook and Instagram feeds during the fall because of their glorious settings. [caption id="attachment_2593" align="aligncenter" width="375"] Walnut Ridge Log Cabin Guest Houses surrounded by color in Platteville, WI[/caption] Take Walnut Ridge Log Cabin Guest Houses, for example, set in a grove of colorful trees that provide a brilliant backdrop for selfies. Walnut Ridge offers two private luxury romantic handcrafted log cabins in a country setting on 6 wooded acres. [caption id="attachment_2595" align="aligncenter" width="460"] Fall color view from At The Lake House, Lake Geneva WI[/caption] There’s At The Lake House on Lake Como, near Lake Geneva, the kind of place you’d expect to see on a postcard touting fall in Wisconsin. Their sumptuously appointed lakeside home was built with luxury and relaxation in mind. Each of the four ensuite guest rooms has its own lakeside patio or deck. [caption id="attachment_2636" align="aligncenter" width="299"] Pumpkins and cornstalks decorate Honeybee Inn, Horicon[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2619" align="aligncenter" width="444"] The Honeybee Inn in Horicon gets top honors for their welcoming fall decor that guests are known to oohh and aahh over after they arrive. At Honeybee Inn, you are only blocks from Horicon Marsh, the birding mecca of the Midwest! [caption id="attachment_2598" align="aligncenter" width="405"] Fall "curbside" appeal at Bay Point Inn, Egg Harbor WI[/caption] When it comes to fall curb appeal, you have to love Bay Point Inn in Egg Harbor, with an exterior color palette featuring rich autumnal shades. Here, you will find spectacular water views punctuated with the islands of Green Bay and framed by pristine woodlands. Plan which B&B to visit and when with the help of the Travel Wisconsin fall color report.   WBBA Seek the Unique

Are you ready to Seek the Unique?

 

 

What’s the #1 Reason to B&B?

According to industry research, a whopping 87% of travelers head to B&Bs for romance. We love that! This time of year also brings to mind that famous quote from Lord Tennyson: "In the spring, a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." Let’s add woman’s too. At any rate, check out the romance packages offering by Wisconsin B&Bs and see which offer the highest level of compatibility with your idea of a romantic spring getaway. [caption id="attachment_1195" align="alignleft" width="300"]Bath Sommelier - the ultimate in a soothing bath in the privacy of your room, with a beautiful array of the finest spa soaps, lotions, homemade bath salts from the Dead Sea, and loofahs. Total relaxation emersion, with soy aromatherapy candles, specialty music CD, and sprinkle of bath rose petals around to delight you. Fresh flowers, a small tray of fruits and chocolate truffles, and a beverage of your choice will complete the experience. Honeybee Inn, Horicon. Bath Sommelier - the ultimate in a soothing bath in the privacy of your room, with a beautiful array of the finest spa soaps, lotions, homemade bath salts from the Dead Sea, and loofahs. Total relaxation emersion, with soy aromatherapy candles, specialty music CD, and sprinkle of bath rose petals around to delight you. Fresh flowers, a small tray of fruits and chocolate truffles, and a beverage of your choice will complete the experience at Honeybee Inn, Horicon.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1196" align="alignright" width="270"]Enhance your Romance - Two relaxing and invigorating one hour in room massages performed by a certified therapist to the soothing sounds of nature, enhanced by soft music for a quiet interlude from a busy and hectic day. Chilled bottle of champagne or sparkling juice in your room upon arrival, a rose bouquet, and box of Bernstein's chocolate truffles. Romantic dinner for two at the award winning Courthouse Pub Restaurant.  In the morning, a four course candlelight breakfast ... Westport B&B, Manitowoc Enhance your Romance - Two relaxing and invigorating one hour in room massages performed by a certified therapist to the soothing sounds of nature, enhanced by soft music for a quiet interlude from a busy and hectic day. Chilled bottle of champagne or sparkling juice in your room upon arrival, a rose bouquet, and box of Bernstein's chocolate truffles. Romantic dinner for two at the award winning Courthouse Pub Restaurant. In the morning, a four course candlelight breakfast ... Westport B&B, Manitowoc[/caption]

Fun Facts to Know and Tell about B&Bs

[caption id="attachment_705" align="aligncenter" width="150" caption="Guests are pampered with luxurious in-room amenities such as wi-fi, fireplace, whirlpool, premuim bath products, and television at the Honeybee Inn, Horicon. Innkeeper Barb Ruka says: "Guests will peruse our extensive & up-to-date movie library, get cozy in their room for hours, catching up on the latest films that they can't fit into their busy lives at home." A relaxing end to a day of touring or cruising the Horicon Marsh, within walking distance of the inn."][/caption] We’re a member of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII for short) and each year they release a research report that provides a snapshot of what’s what in B&B travel.  Thought you might be interested in a few tidbits: The average age of the oldest part of a B&B building is 111; 35% of inns have achieved an “historical designation” by a local, state or national historic preservation organization; 72% of B&Bs are run by couples; and most inns provide internet, television, luxury bed/linens, premium branded toiletries, robes, fireplaces, magazines and jetted tubs in the guest rooms.  Here’s more from Jay Karen, PAII president and CEO, “One interesting statistic we noticed from the study is that there was a slight decrease in the offering of common-area services and amenities, and a slight increase in offering in-room services and amenities. It seems more guests are asking to enjoy services privately in their rooms, and innkeepers are happy to oblige. That’s the nice thing about B&Bs – as a guest, you can make the experience as social or as private as you like.”  Well said!
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