Valentines Day is quickly approaching, do you know what you are giving to that someone special in your life? Consider the gift of an experience! There is nothing more special than time spent together ~ A romantic night or two at a B&B! Don't forget to look at the B&B's specials, packages, and add-ons for that extra special touch.

 

 

We usually feature a recipe or two with each newsletter, but with this installment we thought, why stop there when garden plots and farm fields are bursting with ingredients covering the full spectrum of flavors.

Sweet Treat from Blacksmith Inn On The Shore in Baileys Harbor: Pumpkin Pecan Muffins Ingredients 1 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon cloves 1 cup flour 1 egg 1/2 cup oil 1 cup canned pumpkin 1/4 cup chopped pecans 1/4 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 325°F and grease or line 10 standard muffin cups. In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and flour. Mix in the egg, oil, and pumpkin. Fold in the pecans and raisins. Fill the prepared muffin cups 2/3 full and sprinkle the tops with cinnamon sugar. Bake 20-25 minutes.  

Savory Breakfast from Cream Pitcher B&B in Blue River: Eggs Taos Ingredients 1 large clove garlic, minced ½ onion, chopped ¼ cup butter ¼ cup flour 2 cups milk, heated 1 7-oz. can chopped green chilies ½ tsp salt ¼ 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 9x13-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.  

Sweet Breakfast from Red Forest B&B in Two Rivers: Baked German Apple Pancake Ingredients 3 eggs, separated 3 Tbsp flour 3 Tbsp milk Dash of salt 3 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced ¼-inch thick ½ cup sugar 2 Tbsp butter 1 tsp cinnamon (Penzy’s is the best) Preheat oven to 350°F. Place a 9-inch ovenproof glass pie dish with deep sides in preheated oven. Beat egg whites until stiff. Mix flour, milk, salt and egg yolks in separate bowl with hand mixer. Then gently fold egg white mixture in. Sauté apples, sugar, butter and cinnamon in a skillet for 2–3 minutes until apples are well coated. Pour apples into heated glass pie dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Pour the batter over apples slices. Bake for 20 minutes at 305°F until the pancake is brown and puffy. Remove from oven and loosen sides. Place a round plate over glass pie dish and flip over. Cut the pancake in wedges and serve with maple syrup and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  

Autumn Inspired Fruit from Cameo Rose Victorian Country Inn in Belleville: Black Raspberry & Chambord Poached Pears Ingredients Black Raspberry Chambord Sauce (Can be prepared ahead—stores in fridge for weeks and can also be prepared without the alcohol) 2 cups fresh or frozen black raspberries ²/³ cup water + ¼ cup water to mix with cornstarch ½ cup sugar 1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice 2 Tbsp Chambord (raspberry liqueur) 1 Tbsp cornstarch Place raspberries in a blender with the water to purée and then strain mixture over a small saucepan to remove the seeds. Add remaining ingredients to saucepan, except for the cornstarch, and bring to a low boil over medium heat, stirring often to prevent sticking. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30–40 min. Stir cornstarch into the ¼ cup of water until completely dissolved and then add to the berry mixture. Cook and stir until the sauce thickens. Serve warm over cooked pears. Poached Pears 8 fresh firm pears 2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice ½ cup sugar Using a large kettle with the capacity of covering the pears with water while cooking, add water and place on the stove. Core pears using an apple corer and peel completely. Use a knife to trim the bottoms if necessary so that the pears will stand upright when served. Bring the water, sugar and lemon juice to a boil and then turn down to low until pears are fully cooked—slightly firm, but tender enough to cut with a butter knife—approximately 45 minutes, depending on how firm the pears are to begin with. Test pear texture with a toothpick. Remove from heat and rinse with cold water. Drain and place in bowls—one per guest. Ladle 2–3 tablespoons of the Black Raspberry Chambord Sauce over the top. Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and shaved Ghirardelli Chocolate, using approximately 1 tablespoon per serving.

 

Are you ready to Seek the Unique?

 

  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.  

Are you ready to Seek the Unique?

 

  Hygge is hot right now. It’s a Danish word for cozy, comfortable and content, and it’s showing up in home décor and travel trends. See how some Wisconsin B&Bs are interpreting the simple pleasures of hygge. If Pinterest is any indication of trends – and it is – hygge is big. How to hygge, you ask? Create a cozy atmosphere, be present in the moment, partake of simple pleasures, slow down, be thankful, embrace harmony, and carve out time and space for friends. Count us in! For us, this Danish word, pronounced "hue-guh", really boils down to “contentment.” And here are inns that have been serving up hygge long before it became a thing:  

Real tea and coffee: Lindsay House B&B, Manawa

[caption id="attachment_2356" align="aligncenter" width="363"] French pressed coffee, comfort, and a good book on the porch at Lindsay House B&B[/caption]  

Candles at breakfast: Garden Gate B&B, Sturgeon Bay

[caption id="attachment_2361" align="aligncenter" width="431"] Candlelight and pleasant conversation await you with breakfast at Garden Gate B&B[/caption]  

Freshly baked pastries: The Livingston Inn, Madison

[caption id="attachment_2354" align="aligncenter" width="276"] This homemade pistachio breakfast ring is just one of many delicious pastries from The Livingston Inn[/caption]  

A sprig or two of fresh flowers from the garden: Red Forest B&B, Two Rivers

[caption id="attachment_2342" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Enjoy your refreshments outdoors in the beautiful garden area at Red Forest B&B[/caption]  

Less-is-more home décor: At The Lake House, Lake Geneva

[caption id="attachment_2341" align="aligncenter" width="277"] At The Lake House offers modern simplicity to feel right at home[/caption]  

A reading sanctuary: Castle La Crosse B&B, La Crosse

[caption id="attachment_2344" align="aligncenter" width="444"] Pick out a book and set yourself up in a quiet spot by the window at the Castle La Crosse B&B library[/caption]  

Conversation nooks: 1810 Emerson House B&B, Beloit

[caption id="attachment_2338" align="aligncenter" width="387"] A quiet corner for your enjoyment at 1810 Emerson House[/caption]  

Crackling fireplace: Honeybee Inn B&B, Horicon

[caption id="attachment_1621" align="aligncenter" width="457"] Bask in the warmth of the fireplace in the Queen Bee Victorian room at the Honeybee Inn[/caption]  

Hiking path with picnic spots: Lake Orchard Farm Retreat, Sheboygan

[caption id="attachment_2363" align="aligncenter" width="449"] Rolling fields, natural woods, fruit orchards and a Lake Michigan view greet you on the trails around Lake Orchard Farm Retreat[/caption]  

Are you ready to Seek the Unique?

 

  [caption id="attachment_427" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Simple Holiday Enjoyments[/caption] If you’re in need of ideas that will put you in the holiday spirit without having to endure massive amounts of commercialization or hefty price tags, then you’ll want to read on. Getting in the holiday spirit needn’t come with an over-the-top price tag or extravagant commitment of time and energy. We asked member inns to submit ideas for holiday doings that we would all do well to experience at least once and the ideas are magical. [caption id="attachment_2123" align="alignright" width="264"] Westport B&B Wine and Roses[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2119" align="alignleft" width="254"] Red Forest Inn Breakfast by Candlelight[/caption]           In the Manitowoc area, the “Lights of Lincoln Park” is a beautiful drive-through light show to benefit the local zoo and it’s just $5 per car and runs through Dec. 23. Stay at the beautiful Westport Bed & Breakfast in Manitowoc or the equally beautiful Red Forest B&B in neighboring Two Rivers where you can warm up during their evening wine and cheese hour. [caption id="attachment_2114" align="alignleft" width="271"] Winter at Inn at Wawanissee Point[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2120" align="alignright" width="274"] Ringling House in the Winter[/caption]                   Take in a classic holiday movie at the historic Al Ringling Theatre in downtown Baraboo – “Holiday Inn” is playing Dec. 20 and “It’s a Wonderful Life” is playing Dec. 22. Ticket price is just $7. This theatre is considered one of America’s prettiest playhouses. Stay at the Ringling House B&B, the original estate of local son Charles Ringling, one of the founders of the Ringling Brothers Circus. This 1901 Colonial Revival Home is on the National Register of Historic Places. The breathtaking views that Inn at Wawanissee Point features are also not far from these holiday events. [caption id="attachment_2110" align="aligncenter" width="191"] The London Room of Astor House[/caption] In Green Bay, marvel at the more than 40 decorated trees on display at the National Railroad Museum during their annual Festival of Trees event now through Jan. 7. Admission is just $5. Then retreat to the Astor House B&B where there are five distinctly decorated rooms – ask for the London Room with fireplace. [caption id="attachment_2116" align="alignright" width="205"] Justin Trails Resort Winter Lights[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1672" align="alignleft" width="191"] Grapevine Log Cabins in Sparta[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2122" align="aligncenter" width="143"] Westby House Inn Christmas[/caption]   The community of Sparta has its traditional German holiday market known as a Kriskindlemarkt Dec. 8-9 with authentic German food, horse-drawn carriage rides, and artisan vendors. Then cozy up in one of the three log cabins at Grapevine Log Cabins, where towering pines set the holiday scene naturally. You can also find Justin Trails Resort, which offers cross-country ski and snowshow rentals along with two sledding hills for your outdoor winter fun, and Westby House Inn, where there is something for every vacationer to enjoy, in the Sparta area. [caption id="attachment_2121" align="alignright" width="164"] Sweet Autumn Inn at Christmas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2113" align="alignleft" width="248"] Fargo Mansion Staircase[/caption]               In Lake Mills, get last-minute Christmas shopping done at their annual Winter Market, Dec. 9 where crafters, growers and artists present their treasures. Sweet Autumn Inn will be your spot for the night, where you’ll wake up to a full breakfast feast courtesy of innkeeper Teri Nelson. The beautiful Fargo Mansion Inn is also in Lake Mills, where you can "relax, unwind, and make yourself at home". [caption id="attachment_2112" align="alignleft" width="153"] Eagle Centre House Kitchen[/caption]   The Old World Christmas event at Old World Wisconsin in Eagle, running the first two weekends of December, comes highly recommended by Eagle Centre House B&B. This “living museum” state historic site will be decked with holiday greenery and there will be horse-drawn rides plus wassail to warm the soul.     [caption id="attachment_2115" align="alignright" width="300"] Inn On Lake Wissota Christmas[/caption] In Chippewa Falls, the Christmas Village in Irvine Park running through Jan. 1 is a display of life-size Christmas scenes reminiscent of the Victorian era. Stay at the Inn On Lake Wissota where visions of sugar plums will surely dance in your heads as you sleep peacefully at this quiet inn tucked away on the shore of the lake. Otter Creek Inn lies in nearby Eau Claire, WI on a one-acre wooded lot that simply glistens with the winter snows. [caption id="attachment_2117" align="alignright" width="300"] Snow-covered Otter Creek Inn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2108" align="alignleft" width="199"] Hidden Serenity Sleigh Ride[/caption]                   Take a sleigh ride through the woods lit up by thousands of twinkling lights when you book the horse-drawn sleigh ride package at Hidden Serenity B&B in West Bend. Available on a dozen dates in December and January. [caption id="attachment_2118" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Phipps Inn Winter Evening[/caption] The Phipps Inn B&B in Hudson, an elegant Victorian mansion, always opens its first floor for tours on the first Friday in December when the Octagon House Museum across the street holds its Victorian Christmas Night from 6-8 pm. Expect a magical night.  

Are you ready to Seek the Unique?

 

There’s an area of Wisconsin that goes by Kewaunee County that is oft overlooked because it lies in the shadows of Green Bay and Door County.  Yet, it’s a sweet sliver of the state with some great insider finds, as chronicled in this wonderful travel piece from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Especially nice to see two of our member inns – Joannes B&B in De Pere and The Red Forest B&B in Two Rivers – recommended under Where to Stay. [caption id="attachment_948" align="alignleft" width="300"] One of three luxurious guest rooms at Joannes B&B, De Pere.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_952" align="alignright" width="270"] A small sampling of the scrumptious breakfasts that await you at the Red Forest B&B, Two Rivers.[/caption]