There are so many reasons to go to a B&B, but in the Valentine month of February, that reason is often romance. Here are a few inns that clearly love a good romance package:

Pretty? Maybe not, but morel mushrooms sure are delicious and should be incorporated into your breakfast recipes.

Morel mushroom hunting in Wisconsin in the spring is like a secret society, with mushroom aficionados reluctant to share their hunting spots. However, our innkeepers are always happy to share their recipes, and so we reached out to our members for their favorite morel mushroom recipes. If you’ve never tasted a morel mushroom, you’re in for a treat with this recipe for Eggs Benedict with Morel Mushrooms and Asparagus from Sweet Autumn Inn in Lake Mills. Ingredients: 1 T. Olive oil 1 Large shallot, finely diced 1 Clove garlic, finely diced 1/2 t. fresh thyme, chopped 1 T butter 8 oz. morel mushrooms, halved or quartered depending on size 1/4 C white wine or broth 1/2 C heavy cream Salt & pepper to taste 12 spears asparagus, lightly sauteed or blanched 4 poached eggs 4 slices of multi grain bread, lightly toasted Directions: Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat, add the shallot and cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the butter and let it melt. Add the mushrooms and cook until they release their moisture, about 3-5 minutes. Add the wind or broth, deglaze the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add the cream and simmer until it thickens, about 2-3 minutes and reduce the heat to low. Poach the eggs in your favorite method. To Plate: Place piece of toast on the plate, top with the asparagus, poached eggs and creamy mushroom sauce. This recipe will make enough to serve four. Not a morel mushroom hunter? You could also try this recipe for Oven Baked Mushrooms from Pedal'rs Inn in Wales.

An open faced breakfast sandwich on a grilled ciabatta roll with roasted bacon, poached egg topped with chocolate bacon gravy and a side of oven roasted mushrooms from Pedal'rs Inn.

Ingredients: 2 T of unsalted butter 16 oz of sliced porcini mushrooms 2 tsp Of Worcestershire sauce 1/2 tsp Fresh ground black pepper 1 T of flour 1/4 cup sour cream Shredded Swiss cheese Directions: Preheat oven 325. In a sauté pan, melt butter on medium high heat. When butter begins to sizzle place mushrooms in pan. Sauté mushrooms until edges start to brown. Do not let them go until all the juice rendered. Stir in Worcestershire sauce and black pepper. Remove from heat and sprinkle with flour. Stir mushrooms covering with flour. Return to medium heat and add in sour cream being sure to pull in pan scrapings. Pour into individual tart pans or 8x8 oven safe serving dish. Top with Swiss cheese and place in oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve warm. Serves 4. Added Tip: When traveling to Wisconsin B&Bs in the spring, ask the innkeeper about local farmers’ markets, where you may be able to snag some morels, plus other spring favorites like asparagus and rhubarb. You’ll never leave empty-handed at the state’s largest farmers’ market which happens every Saturday on the Capitol Square in Madison. Who knows, you might even run into innkeepers from The Buckingham Inn, The Livingston Inn,  and Hotel Ruby Marie when you’re there!

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  [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.  

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