I don’t often get a chance to take many photos at weddings that we host because I have so many other things to do on the wedding day. I did manage to get a few yesterday, though, of the happy bride and groom and one of their little guests. It was fun to photograph people, something I don’t usually do.
Here is wishing the bride and groom continued happiness!
The First Methodist Church – a beautiful, historic church that is located one block north of The Morning Star – gets a new roof. Brrr. I bet it’s cold up there.
Muscari On The Rocks …
Every autumn, I buy tulip bulbs to force into bloom late winter. The flowers are a cheerful reminder that spring is on its way …
The topic for this week’s weekly travel theme by Where’s My Backpack is “Roads”. These photos are from the road along Prospect Mountain in Lake George, New York.
Running a bed and breakfast, I don’t have much opportunity to travel. However, I do get out of town once in a while. When I saw that “Bridges” is the theme for Aisla’s travel challenge this week, I decided to share a photo that I took in Florida while visiting my mother a few years ago.
A widespread blizzard, named Winter Storm Q, passed through the midwest yesterday depositing 10.4 inches of snow on Manhattan, Kansas and even more elsewhere. Sunshine and blue skies were a welcome sight this morning, especially to travelers stranded due to cancelled flights. Here is a photo that I took earlier today of snow that deposited itself in a wave on the roof of our neighbor’s porch. I thought that it looked like something out of a storybook illustration. So pretty, but so cold!
We’ve been having Valentine’s Day themed breakfast specials all week long at The Morning Star. One of the items that I served this morning was Raspberry Buttermilk Muffins. We also had Nutella French Toast and Bagels with Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese today in addition to our regular menu. It was a very festive breakfast this morning as it has been all week!
Valentine’s Raspberry Buttermilk Muffins
(makes 10 – 12)
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. granulated white sugar, plus extra for topping
1 T. baking powder
8 T. unsalted butter, melted
1 c. low fat buttermilk
2 large eggs
2 t. orange extract
2 c. frozen raspberries
(1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare 12 standard muffin cups or 10 eight-ounce ramekins with butter and flour or baking spray.
(2) In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 1 c. sugar and baking powder. Set aside.
(3) Whisk together butter, buttermilk, eggs and orange extract. Stir mixture into dry ingredients. Fold in raspberries.
(4) Divide batter into prepared muffin cups or ramekins. Using the back of a spoon, shape each cup of batter into a light mound. Sprinkle batter with granulated white sugar. If using ramekins, place them on two baking sheets before putting in the oven. Bake muffins for 15 to 20 minutes or until done. Muffins are firm to the touch when done.
Enjoy! Happy Valentine’s Day!
If it weren’t for my houseplants, especially blooming ones, I would suffer terrible garden withdrawal pains during the winter months. Thankfully, several of my phalaenopsis orchids, which I keep by a kitchen window, have recently started blooming again. Here are a few photos of these beauties that I took this afternoon. I hope that you enjoy them.
For the February issue of The Morning Star’s newsletter, I wanted to create a Valentine’s recipe that would be both easy and fun. With the recent popularity of Chocolate Martini’s, I decide to create my own version of this dessert cocktail – an enjoyable little project if I do say so! This is what I came up with …
Cupid’s Arrow
– makes 2 strong cocktails –
3 oz. Chocolate Vodka (I use Cupcake Devil’s Food Vodka)
2 oz. Raspberry Liqueur (I use Pallini Raspicello)
2 oz. Chocolate Liqueur (I use Meletti Cioccolato)
Half-and-half
Dark chocolate
Fresh raspberries
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka and liqueurs. Shake well. Strain into two chilled martini glasses. Drizzle a little half-and-half over the top of each. (It will sink to the bottom then raise to the top, creating a marbleized effect.) Shave a little chocolate over the top of each cocktail then garnish with fresh raspberries. Enjoy!
Tips: Chill glasses in freezer for ten minutes before serving. Use chilled ingredients. The drink should be served very cold, but you do not want it diluted by melting ice.
A Taste of Morning 