THE MORNING STAR BED & BREAKFAST
617 Houston Street * [email protected]
Manhattan, KS 66502 * www.morningstaronthepark.com
Season's Greetings
The Morning Star Update                                                                                                      December  2009
Anderson Hall
Welcome to The Morning Star Update!
Greetings!

   Guests are sometimes surprised to learn that The Morning Star is open over the holidays. This year we had some lovely return guests from Oregon and SouthEast Kansas stay with us over Thanksgiving. They were visiting family here in town and had stayed with us last year at this time as well. We enjoyed having them back again. On Thanksgiving Day, we had friends over for a midday meal. All in all, it was very festive. We hope that you too had a pleasant day.
   With December now upon us, I've started getting ready for Christmas: getting out the decorations, wrapping packages, writing cards and, of course, baking Christmas cookies.
Scottish Shortbread
Scottish Shortbread
   Every year my Scottish grandfather made Shortbread for Christmas. These days, several of my cousins and I follow in the tradition. I never had Grandpa's recipe ... just never thought to ask for it when I was younger. So I can't claim that this is an old family recipe, but it's very good. How can you miss with all that butter!

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. white rice flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c. sifted confectioner's sugar
2 T. granulated sugar or decorator's sugar (I used white and gold sparkling sugars for the cookies in the photo.)

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, rice flour and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth. Beat in confectioner's sugar and then flour mixture, just until evenly mixed. If necessary, knead dough by hand once or twice to incorporate any stray crumbles. Press dough evenly into an ungreased 8x8" baking dish. Use a fork to prick dough all over. Sprinkle the top with granulated or decorator's sugar. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until very lightly browned. Remove pan from oven and set it on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, cut the shortbread into 6 rows and  6 columns. Gently remove squares from pan with a small fork. Yields 36 pieces. Note: These cookies freeze well. To make ahead and freeze, layer cooled cookies between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Christmas Tree
A Christmas Carol
    One of my favorite Christmas stories is Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol in Prose. Chances are, you've seen one of the dozens of film adaptations of the tale. But have you ever read the book?
   There are many editions of this classic on the market. The Annotated Christmas Carol with introduction and notes by Michael Patrick Hearn comes with much interesting supplemental material including reproductions of the color plates from the original publication.
   The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford also offers insight into Dickens's work. I especially enjoyed reading about how A Christmas Carol was influential in creating new Christmas traditions in Britain and the U.S.
   As Dickens reminds us, Christmas is a time to remember those less fortunate than ourselves. Like many people, we include charity in our Christmas traditions. There are numerous worthy organizations out there. Through the Flint Hills Bread Basket, for example, one can Adopt a Family for Christmas and purchase warm clothing and gifts for underprivileged children and basic household necessities for their families or make contributions to help a family in need. $38 provides a food basket for a family of four.

We hope that your holidays are just what you are wishing for!
 
Warmest greetings,
 
Laurie, Bill, Abbey, Lucy & Ginger
The Morning Star B&B
Porch Lights
In This Issue
Scottish Shortbread
A Christmas Carol
A Taste of Morning
Holiday Shopping
Morning Star Gift Certificates
Dates to Remember
A Taste of Morning
A Taste of Morning
    It's finally here .. and just in time for the holidays! A Taste of Morning: Recipes from The Morning Star Bed and Breakfast. Over 200 recipes including favorites such as Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, Cajun Fritattas and Granola Pancakes. 148 pages, including 7 full-color pages. $20 plus tax or 2 or more for $18.50 each plus tax. (No tax on orders shipped out of state.) Click here to order or call us at (785) 587-9703. Copies can also be purchased at the Humble Abode, 620 Ft. Riley Blvd.
The Humble Abode
Holiday Shopping
   Just 24 shopping days left until Christmas! If you're staying at The Morning Star, you have plenty of places nearby to help you with your shopping. Humble Abode, Emerald City Market, Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Gaia Salon, Manhattan Arts Center, and The Palace are just a few!
Humble Abode Exterior
Gifts
Morning Star Gift Certificates
    Around the holidays we receive  many inquiries about whether we sell gift certificates. The answer is 'yes'. To order Morning Star gift certificates, click here or call us at (785) 587-9703. Special for readers of The Morning Star Update: Purchase a gift certificate during the month of December '09 and we'll add in an additional 10% ... our gift to you. (This cannot be combined with other discounts.)
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Dates to Remember
through December 24th: WRAP IT UP at the Manhattan Arts Center
December 3th: Viader Napa Valley Wine Dinner, Four Olives
December 3th - 5th: Winter Dance, Nichols Hall
December 4th - January 15th: Chromatic Nuances by Cally Krallman and Brian Slawson, Strecker-Nelson Gallery
December 4th: Big Bad VooDoo Daddy's Wild and Swingin' Holiday Party, McCain Auditorium
December 5th: Ann Zimmerman, Manhattan Arts Center
December 6th: Joint Barbershop Christmas Concert, Houston Street Ballroom
December 8th: KSU Orchestra, McCain Auditorium
December 31st: Little Apple New Year's Eve Celebration
December 31st: Manhattan Arts Center New Year's Party
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