Welcome to The Morning Star Update!
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Greetings!
Oh, what a chilling winter it has been. But how nice to have had the warm company of our guests! We were very pleased to have several of our favorite artists -- photographer Tim Forcade, who was featured in our October '09 issue of The Update, and painter Lisa Grossman -- and friends stay with us for an opening at the Strecker-Nelson Gallery.
January also brought the return of interview season at KSU so we had the pleasure of meeting hopeful job candidates from several departments as well as prospective students from the Vet School. And, of course, it is also basketball season and with the Wildcats having a good year, we've had happy fans at the bed and breakfast.
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Morning Star Artist: Lisa Grossman
Lisa is a landscape artist and printmaker residing in Lawrence, Kansas. Though she works in various mediums, she is best known for her quiet oil paintings depicting wide open skies and the various shapes and textures of the Flint Hills. Her paintings can be viewed at the Strecker-Nelson Gallery here in Manhattan until February 27th and at the Dolphin Gallery in Kansas City until March 10th. Her work is represented in several galleries around the country and one in Beijing, China. (Photo of Lisa courtesy of the Strecker-Nelson Gallery.)
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Cinnamon Sugar Chocolate Truffles
2 T. heavy cream
3 T. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
4 oz. good bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
3 T. confectioner's sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Add cream and butter to a non-stick saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring constantly with a heat proof rubber scraper. Heat until butter is melted and the mixture comes to a simmer. Turn off heat and stir in the chocolate. Stir mixture until perfectly smooth. Pour into a glass container. (A glass loaf pan works well.) Refrigerate, uncovered, for 2 hours.
Meanwhile, sift sugar and cinnamon into a pie plate. Dip a melon baller into warm water, dry thoroughly, and then scrape through chocolate to form a ball. Roll ball between your hands to finish shaping and smoothing it. Drop ball of chocolate onto pie plate. Repeat until you have used all of the chocolate. Roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat them. Place the truffles in a covered container. Refrigerate until about 15 minutes before serving time. The chocolate will absorb some of them sugar. Sift remaining sugar mixture. Re-roll truffles, before serving. Truffles can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Yields 10 pieces. Click here to let us know how your truffles turn out or to pass along your favorite recipe. |
New at The Morning Star
I am happy to announce that we are now carrying delightfully and delicately fragrant toiletries from Gilchrist & Soames' Italian Bergamot Collection.
In your bathroom at The Morning Star, you will find Italian Bergamot and Rosemary Conditioning Shampoo, Italian Bergamot and Nettle Shower Gel, Italian Bergamot and Gingko Biloba Body Lotion, Aloe Vera Soap, and Bath Salts that are safe for use in our jacuzzis. Gift baskets ($25 - $44) are also available. To request a gift basket, click here.
These wonderful products contain no parabens, phthalates, petrol-derived ingredients, mineral oil, urea, DEA, TEA or propylene glycol. They do contain food-grade, naturally derived USP glycerin, natural conditioning agents from honey and the Brassica plant; and soybean and cottonseed oil, instead of petrochemicals. Gilchrist & Soames practices cruelty-free product development, never testing its products on animals. |
Morning Star Reader Pick of the Month
Carolyn from Kansas recommended Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris to me when she read it for her book club. I'm so glad that she did because it is the best novel that I have read in a while. Set in Saudi Arabia, Finding Nouf explores religious taboos and cultural mores as it tells the stories of Nayir (a male desert guide and devout Muslim) and Katya (a female lab worker from the coroner's office) as they attempt to uncover what happened to the mysterious 16 year old Nouf after she disappeared into the desert. Ferraris was married to a Bedouin with whom she lived in Saudi Arabia for almost a year and so writes of the the country from experience. This is a great book for a cold winter's evening. Click here to let us know what you think about Finding Nouf or to pass along your own suggestions.
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Staying with us in February? As always, feel free to let us help you with dinner or spa reservations, flowers, and/or gift baskets for your room.
Looking forward to hearing from you or seeing you soon ...
Sincerely,
Laurie Pieper
The Morning Star B&B |
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Love is in the Air ...... at Gaia SalonSpa
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A spa treatment at Gaia is the perfect way to help chase away the winter blahs ... and the SalonSpa is just 2 blocks away from The Morning Star. During the month of February, Gaia has several packages to make your Valentine feel special. Expressions of Love: 60 minute Elemental Facial with complimentary Brow Wax. Heart's Desire: Carribean Therapy Body Treatment with complimentary Shampoo and Blow Dry. Head over Heals in Love: Manicure and Pedicure with complimentary gift.
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Dates to Remember
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through February 21st: Four Seasons, Manhattan Arts Center
through February 27th:
Spectacular Uncertainty, photography of Tim Forcade Strecker-Nelson Gallery
February 3rd: Valentine's Workshop for Adults, Beach Museum
February 4th: The Best of Momix, McCain Auditorium
February 4th - 6th and 10th - 13th: Big Love, Nichols Theater
February 6th: Address the Heart Gala, Holiday Inn
February 10th: Wine Club, Della Voce
February 14th: Valentine's Day specials at Harry's, 4-Olives, and Della Voce
February 19th: LadySmith Black Mambazo, McCain Auditorium
February 21st: KSU Wind Ensemble Concerts, McCain Auditorium
February 24th: Annie, McCain Auditorium
February 27th - 28th: The Home Show, National Guard Amory
February 27th - 28th: Manhattan Area Garden Show, Pottorf Hall
February 27th - April 10th: The Columbian Artists and works by Kaci Smith, Manhattan Arts Center
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A Taste of Morning
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Over 200 recipes including favorites such as Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins, Cajun Fritattas and Granola Pancakes. 148 pages, including 7 full-color pages. $20 plus tax. (No tax on orders shipped out of state.) Click here to order. Sophie and Alice from San Diego recommend the Chocolate Chip Scones!
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