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Welcome to The Morning Star Update!
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Greetings!
With March upon us, Spring should be just around the corner, but for now here in Manhattan, we'll keep waiting. I tell myself that the long winter should be good for the garden. We've had no false Spring to misguide the plants. Once the garden is in bloom, I'll let you know how that prediction turns out.
Bill and I did get to enjoy a warmer weather in Las Vegas for a few days in February ... pleasant enough to eat lunch outside with a jacket on ... a big improvement over here. Bill went to Vegas for furniture market and I went for the food. We dined at some very nice restaurants. For breakfast went to two of Bill's favorite morning places, Bouchon at the Venetian, embued with what Bill describes as understated elegance, and at the other end of the spectrum, the oh so flashy Peppermill. And one morning, my cousin Jason and his wife took us to a new find called Hash-House-A-Go-Go. I took mental notes on all of the breakfasts, of course and came back with some new ideas. Thanks, Bill! Thanks, Jason! ( We also had wondereful meals at Joes' Seafood, Prime Steak & Stonecrab, Bartolotta, and Sushi Roku.) |
L.A. Times Prints Guest's Recommendation
In its travel section, on February 7th, the Los Angeles Times printed a letter from Cheryl Kohr of Redondo Beach recommending The Morning Star.
Cheryl wrote, "If you are ever in Manhattan, Kan. (a.k.a. The Little Apple), stay at the Morning Star Bed & Breakfast. The food is excellent, and accommodations are quite comfortable and charming." (p. L9)
Cheryl and her daughter stayed with us in January while visiting the KSU Veterinary School. Thanks, Cheryl! We look forward to a return visit!
A copy of the article was sent to us by another guest - Barbara from Hermosa Beach - who just happened to come across the letter when reading the paper. How fun!
We've already had one call from the article ... someone wanting to make a reservation and wanting to know how far we are from SOHO??? Oh, well.
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Sweet Pea and Potato Soup
(Serves 4)
Unlike soups made with dried split peas, this soup has a bright green color and sweet flavor, and it takes under half and hour to make.
1 T. unsalted butter
1/3 c. chopped yellow onion
1/3 c. chopped shallot
1/4 tsp. salt
4 c. frozen sweet peas
1 c. finely chopped, peeled, cooked potato
2 c. cold water
1/4 c. heavy cream
fresh ground black and green peppercorns
3 oz. White Cheddar Cheese, coarsely grated (Kerrygold Reserve Irish Cheddar is a nice touch for St. Patrick's day) - optional
4 slices cooked bacon, chopped - optional
Melt butter in the bottom of a 4-qt. stock pot over medium-low heat. Add onion and shallot. Sprinkle with salt. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Add the peas, potato and water to the pot. Cover and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook just until peas are tender and hot. Being careful not to burn yourself, puree the soup with an immersion blender or transfer it to a food processor and process until desired consistency. (If using a food processor, return the soup to the pot afterward.) Whisk in the heavy cream. Salt and pepper the soup to taste. Top with grated cheese and/or bacon, optional.
Tip: Whenever you cook potatoes or bacon slices, cook a few extra to have in the refrigerator for making dishes such as this. (Cooked potatoes will keep for about a week. Cooked bacon will keep for about 2 weeks.) Click here to let me know how your soup turns out or to pass along your recipe. |
Morning Star Reader's Pick
After breakfast the other morning, Patti from Wisconsin and I chatted about how much we like Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti novels, set in Venice, Italy. I recently finished The Girl of His Dreams -- the 17th of the 19 books in the series to date. (Patti has read all 19!) For me, reading these stories is akin to watching a favorite t.v. show filled with characters that I have come to know.
Each time I pick up one of the stories, I know that Brunetti will earnestly investigate crimes in his native and beloved Venezia, though this often curries him no favor with his superior Vice-Questore Patta. Relying on the aid of his departmental allies, Signorina Elettra (Patta's very modern administrative assistant) and the trustworthy Sergente Vianello, and on the support of his family, Brunetti does his best to fight for justice in a system fraught with corruption.
It is more than just familiarity, however, that keeps me reading Leon's books. I like Brunetti. He reads the ancient philosophers to clear his mind; and he is often thinking ahead to the next meal. (Brunetti's Cookbook, featuring his wife's recipes, is due out in May.) I also like Paola, his wife, a professor of English literature at the university and the cook in the family and Signorina Elettra who knows how to get things done. Moreover, though it has been decades since I have been to Venice, reading the
descriptions in Leon's books transports me back to my time riding
vaporetto in the Grand Canal
and out into the laguna, walking around the many smallers canals and
through the piazzas, drinking cappucinno at a cafe outside Basilica di San Marco, seeing the Fenice opera house, crossing the Rialto and Accadamia Bridges, and eating at the wonderful trattorie and ristoranti.
These Brunetti novels do not need to be read in order, but I recommend starting with Death at La Fenice, so that you can get to know the main characters as they are introduced. To pass along your book recommendation, click here.
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As always, I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you soon! Have a great March!
Sincerely,
Laurie Pieper
The Morning Star B&B
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Yoga in Manhattan
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If you read the September '09 issue of The Update, you know that I am an advocate of yoga. One of the great things about it, is that you can practice it almost anywhere that you have room to stretch out. I believe, however, in the importance of good instruction either through a class or personal training with a knowledgeable instructor. From my own experience, I know that a good trainer can offer valuable correction to ensure that I flow through the postures in the most beneficial way. For travelers, it is sometimes difficult to find a class. So here are some recommendations for visitors and Manhattanites alike. The newest yoga studio in town, Orange Sky Yoga, run by Jessa Baxter, offers yoga classes every day of the week and you can sign up for one, five, ten or unlimited classes. (The photos on Jessa's website are really worth looking at, by the way.) Mercy Regional Health and Fitness on Seth Child offers a number of yoga classes during the week (as well as many other fitness classes) and personal training sessions by certified instructors. With a day pass or a membership, you can attend as many fitness classes as you like. Ana Franklin at Yoga Connection on Poyntz Avenue requires newcomers to sign up for six introductory classes, but after that offers a variety of options, including at home personal training.
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Dates to Remember
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through May 2nd: Following the Sun, The Art of Sue Jean Covacevich, Beach Museum
through April 10th: The Columbian Artists and Kaci Smith (art exhibit), Manhattan Arts Center
March 3rd - 7th: Hotel Casablanca (opera), Nichols Theater
March 4th -7th: The Dining Room (play), Manhattan Arts Center
March 5th: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana (dance), McCain Auditorium
March 5th - April 17th: Richly Pigmented, Strecker-Nelson Gallery
March 6th - 7th: Book Sale, Manhattan Public Library
March 13th: Aggieville St. Patrick's Day Parade and Road Race
March 26th - 27th: Flint Hills Festival of Wines
March 26th - 27th: Spring Dance (dance), McCain Auditorium
March 26th:Kenny White (concert), Manhattan Arts Center
March 27th: Let Them Eat Cake (cake tasting), Manhattan Arts Center
March 27th: Community Appreciation Day (free admission), Sunset Zoo
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A Taste of Morning
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Paula from Texas very kindly wrote to me, "I am excited to have a copy of your book, A Taste of Morning ... . Of course, I use it for all meals and appetizers, not just for breakfast."
A Taste of Morning has over 200 recipes including favorites sucy as Pineapple Cake and Chicken and Bacon Hash with Eggs: 148 pages, including 7 full-color pages. $20 plus tax. (No tax on orders shipped out of state.) Click here to order.
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