News from The Morning Star B&B

THE MORNING STAR BED & BREAKFAST, LLC

617 Houston Street * Manhattan, KS 66502

info@morningstarbandb.com

www.morningstarbandb.com

The Morning Star Update December 2011

Welcome to The Morning Star Update!

Greetings!

With Thanksgiving over, it officially feels like winter; but the house is all warm and cheerful. Bill and helpers did a wonderful job getting the lights up on the house before Thanksgiving, i.e. before it got too cold. Good friends and I had fun decorating the Christmas tree yesterday. They were a great help! And believe it or not, I am actually done with my holiday shopping. So apart from the cooking, we are all ready for Christmas.

I am a few days late, though, sending out this newsletter. The reason is that I have been waiting for an update on Confectionately Yours, which was supposed to have been here a few weeks ago. You see, the covers needed to be sent out for printing because they are UV coated and when they came in they had a magenta tint that wasn't supposed to be there. (Unfortunately, these things can happen.) The covers were reprinted and coated last week and now the book is off to the bindery. It should be here Monday. For those of you wondering why you haven't received them in the mail yet, that's the answer. I'll get them rushed out when they get in next week. Thank you for your patience!

Liz Howe: Ceramicist

I always think that it is neat when we discover a "small world connection" at the B & B. Back in November, I was part of our best small world story to date. We had a late check-in one night and Bill stayed up to do the honors, letting me retire early for the evening. When he came to bed, he said "hey, Laurie, do you know a LIz Howe?" "No," I said. "Well, you went to the same high school and were in the same year," Bill replied. The next morning at breakfast, Liz and I looked at each other, pretty much so confirmed that we had never met to the best of our recollection, and yet we had in fact been in the same class in high school in upstate NY, had the same teachers, and knew the some of the same people. Yet it took her coming and staying at The Morning Star - in Kansas - for us to meet. I am delighted that happened. It turns out that Liz is a talented artist and a lovely person with whom to chat.
Liz is a ceramicist on the faculty at Skidmore College in Saratoga, NY. Her work has been exhibited internationally. She was visiting KSU to give a series of demonstrations to the Art Department. Liz's specialty is ceramic sculptures, but she also does pottery. I went to Liz's website and just love the ceramic portraits.

Chocolate Bourbon or
Chocolate Rum Balls
(from Confectionately Yours)

This is my favorite of my mother's Christmas "cookies".

2 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 oz. semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 c. unsalted butter
2 c. confectioner's sugar
2 T. bourbon or dark rum
2 T. dried currants
your choice of coatings

1. Melt together chocolates and butter.
2. Beat in confectioner's sugar and the bourbon or rum until mixture is soft and smooth. On lowest mixer speed, beat in currants until evenly distributed.
3.Place the coating ingredient(s) in a shallow bowl. Scoop about 2 t. of mixture and shape into a smooth ball. Roll ball in desired coating. Repeat with remaining chocolate mixture. Store in an airtight container.

Suggested coatings: about 1/3 c. Dutch process cocoa or confectioner's sugar, sifted; about 3/4 c. chopped nuts; or about 3/4 c. chocolate and/or colored sprinkles.

Poinsettia
(A champagne cocktail)

One of my favorite things to enjoy around the holidays is a champagne cocktail. Here is a recipe for one that I like to serve both for its color and its flavor.

1/2 oz. Cointreau or orange liqueur
3 oz. cranberry juice, chilled
Champagne, chilled

Pour Cointreau and cranberry juice into a chilled champagne glass. Stir. Fill glass with champagne.

Happiest Holidays to You!

From all of us at The Morning Star, we wish you a very happy holiday season...

Sincerely,

Laurie Pieper

The Morning Star B&B

In This Issue

Liz Howe: Ceramicist

Chocolate Bourbon/Rum Balls

Poinsettia (Cocktail)

Cookbooks, Gift Certificates & More

Dates of Interest

Cookbooks, Gift Certificates

& More

Still shopping for the holidays? It's not too late to order Confectionately Yours: A Collection of Cookies, Candies & Yummy Confections ($23.99) or A Taste of Morning: Recipes from The Morning Star Bed & Breakfast ($20).

For the month of December, we are running a gift certificate promotion: purchase a $225 gift certificate to The Morning Star for just $200. (Gift certificates can be purchased in any amount. The promotion, however, is good only on $225 certificates.) To purchase one of our cookbooks or gift certificates, just call or e-mail us. Silver Package