Fall Treats and Holiday Shopping at the Morning Glory

Fall is definitely here and what comes to mind in the fall? Cooking with spices! Here is a favorite from my mother's recipe book - we loved it growing up and my guests rave about it!

Apple Cake with Butter Rum Sauce

2 1/2c chopped apples (peel if you want)

1 c sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 T hot water

1 c flour

1 egg

1 tsp each cinnamon, soda and vanilla

1/2 c chpd nuts- opt.

Mix all together and spread in greased 9" pan. It will be easier to mix if you add the hot water and sugar to the apples first as they juice up a little. Bake at 350 for 45 min to 1 hr.

Sauce: 3/4 c brown sugar and 1 stick margarine or butter boiled together 1 minute. Add 1/4 c cream and heat. Add 1 capful rum flavoring or 2 capfuls rum. Serve sauce over warm cake. Very yummy!

December Shopping Event

On the Saturday, December 1 we will b having an open house/holiday boutique shopping event from 9:00am - 4:00pm with live music and free cider and cookies to celebrate the Morning Glory's 10th Anniversary! We have had such a good time over the past ten years and hope you can come celebrate with us! Each guest room upstairs will be filled with wonderful handmade items from 17 different local artists, along with the music stylings of Anthony Miltich with his son Peter, and sister Helen Miltich Kaul. They will be here from 1:00 - 4:00 singing their hearts out for you! Anthony, Helen and 8 other musical siblings grew up in this house and we are so excited to have them back. 

We hope to see you here!

Karen

A Favorite Morning Glory Recipe

The rhubarb is almost ready and we can hardly wait! I thought I would share one of our favorite rhubarb recipes. In fact, if there isn't any left from a guest breakfast, Ron will pout big time!

Rhubarb Cream Cake

1  2-layer yellow cake mix

4 c. chpd rhubarb

1 c sugar

2 c heavy cream

Make cake as directed on the box and pour into a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Evenly layer rhubarb over the top, then sprinkle over sugar evenly and last, the heavy cream. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes. It will jiggle, but the cake should spring back, and then let it cool a little before cutting. I will often divide everything into two 8" or 9" square cake pans so I can freeze one for later. Let thaw and microwave each cut piece for a few seconds to get those juices flowing again. Absolutely delicious!  

Try it and let me know what you think; or even better- reserve a room on a weekend and request it for our weekend breakfast dessert!

Karen

Grand Rapids in the Summertime - Like Nothing Else

The Grand Rapids area in the summer is absolutely gorgeous and there are so many activities available it will be hard to fit them in just 2 or 3 days, but we'd like to give you an example of what a 3 day, 2 night stay can look like! 

Day 1: Take the day off. Enjoy a leisurely trip here and stop at those places you've always wanted to see, such as that cute antique store or ice cream parlor. Arrive at the Morning Glory anytime after 3:00pm, but hopefully before dark so you can relax and enjoy a meander through our gardens or a walk around the lake close by. Settle into your spacious 2 room suite - maybe take a short nap before heading out to one of many great local restaurants. If you are coming on a weekend, be sure to join us in the living room or on the patio for our wine & cheese social hour from 5:00-6:00pm. Grab a great movie from our extensive collection to enjoy in your suite and then enjoy a comfortable night's slumber.

Day 2: Good Morning! Come and help yourself to a freshly ground cup of coffee or steaming cup of tea. A hearty breakfast is served in the dining room at 9:00am (unless you need it earlier) where you can meet your fellow inngoers for lively conversation and great food. Because there are so many things you'll want to enjoy that day, you probably won't want to linger around too long after breakfast. Then, setup on your Grand Rapid's adventure! 

Maybe visit the Forest History Center that is setup like a 1910 logging camp with period dress interpreters, draft horses with a fascinating history to be told. Or maybe you'll want to hire "Captain Ron" for a 1-2 hour tour of Lake Pokegama in our Classic 1973 Glastron runabout. Bring your swimming suit and ask him to drop anchor at Nesbitt Island for a short swim on a hot day.  Maybe taking a leisurely stroll around downtown is more your style. Grand Rapids won't disappoint with the antique stores, unique shops and eating establishments.

Want to really enjoy the outdoors? Visit the various swimming beaches, or the more than 20 beautiful hiking trails. You're also more than welcome to bring your bike for a ride on the Mesabi Bike Trail that winds through forests, water-filled iron ore pits and prairies. It's a great place for bird watching and exercise! 

Be sure to check these, and many more Grand Rapids adventures by clicking here.

Once you return to the Morning Glory after your fun-filled day, relax and enjoy the patio, living room, or the comfort of your own suite. 

Day 3: Be sure you take this day off too because you won't want to rush back as you'll need to finish that "to do" list you started yesterday, but only after enjoying another delicious breakfast! Check out is at 11:00am but that still leaves plenty of time for a leisurely trip home; that is unless you've decided to stay longer - we'd love to have you!

Summer and fall are our busiest times, so if you are thinking of joining us in beautiful northern Minnesota, please make your reservation as soon as you can to get the suite you really want! And if you need help planning out your "to do" list, just ask me or Ron - we're here to help and to make your visit to Grand Rapids a most memorable one!

We hope to see you soon,

Karen

Spring Is Here!

It was wonderful welcoming in March like a lamb with temps in the upper 60's for days at a time. The bulbs are sprouting out of the ground, all the lakes are open 3 weeks early, the rhubarb is coming up so I can make one of our guest's favorite recipes, and we are hurrying to get the patio ready to welcome guests. But we're not putting away that snow shovel just yet for fear of jinxing it!

We are also getting the outside ready by putting out patio furniture, cleaning up the yard, and putting away winter items. I almost hate to put away that snow shovel though, as it just seems to be tempting the fates for another snow storm...

If you love biking, come on up and try the Mesabi Bike Trail, especially since May happens to be National Bike Month! As soon as the lakes warm up a little we will be starting the weekend Pokegama Lake tours with Captain Ron and our classic 1973 Glastron Runabout.

Take advantage of our Spring/Summer Gas Special and receive $10 off a one night reservation, $20 off a two night reservation, or 10% off three or more consecutive nights with the Multi-Night Special. We look forward to welcoming you to the comfort of the Morning Glory and the beauty of Northern Minnesota!

Karen

Fun Times in February

Ron and I just got back from a great relaxing week in Tucson, AZ, where we enjoyed a hot air balloon ride, hikes in the desert and a night sky visit to Mt. Kitt Observatory. Now I know how to use my binoculars to watch the many birds we have around here. All this time I have been adjusting them incorrectly and what I thought were pine siskins are actually goldfinches with their winter coats on!

What we don't have much of in Grand Rapids is deep snow for snowshoeing or cross country skiing, although Mt. Itasca has a couple of downhill runs and cross country trails that they make snow for and is only 5 minutes away from us.

What we DO have is enough snow for beautiful scenery hiking without the mud, lots of firewood for our living room fireplace, very comfortable 2-room suites to snuggle in with your sweetheart (3 have fireplaces), an extensive movie collection you are welcome to use, and last but certainly not least, great freshly ground morning coffee to go with the hearty, full breakfasts! 

Check out our ValentineRomance Package good for the entire month of February and plan a romantic getaway.

We hope to see you soon!

Karen

Let It Snow - Finally!

Greetings Winter Enthusiasts,

The snow has arrived in Grand Rapids, so we can finally go outdoors and enjoy all the fun of a winter wonderland has to offer.

The Mesabi Bike Trail is one spot we love to frequent. It has an abandoned iron ore pit now filled with water and a taconite "mountain." In the summer you'll find many warblers, hawks and eagles on the trail. So this is a great place for birdwatchers! Not to mention skiers, snowshoers, hikers, and bikers in the warmer weather. The Prairie River is also nearby and looks beautiful in the winter. 

We currently have over 4 inches on the ground. Mt Itasca is about 5 miles east of here and they have a few downhill runs, cross country trails and make snow for both of them. 

If you're visiting Grand Rapids for some outdoor activities, we have maps for over 21 different ski trails from beginner to expert and 2 trails are lit at night. Our Cross Country Ski Package is a great way to stay and play in Grand Rapids. It's available until March 15,2012 and includes a certificate for dinner at the Forest Lake Steakhouse.* We have 2 pairs of extra snowshoes for our guests to use at no extra charge.

We also currently have a Valentines Romance Package running the full month of February. So you can come and enjoy the beautiful white weather, while relaxing at our bed and breakfast with your sweetheart.*

Ron and I hope your New Year is off to a great start and we welcome you to our bed and breakfast if you're visiting Grand Rapids or the surrounding areas for work, or play.

Karen

*No other discounts or gift certificates apply. Cross Country Ski Package and Valentines Romance Package can not be combined.

It's a Great Start to the New Year at Morning Glory Bed and Breakfast

Hello,

Ron and I would like to wish everyone a very Happy 2012 New Year and may it be prosperous (so you can come and see us!), healthy and full of family and fun! 

We'd also like everyone to start doing a "Snow Dance" as we really need it up here! Having little to no snow on the ground means the hiking is still great (especially since there are no bugs or mud), but winter should mean snow and we'd really like to get the snowshoes out.

There are several great performances coming up this month at the Reif Center such as Deer Camp the Musical, Monty Python's Spamalot, Dailey and Vincent, and Ricky Nelson Remembered. Call us for our special Hot Lodging Package rates that provides discounted tickets and room rates.

ALL of February is romance month with our Valentine Romance Package. You can choose any suite, any night(s) for the package which includes flowers, sparkling wine and a dinner gift certificate at our favorite steakhouse - all for only $40 added to the regular suite's nightly rate.* If you find there is a Reif Performance you'd also like to include, we can add on the discounted tickets to your Valentine Romance Package. Give us a call, or visit our website for full details and to make your reservation:
http://www.morningglorybandb.com/specials

We look forward to making some of your best memories in 2012! 

Karen