Early Spring Weather in West Michigan

Spring has arrived early in West Michigan. Spring flowers are blooming, leaves unfurling on bushes and trees, outdoor activities are prompting everyone to get off the couch and get outside. Visiting the White Lake area for an early season getaway means no crowds, off-season rates, and reconnecting with a beautiful region. Spring break doesn't have to mean driving a long distance to spend a lot of money. Beach walks, bicycling the trails, strolling with an ice cream cone, a round of golf are all available right now in West Michigan. For a Better Way to Stay, a weekend or mid-week getaway at White Swan Inn B&B in Whitehall is the perfect ticket for spring.

Enjoy Asparagus

It's asparagus season in Michigan! At this time of year, fresh asparagus is regularly on the breakfast menu at White Swan Inn. Grilled chicken and asparagus quiche, asparagus and red pepper tart, ham and asparagus crescent, asparagus and spinach strata... so many delicious options.

Here's a recipe that's quick and quite tasty; great for breakfast/brunch or for an alternative add a salad and you've got a yummy dinner.

Ham and Asparagus Crescent

1 tube (8 ounce) refrigerated crescent roll dough
2 tablespoons honey mustard
¼ pound smoked ham, chopped
1 cup trimmed asparagus, small pieces
2 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded

Unroll dough onto ungreased baking sheet; pinching perforations together. Spread honey mustard lengthwise down center third of dough. Place ham and asparagus on top of mustard, top with shredded cheese.

With sharp knife, make diagonal cuts to each side of the dough (approximately 1-1½ inches apart). Crisscross dough over ham and cheese filling, sealing ends by pinching dough together.

Bake in preheated 350° oven 18-22 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to serving platter, enjoy. Serves: 2

For your own taste-test, book a reservation during asparagus season at White Swan Inn in Whitehall, Michigan.

Christmas Cookies

As the innkeeper at White Swan Inn, I bake numerous batches of cookies throughout the year. I make dozens and dozens of chocolate chip cookies annually. But when the holidays approach, I like to bake something even more special.

Everyone has a favorite Christmas cookie; a cookie that evokes memories of family traditions and childhood dreams. One of my favorites has to be Thumbprint Cookies (I've included the recipe) filled with either jam or buttercream icing. And cut-out sugar cookies are fun to decorate when there are helpers around. Of course, chocolate and peppermint are perennial favorite ingredients.

This season I have decided to try out some new recipes. Just made Red Velvet Cookies (pictured) , yeah kinda like the cake. Wonderful! And I have dough chilling for Viennese Crescents which will be dipped in chocolate once they are baked. Both recipes came via Allrecipes.com Cookie Countdown and TasteofHome.com Cookie Countdown.

A cookie tray filled with a variety of textures, flavors and colors is a holiday treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Search a re-sale shop for a unique plate or tray and combine with an assortment of holiday cookies and you have created just the right gift for a neighbor, co-worker, or special friends.

This holiday season, guests at White Swan Inn B&B will enjoy cookies with tea or hot chocolate following an afternoon of holiday shopping in downtown Whitehall and Montague.

Thumbprint Cookies

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg, separated
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
favorite flavor of jelly

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix thoroughly butter, shortening, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla. Work in flour and salt until dough holds together. Shape dough by teaspoonfuls into 1-inch balls.

Beat egg white slightly. Dip each ball into egg white; roll in nuts. Place one inch apart on an un-greased baking sheet; press thumb deeply into center of each. Bake about 10 minutes or until light brown. Immediately remove from baking sheet; cool on wire rack. Fill thumbprints with jelly.

Yield: approx 3 dozen cookies.

Honoring Veterans

On this Veterans Day, thank you to all US veterans and current military personnel. White Swan Inn B&B is proud to have hosted three rooms on November 10 as part of the national Thank You Veterans program.

What started in 2009 by the Gillum House Bed and Breakfast in Shinnstown, WV and the West Virginia Association of Bed and Breakfasts as a way to thank and honor veterans, grew to nearly 900 B&Bs and Inns around the country in 2010. The Thank You Veterans program hopefully will continue to grow in subsequent years.

At White Swan Inn, our guests included a Vietnam Marine Corps veteran, a 20 year career Navy vet and a young woman whose husband is currently deployed in Afghanistan. Jeff and Nancy from Paw Paw commented at breakfast what a difference there is currently on how vets are recognized and how returning vets were treated during the Vietnam era. Harry and Pam from Holton traveled around the world during his enlistment in the Navy. And Fallon, along with her mother Charlene, from California along with her one-year old son is currently staying with her family in Owosso while her Marine Corps husband is serving in Afghanistan.

Since breakfast is half the equation of a B&B, breakfast this Veterans Day morning included fresh strawberries and pineapple topped with lemon yogurt, a baked farmhouse omelet and an upside-down blueberry coffee cake capped off with lots of great conversation around the table. The perfect way to begin the day! Our first-time B&B guests commented on how relaxed they felt and truly enjoyed the night away.

White Swan Inn will definitely be part of the 2011 Thank You Veterans program.

Pumpkins and Fall Harvest Time in Whitehall and Montague

Harvest time is the culmination of a successful summer growing season. Celebrating the efforts of the local farmers is a long-standing tradition. And what better way to celebrate than with a festival!

Fall Fest (Sept 25) in Whitehall features free hayrides, cider mill and farmers market, a variety of music entertainment, arts/crafts fair and food vendors. Also on the 25th, the 7th Annual Harvest Moon Classic Tournament (disc golf) takes place at the Whitehall Township course.

What started out as a Halloween prank has become a sanctioned event... annually 900-1000 pumpkins roll down the Dowling Street hill with ribbons for the winners of various age categories. Saturday, Oct 9th brings the PumpkinFest to Montague; host to the famous Pumpkin Roll on the Dowling Street hill along with a farmers market, pumpkin carving and painting, pumpkin seed spitting contest and of course pumpkin pies!

Combine a trip to the one of the area festivals with relaxing accommodations at White Swan Inn for your own fall celebration.

Pumpkin and Date Muffin
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin tin with paper baking cups or grease 12 muffin cups.

Whisk together eggs, pumpkin and butter in a large bowl. Stir in dates.

Add flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt to the pumpkin mixture until just moistened.

Divide batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from the pan and cool on wire rack.

Yield: 12 muffins

Christmas Programs at the Howmet Playhouse

December is always such a busy month. The year is winding down; gatherings and party invitations seem to be almost non-stop. Not enough time to take it all in!

But save an evening or two for a fun get-together at the historic Howmet Playhouse in downtown Whitehall. Saturday, Dec. 12 at 4 pm, enjoy "A Christmas Tree-O" the spirit of the season in three mini plays as part of the Hometown Holiday Weekend activities. Master Arts Theatre of Grand Rapids celebrates the season through the arts. A family-appropriate production sharing "the meaning of the season" with the series: "A Christmas of Many Parts" (the story of the Nativity); "Window of His Love" (follow Mary and Joseph through their fascinating journey) ; and as a special bonus "Traditional Mime Performance" will be included. This program is sure to delight and inspire!

The holiday festivities and family fun continue at the Howmet Playhouse on Friday, Dec. 18 at 7:30 pm. "Christmas Carol Concert Benefit" hosted by the Howmet Playhouse will feature a mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas musical performances by local musicians and former Playhouse staff, Christina Inez Bell, Cassidy Anne Caswell, Jailynne Peppel and Lorrell Peppel. Local and syndicated author, David Walks-as-Bear will present American Indian traditional gift-giving stories. The evening will conclude with a chorus and audience classic holiday sing-along.

Located directly across the street from the White Swan Inn B&B, Howmet Playhouse is such a wonderful treasure for Whitehall and the surrounding area.