Buckwheat Brownies

I was planning to post photos from our Block Party, but so many folks requested my Buckwheat Brownie recipe ("Hurry!" they said), that I'm providing it first. The party was FANTASTIC to say the least - so check back soon for a long post that will make you feel you were there, too!

BUCKWHEAT BROWNIES
(gluten-free, dark, chewy, delicious)

3/4 cup cocoa
3/4 cup buckwheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
10 Tbsp melted butter
1 3/4 cups dark brown sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
6 oz Ghiradelli Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 and line sides & bottom of 9X13 pan with foil. Combine cocoa, buckwheat, soda & salt. Set aside. Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat. Add brown sugar, stirring to blend. Stir in flour mixture, then remove from heat. Whisk eggs with vanilla and add to mixture, stirring just until well blended, about 40 strokes. Mix in chocolate chips & walnuts, then quickly turn into foil-lined pan. Bake 20 minutes. Cool in pan, then remove with foil intact and cut into 20 squares or 40 triangles.

Tip: Remove 1/2 cup (packed) brown sugar from a 1 lb box and you will have 1 3/4 cup - just enough for this recipe.

Colonial Pines Inn Bed & Breakfast
(828) 526-2060
(866) 526-2060 Toll-Free

Colonial Pines Turns 50!

YOU'RE INVITED TO A BLOCK PARTY!

Celebrate 150 Years of Hospitality
at Colonial Pines Inn (50 Years Old)
& 4 1/2 Street Inn (100 Years Old)
Tuesday September 13, 2011 5:30 - 7:30pm
Join the Innkeepers for a cookout with live music by
"Tom Hill & The Midnight Suns"
Tour the Inns, dance, and enjoy old-fashioned hospitality.
Parking available courtesy of the PAC Center on Chestnut St.
Contact Donna & Chris at (828) 526-2060
for more information.

www.colonialpinesinn.com

Fourth Night Free through August

Stay three nights, and receive your fourth night absolutely FREE through August. What better place to celebrate Summer than under our huge, brand new Old Glory? Our flag flies 365 days a year, but it's especially beautiful this time of year rustled by gentle mountain breezes and we'd love to have you join us! Call now - availability is limited. This offer does not apply to rooms already booked, or to The Bargain Basement which is always discounted at $90. See our previous posts for some great music events and check the calendar at the Chamber of Commerce for details on many other ways to enjoy Highlands.

Whatever you do, have a wonderful Summer!

Like us on Facebook

www.colonialpinesinn.com
(828) 526-2060
(866) 526-2060 Toll-Free

Friday Nights are aLIVE with Music - All Summer!

A perfect way to start your weekend:
Arrive Early on Friday Nights and stroll Main Street
to enjoy Free Entertainment!
5:30-7:30pm
(times were changed after the poster was printed)
Near Kilwins and sometimes on "The Hill"

Please Like us on Facebook
www.colonialpinesinn.com
(828) 526-2060
(866) 526-2060 Toll Free

Banana Chocolate Chip Buckwheat Muffins

Okay Vickie, here's the requested recipe - just for you - and anyone else who is interested, of course! These are moist & delicious and a great thing to make when you find yourself with three over-ripe bananas. Plus, they are gluten-free since they're made with all Buckwheat flour - but you'd never guess!

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP BUCKWHEAT MUFFINS

Preheat oven to 400. Line muffin pans with paper or foil liners. Bake for 20 minutes. Makes 12 regular muffins or 36 mini muffins.

3 overripe bananas
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar*
2 Tbsp. molasses*
1 cup + 2 Tbsp. buckwheat flour
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

*or 1/2 cup dark brown sugar & no molasses

Mash bananas in mixer and add oil, eggs, sugar, molasses. In a separate bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking soda and add to banana mixture, beating gently until blended. Add chocolate chips. Spoon into muffin cups and bake as directed. Cool completely and store in airtight container. Even better the next day and can be eaten at room temperature or reheated in a warm oven.

ENJOY!

Donna Alley, Innkeeper Since 1984
Colonial Pines Inn Bed & Breakfast
www.colonialpinesinn.com
(828) 526-2060 or (866) 526-2060 Toll Free

P.S. Please like us on FACEBOOK. We are finally there!

Got Entertainment?

We Do!!
Check out this amazing array of artists scheduled for the 2011 Season at the Performing Arts Center, only HALF A BLOCK from Colonial Pines Inn:

Jeri Sager, Broadway Series, June 11

Small Stages: Educating Rita, June 15 - June 19

Bluegrass Series: The Gibson Brothers, June 22

Broadway Series: Franc D'Ambrosio, June 25

Storytelling Series: John McCutcheon June 29

Small Stages: Educating Rita, July 1 - July 3

Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival July 4 through August 15

Highlands-Cashiers Players: "Sirens," Aug 18 - 21, & 25 - 28

Storytelling Series: Bill Harley, Aug 31

Bluegrass Series: Suzy Bogguss, Sep 2

Robert Ray, September 3 & 4

Bel Canto, September 11

Native Plant Conference September 16 & 17

Highlands Male Chorus, September 23

Bluegrass Series: Chatham County Line, October 1

Broadway Series: John Treacy Egan, October 8

Storytelling Series: Carmen Deedy, October 12

Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance, October 14

Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music Festival: October 15

Highlands Cashiers Players: "Kitchen Witches," October 27 - 30,
November 3 - 6

Highlands Cashiers Players: Holiday Reading, December 8

For tickets and other information, call (828) 526-9047
or go to www.highlandspac.com

It's nice to see that there are some mid-week options which means you can take advantage of our discounts while enjoying some top-notch entertainment.

Call for a reservation soon - it's going to be a busy season!!

Colonial Pines Inn Bed & Breakfast
(828) 526-2060
(866) 526-2060 Toll-Free
www.colonialpinesinn.com

Prize-Winning Cranberry Cornbread!!

Chris' Buffalo Chili, made with fresh ground North Carolina Buffalo was awesome, but my Cranberry Cornbread won the prize!!! Here's the recipe:

1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 1/4 cup self-rising cornmeal (not mix)
1 cup Bisquick
1 cup buttermilk
6 oz grated extra sharp cheddar
1 cup corn
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped sauteed onions
1/3 cup minced green peppers
2 tsp minced jalapenos

Preheat oven to 375. Cream butter & sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Combine cornmeal & bisquick and add, alternating with buttermilk. Add cheese and remaining ingredients, mixing until blended. Pour into greased 9X13 non-stick baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.

Sorry, this is not one of my healthier recipes but it's wonderful for a special occasion. See the May 2009 post for my Apple-Oatmeal Bread made with whole wheat flour & dried cranberries - still delicious but better for you!!!

Other March Events:

Saturday March 26
Winter Barn Dance at The Bascom
Celebrating a great Highlands Tradition
$5 at the door, food & beverages for purchase
(828) 526-4949

ALL WEEKENDS THROUGH APRIL:
Enjoy your 2nd night at HALF PRICE
Or, your 3rd night FREE at
Colonial Pines Inn
(828) 526-2060

Also, book your 2011 reservations NOW
at 2010 prices!!!

A Lovely Gift!

A beautiful original painting by Nancy Burleson now brightens a formerly dark corner near our "Piano-Top Gift Shop." A gift from Barbara & Bob Higgs, long-time guests from Jackson TN, it depicts a still life with flowers and features a pretty maple leaf bottle (like the ones we sell) full of delicious Vermont Maple Syrup. Even more special, it was painted by Barbara's dear friend Nancy, a Jackson local artist. Barbara had given Nancy a bottle of syrup and Nancy responded as she can do best - with a painting!

What a thoughtful and touching gift, Barbara & Bob - and Nancy, too!
We will treasure it, and now there will always be a little of you here at Colonial Pines Inn.
Thank You So Much!

Happy New Year!

It was a beautiful White Christmas in Highlands, but today the New Year's rain is washing it all away. The locals say the woolly worms are predicting a snowy season, so keep in touch if you want to come see the mountains in white, go snow tubing or (if cold temperatures continue) ice skate on Harris Lake. Miss Rebecca's Cottage, near the lake, is open every day of the winter, and the Inn is open weekends.

If you look carefully in this photo, you can see our beautiful (frozen) Thanksgiving pumpkin covered with snow & circled by a wreath.

My New Year's resolution is to put the Inn on Facebook. Wish me luck keeping up with it all and please visit Colonial Pines Inn on Facebook to check on my progress.

A heartfelt thanks to all our guests for making it a great 2010.
We wish for you and your family all things peaceful and joyous in 2011!

Please join us January through April
for Second Night Half Price OR Third Night Free
and plan ahead to get the best choice of rooms for Summer & Fall
at Colonial Pines Inn.
Donna & Chris Alley
Innkeepers Since 1984

(866) 526-2060 Toll Free

Cranberry-Chocolate Hello Dollies

If you've had breakfast at Colonial Pines Inn, you've probably had cranberries in one form or another: Cranberry-Pecan French Toast, White Grape & Cranberry Juice, Passion & Cranberry Juice, Cranberry-Pumpkin Bread, Lemon-Cranberry Bread, or Baked Apples with Cranberry Centers. We love them for their color, their taste, and their nutrition. Here they're paired with chocolate for a twist on an old favorite bar recipe:

CRANBERRY-CHOCOLATE DOLLIES

1-1/8 cup almond flour
1/8 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped cranberries
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Combine almond flour, sugar & melted butter. Press into the bottom of an 8"X8" baking pan. Layer with the chocolate, cranberries, coconut, and pecans. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool completely and cut into 16 squares.

SEE HIGHLANDS TWINKLE
with December Discounts
(Second Night Half Price)
at
Colonial Pines Inn B&B
(828) 526-2060
(866) 526-2060 Toll Free

We wish you & your family peace, joy,
and a trip to the mountains!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
from
Donna & Chris Alley
Innkeepers Since 1984

Are You Ready for the Parade?

The Camels are ready.

The Tooth Fairies are ready.

Santa & Mrs. Claus are ready.

All we need is YOU!

Join us for Highlands Olde Mountain Christmas Parade Dec 4,
and many other Holiday Happenings.
Calendar of events: www.highlandschamber.org


Enjoy SECOND NIGHT HALF PRICE through December at
Colonial Pines Inn Bed & Breakfast

(828) 526-2060 or Toll Free (866) 526-2060