Pumpkin Belgian Waffles

Our January recipe is a guest favorite... probably our most-requested recipe: our Pumpkin Belgian Waffles. We typically serve our Belgian waffles with eggs and sausage, and depending on the season, we'll top them with fresh blueberries or strawberries, or add melon, pears and/or kiwi on the side.

We were delighted to see our waffle recipe featured as one of A Bloggable Life's Best of Breakfast recipes in Sandie's Inn Cuisine section. We hope you enjoy these waffles as much as we do!

Pumpkin Belgian Waffles
from Inn on Mill Creek Bed & Breakfast

Prep time: 25 minutes / Makes approx. 7 large waffles
Dry Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/4 cup whole wheat flour, sifted
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 & 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground ginger

Wet Ingredients
4 large eggs, separated
2 Tbsp butter, melted
2 Tbsp margarine, melted
1+ cup (2/3 can) cooked, mashed pumpkin
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup 2% milk
1 cup buttermilk

1. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2. In another bowl, lightly whisk together egg yolks, then one at a time whisk in butter and margarine, pumpkin, brown sugar, and the milks.
3. Refrigerate wet mix for 5 minutes.
4. When chilling time has elapsed, add wet ingredients to flour mixture, stirring until just moistened.
5. In a clean bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into batter.
6. Refrigerate combined batter for another 5 minutes.
7. Cook in preheated Belgian waffle iron; this batter will take slightly longer than most other batters (5+ minutes).

For a gluten-free option, we use the mix from The Gluten Free Gourmet [B. Hagman, 2000] scaled to our recipe:

1 & 1/2 cup of white rice flour
1/2 cup potato starch flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour

1 & 1/4 tsp xantham gum

Indoor Winter Activity...Exploring Asheville Art

See...you can see the mountains indoors, too! George Masa's Mountain Landscape, part of the permanent
collection at the Asheville Art Museum

Although many of our January and February guests like to get outdoors and hike on trails here in Western North Carolina (winter can be a very nice time of year to go hiking...really, we mean it!), we do like to give some options for those of us who are closer to the cool weather=hibernation end of the winter activity spectrum.

The Inn on Mill Creek is located in the Asheville area -- an artists' mecca -- and there are some wonderful galleries and museums and other exhibit halls out there for you to discover, all inside where it's warm and cozy.

So without further ado, here are some artsy {indoor} places to visit:

Asheville Art Museum (http://www.ashevilleart.org/) - the museum has a permanent collection, but also showcase regional and national artists, and exhibitions that are significant to Western North Carolina history and culture, such as their current exhibit of photography by Lee Friedlander featuring Frederick Law Olmstead (who designed the grounds of Biltmore Estate as well as Central Park in NYC and the landscaping of the US Capitol Building).

Black Mountain Center for the Arts (http://www.blackmountainarts.org/) - not only does the Center for the Arts, located in downtown Black Mountain, offer art classes, but on weekdays through February 11, the Center is hosting its 3rd Clay Studio Gallery Show, showcasing the work of local pottery teachers and their students.

Black Mountain College + Arts Center (http://www.blackmountaincollege.org/) - this exhibition space and resource center in Asheville is dedicated to keeping alive the history and legacy of Black Mountain College, considered to be one of the most innovative and revolutionary liberal arts colleges of its time (1930s-1950s).

Blue Spiral One Gallery (http://www.bluespiral1.com/) - this gallery in downtown Asheville specializes in Southeastern fine art and crafts and has several exhibits going on right now, including one featuring three regional artists who are showing their works for the first time at the gallery.

Folk Art Center (www.southernhighlandguild.org/pages/folk-art-center/general-info.php) - Located near the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway on the east side of Asheville, the Folk Art Center showcases the works of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. From quilts to woodworking, fiber art, jewelry and more, this is the place to see the beautiful craftsmenship of southern Appalachian artists.

River Arts District (http://www.riverartsdistrict.com/) - The River Arts District in west Asheville is a group of studios housed in what were once factories and warehouses. This district has seen quite the transformation over the past few years and is home to one of Asheville's neatest studio strolls. During the quiet season, several of the artists keep their studios open so you can view their work in the very place it's created. Pretty cool.

Woolworth Walk Gallery (http://www.woolworthwalk.com/) - over 150 artists, artisans and craftspeople from Western North Carolina have their items on display (and for sale) at the old Woolworth building on Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. There's also a diner called the Soda Fountain, where you can get soup, sandwiches, hot drinks and ice cream.

Many, many more indoor places to see arts and crafts in our lovely, artsy Asheville can be found at http://www.ashevilledowntowngalleries.org/.

Discounted Winter Biltmore Tickets

Are our guests enjoying the Quiet Season in the Asheville/Black Mountain area? We're seeing a lot of smiles at breakfast, so we're going to guess the answer is a big yes. One of the comments we hear the most during the wintertime is that the lack of crowds, zero traffic, and the ease of getting into restaurants and local attractions is a big plus to visiting the mountains of Western North Carolina this time of year.

One such local attraction is Biltmore Estate, which offers not only the comfort of being indoors during a time when weather can be a bit unpredictable, but also offers three behind-the-scenes tours inside Biltmore House:

• Architect's Tour: This tour focuses on the construction of the house. You'll get to visit areas of the house not on the regular self-guided tour that showcase the design of the house, and head out on the rooftop and balconies (weather permitting).
  
• Butler's Tour: You'll see unrestored rooms and mechanical areas of the house in this tour that highlights the history of work that went on at Biltmore by the Vanderbilt family's valued domestic staff.
  
• Family and Friends Tour: This tour is all about the relatives and close friends who stayed at Biltmore House. It's our favorite of the tours. You'll walk through bedrooms not on the self-guided tour, see period clothing and items from the early 1900s, and learn about what it was like to be a houseguest at Biltmore.

The best thing about these tours is that it really brings a human aspect on Biltmore. To see the inner workings of the house and to hear about the people who lived and worked there when Mr. Vanderbilt and his family did is just fascinating and brings the house to life.

Guests of the Inn on Mill Creek can pick up two-day tickets at Biltmore Estate for $29/person -- a $10 discount off of the regular single day admission of $39 PLUS a free second day! The tickets give you full access to the grounds, including Biltmore House and Gardens, Winery, Antler Hill Village and restaurants on the Estate.

Think there's not much to do at Biltmore in wintertime? Think again. At Mother Nature's discretion, daytime temperatures at our elevation can sometimes reach into the upper 40s on a winter afternoon, and sunny days are the norm. So... even though you might not see abundant gardens in full bloom, you'll be able to walk beautiful nature trails through evergreen rhododendren and azalea down to the Bass Pond. And you can always venture into the huge glassed-roofed [and warm!] Conservatory to get your flower fix, like this gorgeous orchid:

Photo Credit for this pretty pic: Biltmore Facebook Page

Then there's the Winery with free wine tastings, Antler Hill Village with its great English tavern called Cedric's...we could go on.

You can pick up Biltmore two-day tickets at the Inn on Mill Creek on the day of your arrival. Please do keep in mind that all specialty tours (there are also tours at the Winery and the Farm) have an extra cost beyond the admission ticket price. You can make reservations for specialty tours by calling Biltmore at 800.411.3812.

Get a "Taste of Swannanoa" on January 28 *updated with new location*

Black Mountain Chocolate will be part of the event...yum

Between the town of Black Mountain and Asheville, North Carolina, is the community of Swannanoa. Some people say Swannanoa gets its name from the Cherokee "Suwa li nunna hi" meaning "trail or path leading through Suala, Sara or Cherow" and some say it comes from the Cherokee meaning of "beautiful river". Regardless of the origin of the term Swannanoa, it has come to be a unique place where one can find art, education, recreation and, yes, great food. They don't call the Asheville area "Foodtopia" for nothing.

On Friday, January 28, visitors to our area will be able to sample some of Swannanoa's cuisine with Taste of Swannanoa. The event, sponsored by the Swannanoa Business Association, will be held at the Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall [please note, this is an updated location] from 7pm to 10pm. Tickets are $15 in advance of the event (contact burhoej@gmail.com, or at participating restaurants, or at 828.337.4718) and $18 at the door.

Taste of Swannanoa will include live entertainment, cuisine from local gourmet caterers and restaurants, wine and beer, as well as raffles and prizes. And in keeping with the spirit of community giving that is the norm in our neck of the woods, diners are welcome to bring donations of coats, food or personal hygiene products for a local charity.

Participants include Anne's Custom Catering (provider of our delicious chocolate dipped strawberries!), Beacon Pub & Bistro, Black Mountain Chocolate, Chow Time Pizza, Doghouse & Dairy Bar, Fresh As Can Bee Catering, Moments Cafe & Patisserie, Okie Dokies Smokehouse and more, plus gourmet culinary instructors.

This being wintertime in the mountains, in case of inclement weather, the event will be postponed to Friday, February 4.