Over the past two and a half years of owning the Bee and Thistle Inn I have seen many people come through the front door, but, in those first few months of being at the inn, one of the most special people stepped through that door. It was in March of 2006 and I was still sitting in the middle of construction and we had an April 1st opening looming.
I had been inundated with sales people wanting to sell me anything and everything for the inn, when yet another gentlemen approached me in the office. My immediate reaction was, "What does this one want to sell me?" Instead, I heard these words, "Hello I am Kipp. I would like to play guitar for you on the weekends." Something about the way this person spoke was very special. "OK," I said, "We are having a soft opening and you can play for your dinner." 
Well ... hard to believe but Kipp has been at the inn every Saturday since that memorable first night. Plus many more unbelievable weddings, birthdays, and other special events. Anyone who dines with us on a Saturday night leaves with the experience of having been touched by Kipp's music. He comes each week with Mike, Dave or Dan, who are the other amazing artists that play with him. I also have had the honor of singing a few tunes with them. My hat is off to Kipp and company and let me tell you that Kipp has many hats and other attire on a Saturday night! He's like a box of chocolates - you never know what your are going to get ... come visit us and feel the music!
I have helped plan many weddings both here at the Bee and Thistle Inn and beyond.
One of the greatest gifts of being an event planner is meeting the people you will be working with. Some of my best life memories come from just such people. When sitting down with a couple for the very first time to talk over plans for their special day, what I find most interesting are their visions of the upcoming event.
As we work on the details, all sorts of idea come up. But one of the things I dread to hear is a plan for someone other than me to do the wedding cake. Perhaps it’s Auntie Bessie, who wants to be helpful, or the bride’s best friend that has always wanted to try her hand at baking.It’s not that I am the best wedding cake maker in the world, but I do have two fundamental rules. One, it must taste unbelievable, and second, it must look beautiful.
Enter Kate and Sam, who just were married this past Saturday, Oct. 11 (one of the most special weddings I have been part of.) Looking at this beautiful couple sitting across from me, suddenly out pops the question, “Can Sam make the wedding cake?”
I try to explain how involved it is to make a wedding cake for almost 200 people, but a few weeks before the wedding, I open an email from Kate saying that Sam will definitely be making the wedding cake … WHAT?
I think for a moment before responding. They are an amazing couple - I love them and, of course, they can do what ever they want.
The day before the wedding, I get another call. It’s Sam this time with a number of questions about putting the cake together. Plus he told me he thought it looked uneven.
I said I would come and look at it right away. Driving there, I told myself, “You should have listened to your own advice - this cake is going to be a mess and all the people at the wedding are going to think you made it.”
As I walked into the kitchen where Sam was working, I had a big surprise! The cake was perfectly baked and, when it was put together, it looked absolutely beautiful.
When telling guests that the groom, Sam, had made the wedding cake for his bride, Kate, everyone (women) melted. And they all said, "Isn’t that romantic?"
All the best to Kate and Sam … oh, and the cake tasted great!
The phone conversation went like this.
Linnea: Hi Mom, can I have the recipe for the cookies you make every New Year’s Eve?
Mom: I don’t think I have one. I have been making them as long as I can remember. Your grandmother taught me.
Linnea: What are they called?
Mom: (Long pause.) I don’t know. I will take a look on the box and give you a call.
My Swedish Grandmother, Elna Linnea Forrest
So I started thinking … that was my Swedish grandmother’s recipe. Where could I find it? And what about all the other recipes that I have grown up with, but are in people’s minds rather than on paper? My Italian grandmother, from whom I think my mother and I learned everything we know about food, passed at age 96 without ever writing down a single recipe. She would make me a drink in the morning that I will always remember.Another call.
Linnea: Hi Dad. Do you remember the coffee drink Noni used to make?
Dad: Oh yes.
Linnea: Does it have a name?
Dad: No name
Linnea: No name?
Dad: I don’t think it has a name.
Linnea: Did she make it up just for us or did people drink out in the wider world?
Dad: I know our family would always drink it.
Linnea: In the morning?
Dad: No, anytime. Someone would ask. Does anyone want eggnog? I think that’s what they called it.
My Italian Grandmother, Assuntina Galino Cianflone
So I set out to find the recipes and this is what I can up with … enjoy!
The cookies: Rosettes 2 eggs 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla Combine eggs, sugar, and salt; beat well. Add remaining ingredients; beat until smooth. Heat rosette iron in deep, hot oil (350 to 375oF) for two minutes. Drain excess oil from iron; dip in batter to 1/4 inch from top of iron, then immediately into hot oil. Fry rosette until golden, 10 to 30 seconds. Lift out; tip upside down to drain. With fork, push rosette off iron onto rack placed over paper towels. Reheat iron 1 minute; make next rosette. If you have two rosette irons, reheat one while using the other. Stir batter from time to time as you will get some oil in it. Sprinkle rosettes with confectioner's sugar. You will need to have a Rosettes Iron.
The coffee drink: Coffee Imperial (This was the closest recipe I could find to Noni’s wonderful Egg Nog) 1 Egg yolk 1 Spoonful of sugar Hot Coffee Steamed Milk Brandy (optional) In a coffee cup, combine egg yolk and sugar. Beat until light and thick. Add hot coffee and top with steamed milk.
My Mother Louise, my brother David, and me
So, ask your family for those recipes you’ve never had. Email me your stories and I will post one on my Blog. One of the senders with a special story will be presented with a one night stay (mid-week) and dinner in our Garden Porch Lounge at The Bee and Thistle Inn & Spa.
