Hello from the Castle!
Recap:
Thank you to all who have visited The Castle and have stayed with us this year. We hope to see you again next year as well. Come see what is new and what has changed; The Castle is an ever-evolving place.
Thanks for your questions and inquiries: No, I did not get a chance to finish the storm window project before the first snow. I am hoping for one more sunny day before a full winter blast hits us in the Midwest.
Christmas Holiday Events in La Crosse Wisconsin
The Christmas Holidays will be bigger than ever in La Crosse and the Castle with be sparkling with decorations on fireplace mantles and in each room. The La Crosse Symphony has a full calendar planned and we are excited to share their schedule this year which includes a “Nordic Romance” performance on November 16th and “Holiday Romance: New Years Day in Vienna” set for December 20 and 21. Please see more at www.lacrossesymphony.org
Plan to stay at the Castle and enjoy dinner before the performance at one of the wonderful restaurants near the Weber Center for the Performing Arts located in Downtown La Crosse.
I just read that an early winter has a direct connection to premature holiday decorations. I don’t know if that is true or not, but our neighbor with her tree up in November does seem to have a lot more snow at her house than we have at ours!
We love traditions at Castle La Crosse. Tea in the afternoon and self-serve breakfast are the best. We enjoy cooking Sunday dinners for our family and keeping up with what is fresh at the market. We have both seen the Downton Abbey Movie and loved it. I hope you did, too. It reminds us of traditions and how they change and evolve over time. Brandon could not resist the Downton Abbey cookbook and found a recipe for Madeleines worth sharing. Here is a glimpse of what you can find in any good English country home, very much like ours:
Madeleines
A classic of French cookery, madeleines are delicate sponge cakes traditionally made in a shell-shaped mold. Families such as the Crawley’s, seasoned travelers to France as they were, would have known this delicacy very well.
Perfect for delicate, feminine afternoon teas, madeleines are also suitable for late-night snacking. In Downtown Abbey, they were often found in the biscuit jars kept near the bedsides of Lady Mary and Lady Edith.
Our Favorite Madeleine Recipe:
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons (90g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled. Plus more butter at room temperature for the molds
6 tablespoons of superfine sugar, plus more for the molds
2/3 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon orange flower water
Grated zest of one lemon and juice of half a small lemon
2 eggs, separated
Pinch of salt
Confectioners’ sugar, for serving
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (180C) Butter 12 madeleine molds and dust them with superfine sugar. Set aside
Add melted butter, superfine sugar and flour to a mixing bowl, stir to mix well. Add orange flower water and lemon zest, mix well.
Stir in eggs yokes until well blended.
In a separate bowl, combine the egg whites and salt. Whisk by hand or with a handheld mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter just until no white streaks remain. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared molds.
Bake until very lightly browned at the edges, usually 10-12 minutes. Let cool in the molds on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then turn out of the molds onto the rack and let cool completely. Sift the confectioners sugar over the madeleines just before serving.
Get Your Gift Certificates Now!
Gift Certificates are now available for Holiday Gifts and Special Occasions. You may purchase a gift certificate for a stay at the award winning Castle La Crosse in any amount. Please visit our website to purchase or call us via our toll free number 844-726-5808 to speak to us directly if you have any questions. Romance Packages or Breakfast in Bed is also available as a special addition. Next year will be even bigger than the last as the popularity of the Castle grows, so please plan ahead. We enjoy sharing our home and hearing stories from our guests about their travels or plans. Share a recipe; borrow a book, and relax with a glass of wine: We know that you will feel like a welcome guest in our grand home.
Our Projects and Maintenance Continue
Our projects and maintenance continue at Castle La Crosse. You may contribute to the ongoing preservation of the finest example of grand 19th century architecture in the region and become part of its story. Visit our Support tab on this website for further details.
Have Photos To Share?
Sharing photos is always a treat! Our guests and friends are welcome to share photos from their stay at the Castle. If you have older photos of the iconic home, please share them with us as well. We are working on a detailed book of the history of the Castle and its 127 years as a family home.
Safe Travels!
Look for more updates coming soon.
Billy and Brandon, along with Pronto and Dilly, wishing you the best!
Castle La Crosse Bed and Breakfast
