Strawberry Anyone?

Bernadine's Stillman Inn - Best Bed and Breakfast in Galena!

 

We asked a recent guest how he choose the Stillman Inn. He said he googled "Best Bed and Breakfast in Galena" and we came up! Awesome!

This weekend I canned fresh Strawberries and made a Strawberry pie for everyone to enjoy. It was eaten up immediately. We also had fresh baked apple/cream cheese strudels. They were fabulous.

Guests love our "love cakes" (heart shaped pancakes) so I made these individual strudels in the shape of hearts. Wala..."love strudels".


New addition to our gift shop is "Bernadine's Homemade Strawberry Jam".

Last week we served Chocolate Chip Cupcakes. Yummy.

Come and stay with us and enjoy the deserts. The pie was topped off with a clipping of mint from our new Kitchen Garden. Now that some wild animal has stopped nibbling at things everything is growing nicely! Come check it out! All sorts of fun things to see and smell in our garden. Ask for the tour!

Bring your friends and family and stay at the beautiful, romantic and historic Stillman Inn. Located across from Grant's home. Beautiful walk to main street. "Best Breakfast" and Best Innkeeper" awards.

Gardens - Spring 2011

Okay, so it doesn't seem like much right now but just wait!  This is the beginnings of our new "Kitchen Garden".  Located on the lower level courtyard where only guests are allowed to go!  We're using the Square Foot Garden method to create this soon to be delicious and good for you garden. 

We will be using some of the harvest in our Breakfast Quiche!

Also New This Year is our "Garden Loom" presented here alongside "Mom"!  We had fun putting this together.  We saw a garden loom in "Backyard Crafts" magazine and decided we needed one.  Guests are welcome to take the whole thing apart and weave their own magic or just add to what is there.  For a quick fix we collected things from the park and just stuck them in for starters!  This is going to be fun!

There are knew statues hidden among the gardens for you to come and find.  This little guy is sitting in front of a plant that is grown widely in Galena.  I need to find the name of it but it is great for rock gardens and spreads like crazy keeping the weeds down in areas where needed.  It is a brilliant yellow in Spring - now- and then it's just a cute tufted plant through the summer.  We will be gathering the seeds and packaging them up for guests who are interested in taking some home!  Just ask for it!

And this is what I'm talking about when I say it grows easily out of the brick walls around town.  Nice! 

Let Us Not Forget the Birds! We are planning three bird feeding areas in the gardens this year.  Sit on the porch and relax with a glass of wine or a cool iced tea while enjoying our feathered friends coming and going.  Spotted a Baltimore Oriole a week ago.  I understand they enjoy fruit so I'm trying to figure out how to make that happen for them! 

So, Come visit the Stillman Inn in picturesque Galena IL.  We specialize in romantic getaways and will help you plan the perfect vacation.  Visit museums, art shops, walk the levee or bike the bike path.  How about a scooter ride out to the local winery or a hot air balloon ride? 

We can make it happen!

815 777-0557

 

What's Baking At The Stillman Inn - Galena, IL

Best Bed and Breakfast Lavender Cookies!  

These cookies are good any time, any where but they are especially scrumptious with a hot cup of tea and conversation with a friend!

Lavender Cookies
Ingredients:
5/8 cup butter room temp
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg room temp
1 TBLS Lavender flowers from your garden or on line 
1/12 cups all purpose flour
Optional Frosting: Mix a bit of water with some powdered sugar, sprinkle with sprinkles or lavender if you'd like.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets
2. Cream together the butter and sugar. Beat the egg and blend into the butter and sugar. Mix in the laavender flowers and the flour. Roll some dough in your hand and flattend slightly. Place on cookie sheet
3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Remove cookies to a cooling rack. When cool, pour a bit of powdered sugar mix on each one and top off with sprinkles, decorative sugar and/or lavender flowers if desired

Enjoy!  These are just great!

Will You Marry Me?!

Many people get engaged at the Stillman Inn.  It is just the most exciting thing to hear about at breakfast!   This brave couple, however, invited Dave to capture some photos of "the ask".  What a delight they were!  Enjoy the pics! 

Bernadine's Stillman Inn - not only the perfect romantic and historic spot to get engaged in Galena Il but we also have a beautiful Wedding Chapel to seal the deal!

http://www.galenaweddingchapel.com/