First Christmas Dinner at Belle Grove Plantation

Dec. 27th 2013

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Everybody

Down in Belle Grove-ville

Liked Christmas Dinner a lot…

 Christmas Dinner 1

Yummy morsels

Tidbits, nibbles and dollops

Were greatly sought!

Christmas Dinner 4

 When those, young and old, sat down to the feast.

And they feasted! And they feasted!

And they Feasted, feasted and Feasted.

They started with ham, a spiraled brown sugar glazed beast

And followed with Horseradish Mash Potatoes to say the least!

And Then

They passed the Harvest Vegetables and Sweet Potatoes Mashed

And the Butternut Squash with Cranraisin and Spinach was even passed.

There was Chutney made of Orange and Cranberry

A sweet and tart delight that is red as a cherry.

And crescent rolls that were lost to those that tarry.

Lastly upon the plate sat deviled eggs by the dozen

Enjoyed by all down to the last one.

The last was saved for the chef as reward for a job well done.

And what happened then…?

Well…in Belle Grove-ville they say

That each small stomach

Grew three sizes that day!

And the minute their pants didn’t feel quite so tight,

They whizzed around the Mansion Tour until the last light.

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And as the last left Belle Grove-ville

And drove out of sight,

The Darnell Family called after

“Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!”

Posted by Michelle Darnell | in Belle Grove History, Darnell History, Food and Recipes | Comments Off on First Christmas Dinner at Belle Grove Plantation

Tea for Two . . . Days!

Dec. 26th 2013

This past weekend, Belle Grove Plantation hosted not one but two Holiday Afternoon Teas!

Holiday Tea 1

On Saturday was our Holiday Afternoon Tea that was open to the public.

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On Sunday, we hosted a Holiday Afternoon Tea for a private party.

On the menu for our tea:

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Cranberry with Pecan Scones and Apricot with White Chocolate Scones

Holiday Tea 7

Ham and Cheese Mini Quiches

Holiday Tea 9

Salmon with Roasted Red Pepper Tea Sandwiches

Roast Beef with Roasted Red Pepper and Blue Cheese Tea Sandwiches (Saturday’s Tea)

Roast Beef with Roasted Red Pepper and Horseradish Tea Sandwiches (Sunday’s Tea)

Holiday Tea 6

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Holiday Tea 4

Italian Puff Pastry Shell with Orange Cream

Coconut Bonbons

We served a choice of two flavors of tea:

Classical Earl Grey

Spiced Apple Cider

Saturday’s Tea gave us another first for us!

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We had our first young ladies attend Afternoon Tea with us! They were so wonderful!

Sunday 2

Sunday’s Tea also brought us another young lady! She was just so sweet!

Sunday’s Afternoon Tea had also requested a special guest!

Hurley

The Official Plantation Dog

Sunday 5

They brought him treats and lots of hugs!

It was an elegant weekend filled with wonderful ladies!

Thank you to all the ladies who attended our First Holiday Tea on Saturday!

Holiday Tea 11

Holiday Tea 12

Holiday Tea 5

Holiday Tea 13

Thank you to the OXOX Ladies who attended our Holiday Tea on Sunday!

Sunday 1

Sunday 17

Sunday 15

Sunday 4

Posted by Michelle Darnell | in Darnell History, Food and Recipes | Comments Off on Tea for Two . . . Days!

Christmas Candlelight Tickets Now On Sale!

Nov. 18th 2013

christmas card

Belle Grove Plantation
1st Annual
Christmas Candlelight Tours

It is time to make history at Belle Grove Plantation as we celebrate our first Christmas at the plantation! We will be opening our doors to old and young to come and gaze upon this grand mansion and grounds that has seen so many Christmas past.

On Friday, December 6th, 2013, Belle Grove Plantation will celebrate their Official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting. Come help us not only ring in the season, but celebrate officially opening our doors!

Saturday, December 14th from 5pm to 9pm, Santa arrives at the plantation! The last known visit from Father Christmas to the plantation appeared in the Free Lance Star dating to the 1890s! Come see him return once again and help us celebrate this return to tradition!

Each day, there will be entertainment and warm beverages to help you get into the Holiday Spirit!

Belle Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast will be opening its doors for the 1st Annual Christmas Candlelight Tour for the following dates:

Friday, December 6th and Friday, December 13th
6:00pm to 9:00pm

Saturday, December 7th and Saturday, December 14th
Daytime Tours – 12:00pm to 3:00 pm
Evening Tours – 5:00pm to 9:30pm

Sunday, December 8th and Sunday, December 15th
Daytime Tours – 12:00pm to 3:00 pm
Evening Tours – 3:00pm to 6:00pm

IMPORTANT – This tour requires several stairs. We are sorry, at this time we are not handicap accessible.

Tickets are sold for scheduled times. Please make sure you purchase them for the time you wish to visit.

Ticket Prices:

Daytime Tickets

Adults – $15
Children under 12 – $10
Children under 5 – Free

Night Time Tickets

Adults – $25
Children under 12 – $10
Children under 5 – Free

I am sorry, we do not offer discounts for this event.

Please go to our Online Store to Purchase Tickets!

https://squareup.com/market/belle-grove-plantation-bed-and-breakfast/christmas-candlelight-tours-tickets

Posted by Michelle Darnell | in Belle Grove History, Darnell History | Comments Off on Christmas Candlelight Tickets Now On Sale!

Look Who Stopped By The Plantation!

Nov. 17th 2013

Modern Molasses Cookies the Official Cookie of Belle Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast birthplace of James Madison in King George Virginia at Port Conway

As many of you that have been following us over the last year or two know, we had an Official Cookie Contest last March. It was a wonderful contest and we had some really wonderful cookie recipes offered!

After a very close race and the public vote on Facebook, it ended with a delicious cookie called “Modern Molasses Cookies” submitted by Alyssa D’Alconzo. Since we have opened, we have been placing these yummy cookies on a silver tray on each bed during turn-down service. They are wonderful and everyone really enjoys the added “midnight snack”.

Modern Molasses Cookies the Official Cookie of Belle Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast birthplace of James Madison in King George Virginia at Port Conway

Alyssa and Michelle – November 2013

This weekend we were excited to host Alyssa and her family for a couple days at the plantation! How wonderful to finally meet someone that we have been chatting with on our blog for so long. Alyssa isn’t the first from the blog to come by, but it was extra special to have her here to sample our “Modern Molasses Cookies”.

I think we passed the test!

But we would like to share the recipe with all those who are new or those who would like to know how to make them. Here at the plantation, I did make a copy of changes to the recipe. I don’t serve them with chocolate because there are those who may be allergic. I also make a batch and freeze the raw dough balls. Then in the afternoon, I pull out what I need and cook them so they are fresh and warm when our guests return from dinner. By freezing them, it helps give them a puffy center too. (A trick I learned from Mrs. Field’s cookies)

You can check out Alyssa’s blog and read about her adventures visiting us at

http://suitcasesandsweets.com

So make a warm batch and enjoy!

Modern Molasses Cookies – Alyssa D’Alconzo

Ingredients (4 dozen cookies)

2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons allspice
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla
sugar
2 1/2 ounces dark chocolate
1/2 teaspoon coconut oil or shortening

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine first 5 ingredients; set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together shortening and dark brown sugar. Beat in egg, molasses, and vanilla. Mix well.

Fold in dry ingredients and stir by hand.
Cover and chill at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets.
Shape teaspoonful of dough into balls; roll in sugar.
Place balls onto cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.

Bake 8-10 minutes until set. Cool for one minute on cookie sheet and remove to wire rack to cool completely.
In a small bowl, break up chocolate into small pieces, add coconut oil or shortening, and microwave on medium heat until melted.

Using a fork, drizzle chocolate over cookies.

Allow chocolate to set and store in an airtight container.

Tea Time in Fredericksburg

Jun. 19th 2013

Today, I took a break from the tolls of working on my website (sorry Adam) to have an Afternoon Tea with a dear friend at Pinkadilly Tea House in Fredericksburg. I have been there before and written a blog about it, but the first time we only did lunch. Today it was the whole enchilada… okay the whole pot of tea!

http://www.pinkadillytea.com/

http://www.pinkadillytea.com/

I just love that when you come to the Tea House, your tea cup is always different.

That is one thing I will be doing at our house for our teas!

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We filled our tea cups today with Earl Grey Tea, one of my favorites!

Our first course was soup and Quiche.

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Crab Soup (which is to die for!) and Ham, Asparagus, White Cheddar and Provolone Cheese Quiche!

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Our second course  arrived stacked beautifully before us!

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Our Scones with Lemon Curd and Devonshire Cream were:

Vanilla

Cinnamon Raisin

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Our Tea Sandwiches were:

Feta and Almond Spread on a Toasted Baguette

Spinach and Feta Puff Pastry

Chicken Salad

Cucumber Salad

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Our Desserts were:

Chocolate Truffles

Pindadilly Pieshots

Orange Brownies

Blueberry Cheesecake Cups

Each Course was Heavenly!

If you are ever in Fredericksburg, you must call and get a reservation at this wonderful Tea House!

http://www.pinkadillytea.com/

Also be on the look out for a special announcement coming soon!

If you love Afternoon Tea and you are 8 year old or older

You don’t want to miss this announcement!

Don’t forget to check us our on Facebook!

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Please Share us with your Friends!

Posted by Michelle Darnell | in Darnell History | 25 Comments »

Tea Time!

Mar. 25th 2013

I have asked one of our readers and fellow blogger to guest blog for us today!

Once we open, we will be available for Afternoon Tea Parties for social groups.

So I thought it would be great fun to get some information on teas from an expert. 

Please enjoy!

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea

As an institution, the event known as afternoon tea followed on from an ancient Oriental social custom. It came to prominence in the 17th century when it became established as an ‘event’ for the lady of the household.

A lady of wealth and privilege wouldn’t dream of going to an Hotel or coffee house, they being male dominated places where business and politics would be freely discussed and so she would invite her friends for an ‘at home’ of tea, gossip and hopefully scandal.

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea

It was also an occasion where one could shove one’s wealth and rank firmly up the noses of one’s contemporaries and social equals and conduct the serious business of one-up-man-ship. Amongst ladies of rank and privilege the main criteria for an invitation to tea to be offered or accepted were wealth, property and social standing. Tea at that time was a highly expensive and valuable commodity and therefore the mere invitation to tea was an ostentatious gesture.

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea

Being so precious the tea caddy became an important a fixture. It would be a solid box (or mini-safe) to which only the Hostess, or possibly a very trustworthy housekeeper, held the keys. Its presence said immediately that one was sufficiently ‘well-heeled’ to provide tea in the first place. Nowadays it would be the equivalent of inviting the neighbours over for drinks and then providing them with only the finest French champagne! The number of servants on hand to actually serve the guests was also a major plus factor in the social status stakes!

Queen Victoria by Bassano

Queen Victoria by Bassano

During the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901) afternoon tea began to expand into more of a small meal. The growth in industrialisation and the coming of a reliable artificial light meant that working hours could be extended beyond the restrictions imposed by natural daylight. As the gap between lunch and dinner became longer and longer afternoon tea, of necessity increased in variety and content with the addition of finger sandwiches, biscuits, savouries and cake, in order to fill the gap.

An American Tea Clipper at Sea

An American Tea Clipper at Sea

When, as time passed, the supply of tea from distant lands (India, China, Ceylon) increased in quantity due to the development of faster methods of transportation during the course of the Industrial Revolution, tea began to come within the reach of middle class purses and, eager to emulate the landed upper classes, they rapidly adopted the custom.

Gradually, along with the sandwiches and savouries, rich cakes, iced fancies, glazed pastries and sweetmeats from a bygone era were rediscovered and added to the ‘menu’ Afternoon tea became, for the aspirational Hostess to display her abilities in producing an interesting and exotic array of goodies for ‘The Ladies’ as well as the beverage itself.

At this time of course the Master of The House would be out and about with social, business and financial concerns. The rapidly expanding ‘Gentlemen’s Club’ market would provide for him with such niceties when ‘in town on business’ and of course any children would be confined to the nursery or playroom with a nurse or guardian to enjoy their own, more light-hearted tea-time and to keep them out of sight!

It would not be until the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when women would become suitably emboldened and emancipated to go ‘out to tea’ at places like the Ritz, Selfidges and Harrods for their socialising but that is for another post.

Kevin Houghton

Granny Robertsons Cookbook

A Social, Cultural and Culinary Archive of Great Britain in the 20th Century

http://kayjayaitch.wordpress.com

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Posted by Michelle Darnell | in General History | 37 Comments »