“Top Ten Most Romantic Bed and Breakfast Inns in the World”  

And, it’s all because we’ve asked you (our guests) to tell us what’s romantic to you? You’ve told us relaxing in a whirlpool tub for two with a flickering fireplace, walking hand in hand through our wooded trails, sneaking a kiss in our Gazebo or enjoying a delicious breakfast together at your own table for two all have the makings of the Most Romantic Getaway for you.

As the owners and Innkeepers here our romantic getaway in Michigan, Herb and I are thrilled with this designation because we believe its our “mission” as a business is to provide a great place for couples to reconnect, relax and find the time and quietness to enjoy each other. Now that’s romance to us at Castle in the Country and thankfully, many of our guests see it the same way.

Here’s just a sample of the amazing reviews our guests have posted about our romantic Michigan getaway at BedandBreakfast.com:

“A beautiful home, serene setting, warm hospitality. Attention down to the smallest detail. Food was exquisite! The perfect backdrop for a most memorable honeymoon. We can’t wait to return!”

 ”We had a wonderful stay this past week at the Castle in the Country! First of all, I can’t believe how much time they put into details at the Castle in the Country. Anything we needed, it was provided. The room was incredibly clean and smelled absolutely wonderful. Just a subtle, clean scent. We stayed in the King Arthur suite. Amazing view, great mattress, awesome tub. Two person shower was great. The food was incredible. We enjoyed everything, from the menu and the variety to the soft music and individual tables so you don’t have to sit with people….”

Let us help you find your Most Romantic Getaway in the World. Our Southwest Michigan bed and breakfast may be just a two or three hour drive away from your everyday world, but we’ll do our best to make an amazing getaway for you within the “middle of nowhere” and far, far from ordinary.

Two magnificent buildings wrapped in 65 secluded acres at our Michigan Inn and Spa and Retreat, Romontic Allegan Bed and Breakfast featuring 10 rooms or suites with Whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, king or queen sized beds, and private baths with all the amenities a discriminating guest appreciates. You can read the original blog post here Castle in the Country named “Top Ten Most Romantic in the World” by Bedandbreakfast.com.

The trick with croissants is keeping the butter from melting while working the dough. In this “quick” recipe, we cut a massive amount of butter into dry flour instead of softening it and spreading it over the rolled out flour. This allows us to immediately roll and fold instead of chilling the dough first. We substitute the apple with other seasonal fruit items when available.

To make 24 Croissants

Ingredients:

5C AP flour

1Lb butter, cut into ½ inch cubes

3 T sugar

1.5 T yeast, instant active

1.75 C milk, warmed

2t salt

More flour for work surface

2 tart apples, diced

2T sugar

1t cinnamon

Procedure:

1. Cut butter into 3.5C flour with until largest pieces of butter are the size of lima beans and flour has taken on a yellowed, cornmeal-like appearance. (Watch closely-do not allow butter to melt.) Put the mixture in plastic bag and place in cooler or freezer. The cutting-in can be done with a pastry cutter, food processor, or stand mixer.
2. Mix remaining 1.5C flour with milk, sugar, and yeast. Allow to rise 20-30 minutes-should begin to foam
3. Add flour/butter mixture and salt and combine to a sticky mixture with butter particles
4. Turn onto floured work surface and roll out to a large rectangle about ½ inch thick. Tri-fold twice, book-fold twice-do not allow butter pieces to melt. (A tri-fold is what you would do to a sheet of paper before inserting into an envelope, a book fold is simply folding in half, then in half again.)
5. Refrigerate dough for 1-24 hours, cut into 4 equal blocks.
6. Combine diced apples with sugar and cinnamon.
7. Roll out each block into a 10 inch diameter disc. Cut into 6 wedges.
8. Place an equal amount of apple filling on each wedge and roll from edge to point. Arrange onto baking parchment and allow to rise until doubled in volume (about 1 hour.)
9. Brush with egg wash and bake at 400 for 16 minutes.

Two magnificent buildings wrapped in 65 secluded acres at our Michigan Inn and Spa and Retreat, Romontic Allegan Bed and Breakfast featuring 10 rooms or suites with Whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, king or queen sized beds, and private baths with all the amenities a discriminating guest appreciates. You can read the original blog post here Recipe for Apple-Filled Croissants.

Cranberry-Orange Muffins

Fresh cranberries are available in late fall through the winter months. This recipe uses their tart flavor against what would be a typical sweet muffin. The combination of spices adds a holiday touch, the allspice/ginger combination being more traditional.

Serves: 12

Ingredients:

Dry:

2C All Purpose Flour

1T Baking Powder

½ t salt

¼ t cinnamon

1/8 t ground cloves (or allspice)

1/8 t ground cardamom (or ginger)

Wet:

2 Eggs

1 C Milk

¾ C granulated

6T butter, melted

Juice of one orange

1 ½ Cup Fresh Cranberries, chopped

Zest of one orange, grated (orange part only)

Procedure:

Combine all dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in another and thoroughly mix the contents of each bowl with a whisk seperately. Combine wet ingredients into dry, add chopped cranberries and orange zest and combine until moistened. Do not overmix. Divide batter into 12 muffin cups and bake at 400F for about 16 minutes, until golden brown and delicious. Serve within an hour of baking for best result.

Two magnificent buildings wrapped in 65 secluded acres at our Michigan Inn and Spa and Retreat, Romontic Allegan Bed and Breakfast featuring 10 rooms or suites with Whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, king or queen sized beds, and private baths with all the amenities a discriminating guest appreciates. You can read the original blog post here Recipe for Cranberry-Orange Muffins.

Looking for some outdoor fun in the winter? If you can walk, you can snowshoe. We have multiple pair of various sizes for anyone staying with us.

Two magnificent buildings wrapped in 65 secluded acres at our Michigan Inn and Spa and Retreat, Romontic Allegan Bed and Breakfast featuring 10 rooms or suites with Whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, king or queen sized beds, and private baths with all the amenities a discriminating guest appreciates. You can read the original blog post here Snowshoes on-site, no charge.

“Our “Golden Tower” room was even more beautiful than we hoped for. And being in such a relaxed setting allowed us to reflect on our past year together as well as our future! We couldn’t have asked for more from this weekend. We made a promise to each other that if we ever lose our way in life and love we will come back here to remember this weekend and the love we shared.”                                                                              Lisa & Bill, Jackson MI  [Golden Tower]

“We promised ourselves to come back to this wonderful getaway and joyfully we were back in 4 months! Thanks for a wonderful time AGAIN. The Staff, surroundings and details were once again superb. Today is the day we start planning our next visit…God Bless your Castle and all those who find Peace here!”                                                                                                  Jeff & Tracy, Toledo OH  [Camelot's Chambers]

“This is our second visit to Castle in the Country in two years and we wish we could stay longer. Everything is absolutely wonderful from the beautiful and peaceful setting to the impeccably soft bed linens, to the delicious gourmet breakfasts. We came to celebrate our second anniversary and we have already made a promise to each other that we won’t let more than a couple years of ‘real life’ go by before we return to this serene and unique place. It’s amazing how beneficial it is for you and your relationship to come to a place like this: The colors are brighter, the air is crisp, and you can finally slow down and just enjoy being together. Thanks for everything! We will be counting the minutes until we’re driving up M-40 again, anxious to be in one of our favorite places in the world!”                    Carley & Steven, Perrysburg, OH  [Romeo & Juliet Suite]

We all know that promises are easier to make than they are to keep. Make a promise to each other this year. And, let all of us here at our romantic Michigan getaway help you keep it.

Christine Brower

Assistant Innkeeper

Castle in the Country B&B Inn

“Inspiring Happily Ever After”

www.castleinthecountry.com

Two magnificent buildings wrapped in 65 secluded acres at our Michigan Inn and Spa and Retreat, Romontic Allegan Bed and Breakfast featuring 10 rooms or suites with Whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, king or queen sized beds, and private baths with all the amenities a discriminating guest appreciates. You can read the original blog post here Promise of Romance Fulfilled at our Romantic Getaway in Michigan.

Most traditional scone recipes use both butter and milk or cream. Here we simplify by using only heavy cream. This simplifies & shortens the preparation process, and the end result yields a crispy, more browned crust with a moist interior. Any dried fruit such as cherries, apricots or even raisins will work, but the vanilla and almond flavors are added because they go so well with cherry and chocolate. The two-step baking procedure is important-the initial high heat yields a higher rise, but if left to bake at that temp, the bottoms will burn while the interior remains undone.

Ingredients (Yield=8 Scones)

2 C All-purpose flour

1/2 C Brown Sugar

1/2 T Baking Powder

1/2 t Salt

1/4 C Dried Fruit and/or Chocolate Chips, diced into ½ inch cubes if needed

1 C Heavy Cream

1/2 t Almond extract

1/2 t Vanilla extract

1 egg, beaten for glaze

Granulated sugar for topping

Procedure

Preheat oven to 425 F. Combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt and mix thoroughly. Add diced fruit and chocolate. Combine almond extract and vanilla to the heavy cream and add to flour mixture. Stir with a spatula until there are large clumps. Using squeezing motion with clean hands, press the dough into a ball. DO NOT OVER MIX! Place dough onto large cutting board and press into a disc approximately one inch thick and 10 inches in diameter. Cut into 8 wedges and move to a baking sheet lined with parchment. With a pastry brush, coat scones with egg mix and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 375 and rotate & bake for 10 minutes more until golden brown and delicious. There should be a crispy crust and light, moist interior. Allow to cool on a cooling rack for 15 minutes.

Two magnificent buildings wrapped in 65 secluded acres at our Michigan Inn and Spa and Retreat, Romontic Allegan Bed and Breakfast featuring 10 rooms or suites with Whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, king or queen sized beds, and private baths with all the amenities a discriminating guest appreciates. You can read the original blog post here Cherry-Chocolate Cream Scone Recipe.

If you’ve stayed with us at our Romantic Getaway in Michigan over the last three years you’ve received our Gift to you; your very own Select Registry (SR) Guidebook. Our Innkeepers will familiarize you with SR and explain how both this guidebook and the Select Registry website feature over 350 of the finest Inns and B&Bs from all over the country. Each of these Inns, like our Michigan bed and breakfast, submit to a Secret Sleeper program that ensures you, the consumer a higher level of quality in your lodging experience. See for yourself the Select Difference. The SR secret guest inspects our Michigan Inn from top to bottom and rates our adherence to rigorous standards to meet the lodging needs of a discerning guest, like you.

Because Castle in the Country is a Select Registry Property, and one of only 4 properties in Michigan who have qualified for this distinction, we encourage you to take advantage of the loyalty program of Select Registry as well as enjoying all the specials and Facebook “Check-in” offers we list on our web site throughout the year.

Here’s how it works…

Each night you stay with a SR property, you earn one Golden Quill. When you collect 12 Golden Quills, Select Registry will give you a $100 Rewards Certificate good at ANY Select Registry Inn or B&B in North America. As a bonus, their new offer — the Facebook LIKE Free Night — gives you one FREE Quill toward your 12 when you sign up for Golden Quill Rewards through their Facebook page.

So, if you are a Facebook user, “Like” the Select Registry Facebook Page and create your Golden Quill Rewards account to register the dates of your visit to our romantic Michigan getaway for each night you stayed with us, and also to earn the FREE Quill from Select Registry.

If you’re not a Facebook user, just visit the Select Registry “Loyalty Program” and follow the instructions for registering your visit to our Michigan Inn.

Go ahead and tell your Facebook friends about this great program as well — we bet they’ll “Poke” you in gratitude. And don’t forget, once you create an account you can log all your recent Select Registry overnights and start tallying up the Quills.

This is just one more perk for picking us and is an additional way we show our appreciation to the guests who choose us from the 20,000 Inns and B&Bs available on the internet. We know they’re all claiming to be worth spending your precious getaway time so, let us prove our value to you and reward you for your loyalty to a quality experience at a Select Registry property.

Wishing you a Happy 2012 and many happy return visits to our Romantic Michigan Bed and Breakfast!

Herb and Ruth Boven

Owners & Innkeepers

Castle in the Country Bed & Breakfast Inn

www.castleinthecountry.com

1-888-673-8054

Two magnificent buildings wrapped in 65 secluded acres at our Michigan Inn and Spa and Retreat, Romontic Allegan Bed and Breakfast featuring 10 rooms or suites with Whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, king or queen sized beds, and private baths with all the amenities a discriminating guest appreciates. You can read the original blog post here Select Castle in the Country and receive a special gift.

To Celebrate the Christmas Season and our 21st Anniversary since purchasing the Castle in November of 1990, we’re inviting the public to a Christmas Open House at Castle in the Country B&B Inn on Sunday, December 18, 2011 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Experience a horse drawn sleigh ride through the woods and then warm up with a tour of our two buildings, the Castle and the Castle Keep. Each of the buildings feature 5 luxurious guestrooms, most with Whirlpool tubs for two and fireplaces.

Herb and I feel very blessed to be caretakers & owners of this magical place and we’re really thankful for all the guests who have chosen us as their place to celebrate Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings and Romantic Getaways. We’re also thankful for our Staff of helpful Innkeepers, Christine & Dany, our Magical Maids, Lanie, Keri & Sara, and our very capable Handyman, George. Together we have hosted over 1,000 couples this year at our Romantic Getaway in Michigan!

Come out to the Country this Sunday, December 18, 2011 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Warmest Regards,

Herb and Ruth Boven

Owners/Innkeepers

Castle in the Country Bed & Breakfast Inn

Two magnificent buildings wrapped in 65 secluded acres at our Michigan Inn and Spa and Retreat, Romontic Allegan Bed and Breakfast featuring 10 rooms or suites with Whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, king or queen sized beds, and private baths with all the amenities a discriminating guest appreciates. You can read the original blog post here Christmas Open House Dec. 18, 2:00-5:00 at Castle in the Country B&B Inn.

Baked Seckel Pears

This recipe works with any variety of pear that is available. Be sure to adjust baking time according to ripeness of the pears. This recipe actually works better with hard, less ripe pears.

Serves 8

Ingredients

8 Seckel Pears (or 4 normal-sized pears, serving 1/2 pear per person)

6 stems fresh mint

4T honey

2T butter

¼ t ground cardamom

Pinch of salt

Procedure

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Halve each pear, core, then make a series of parallel cuts starting about an inch from the stem end in order to allow pear to fan out.
2. Place pears in a baking dish lined with the mint, drizzle honey over pears, then place a pat of butter on each pear half. Top with cardamom and the salt.
3. Bake for 20-50 minutes until softened, basting every 10 minutes in order to glaze the pears.
4. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Two magnificent buildings wrapped in 65 secluded acres at our Michigan Inn and Spa and Retreat, Romontic Allegan Bed and Breakfast featuring 10 rooms or suites with Whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, king or queen sized beds, and private baths with all the amenities a discriminating guest appreciates. You can read the original blog post here Seckel Pears Baked in Cardamom-Mint Sauce.

In the Castle in the Country Gift Shop you’ll find a nice balance of luxury items and some unique Michigan-made items to help you remember your romantic escape. Whether it’s the Tokyo Milk soap, the Castle in the Country logo wine glass, or a copy of the CD played during your romantic couples massage, almost every item available in our gift shop provides a reminder of some aspect of our Castle theme. If you’re looking to do some Holiday shopping for friends or need some fresh inspiration for some redecorating of your own space, how about a hand-crafted stained glass snowflake, or an instant dose of ambiance with scented candles to add a unique Castle touch to your own home.

Here on our secluded 65-acre estate, we’re encouraging our guests to embrace the change in the weather with a walk through our wooded trails but before you head out into the glistening snow, pick up a Scala hat, a Woolrich Cap, or a soft and luxurious Pashmina scarf from the gift shop.

Then, after escaping to our wooded Romantic Getaway in Michigan, the time will come to leave the key in the door of your whirlpool/fireplace suite and head back to reality; but before you go, take a little detour to our gift shop and pick up your own little piece of the castle to take back with you. From items such as your very own set of Comfy Sheets or plush robes just like the ones found in your suite, to flameless candles and hand-stitched pillows, here at our Southwest Michigan Bed and Breakfast, we know we can help you find the perfect reminder of your getaway.

Two magnificent buildings wrapped in 65 secluded acres at our Michigan Inn and Spa and Retreat, Romontic Allegan Bed and Breakfast featuring 10 rooms or suites with Whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, king or queen sized beds, and private baths with all the amenities a discriminating guest appreciates. You can read the original blog post here Castle in the Country Gift Shop.