· Junior Miss Chokecherry

What an exciting morning! Many of Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast guests and countless of those who visit Smiling Bear Espresso Bar can attest to the luscious juicy sweet flavor of our original Wild Chokecherry Latte . . . 
But this morning we were especially thrilled to offer a complimentary iced W.C.L. to AbriOnna Wetzel, a delightful 14-year old long-haired gal with some interesting titles. She and her amiable father, Leland Wetzel, stopped into the espresso bar at the same time as our other guests, so, over coffee, some serious visiting spontaneously erupted, that is to say . . . seriously lighthearted! 
After chatting a bit, AbriOnna confided to me that to eat chokecherries straight off the bush, not so good, but when sweetened up, like in the latte, well, just saying it brought a big smile to her bright face. 
AbriOnna was Junior Miss Chokecherry 2013, Williston, North Dakota. She also won the title of Miss Oil Country's Outstanding Teen 2014, Tioga, North Dakota. 

Though AbriOnna is a talented pianist, her platform is Literacy: Opening worlds with words. Good for her, and good for all whom she influences! Several of her slogans include . . .
Literacy leads to success.
Everyone is a reader, some just haven't found their book yet.
I choose to read not because I have no life but because I choose to live many.
Literacy makes you independent.

Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast
bed and breakfast hospitality inn
hill city - central black hills national forest - south dakota
convenient lodging location near
mount rushmore - 1880 train - custer state park
- wind cave national park - jewel cave national monument
- crazy horse memorial - black elk wilderness
- mountain lakes - harney peak - norbeck scenic byway
- george s. mickelson trail - the centennial trail
- historic downtown hill city - antiques

· Smiling Bear's 'Nourishing Indulgence' Smoothie

Protect your family, and  for their sakes yourself, with this nourishing indulgence. No sugar or sweetener added! ...  and not typically needed, as a result of the natural sweetness of the banana and juices. However (though we have found this smoothie quite enjoyable without...), a small amount of agave nectar or local raw honey will satisfy your loved one who has a certain undeniable sweet tooth.
The foremost flavor is the the fruit, really. One could start out on this healthy adventure with a smaller amount of the kale and carrot, and build up a taste for more. The recipe is located below the photo...

Layer in blender jar: 
1/2 banana, peeled
1 small orange or 1 or 2 tangerines, peeled
1/2 kiwi, peeled (or not peeled)
1/2 c fresh (or frozen) blueberries / strawberries / blackberries (pick one)
2 medium carrots or 1 large, chunked
1 to 2 curly leaves of fresh kale, stem removed spinach or mixed lettuce greens may be substituted or added, but majority cruciferous preferred
4 to 6 chunks fresh pineapple
4 to 6 chunks fresh papaya
6 to 10 oz peach-mango coconut water* or purified water, but coconut water is nutritionally an asset
1/2 c Pom Wonderful pomegranate juice or bilberry juice* (which is like blueberry juice)
1/2 c purple carrot juice* if available, or substitute orange-mango juice or other unsweetened juice 
2 tsp unflavored gelatin optional, but they say good for joints, nails, skin, hair 
Blend until smooth, at least one minute. Serves 2 to 4. Additional Notes:
Use only juices that are unsweetened.
* Coconut water, from the interior of the coconut, should not be confused with coconut milk which is squeezed from the coconut meat. We like to use Vita-Coco's Coconut Water with Peach and Mango.
* Coconut water, bilberry juice and purple carrot juice may be found in some supermarkets and most health food stores. We like to use Bionaturae's organic Bilberry Nectar. We like to use Lakewood's organic Purple Carrot Juice. 
Hint: In advance, we freeze berries, and pineapple and papaya chunks, ready to add to the blender, providing a nice smooth cold texture. We do not freeze huge quantities, though, as the natural enzymes will dissipate over time. If you can't find either the papaya or the pineapple, just use one or the other...though both are ideal.
Hint hint: As often as reasonably possible, we use organic produce. 
Although we are persuaded of the benefits of yogurt, it is not recommended that dairy be combined with this smoothie, as calcium has been reported to block nutrients from absorption.
Chocolate lovers alert—1 to 3 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder...now that wouldn't hurt, would it! However, we think it is best not to use chocolate containing cocoa butter. Wait half an hour...then have your organic chocolate, with some nice 'creamy' nonfat plain Greek yogurt! Or, how about a Mocha Polka at Smiling Bear Espresso Bar?  
When we have wild chokecherry juice available, we sometimes ration portions into our Nourishing Indulgence Smoothie.  Tis the season...anytime, thanks to the freezer!
Experiment, but don't leave out the KALE! :)
Brought to you by Smiling Bear Espresso Bar at Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast Smiling Bear, LLC

Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast
bed and breakfast hospitality inn
hill city - central black hills national forest - south dakota
convenient lodging location near
mount rushmore - 1880 train - custer state park
- wind cave national park - jewel cave national monument
- crazy horse memorial - black elk wilderness
- mountain lakes - harney peak - norbeck scenic byway
- george s. mickelson trail - the centennial trail
- historic downtown hill city - antiques

· Smiling Bear Espresso Bar, SWEET and SURPRISING Visitors

What could be SWEETER than this tiny visitor at Smiling Bear Espresso Bar? She toted a Schlecher's Root Beer over to the porch swing and made herself comfy-cozy! She and her parents were regulars in the good ole days when Smiling Bear also had a Lunch Cafe...favoring the Buffalo Chili and Wild Chokecherry Kuchen. The Cafe was given up gradually as a second and then third guest room were added to Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast.

Or, how is this for SWEET?...

And what could be more SURPRISING than these hungry visitors from France? The one on the right stretched his legs into the Espresso Bar foyer anticipating something to eat...and we wish we could have accommodated the two of them. They were fresh off the Mickelson Trail, having all the gear representative of having spent some rustic time in the beautiful Black Hills National Forest!

They were directed to the Slate Creek Grille, on the block across Walnut Avenue from Smiling Bear, hoping they would find the bike rack for hitching their horses.

· M2P Neighbors of 1880 Train

Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast

M2P and Smiling Bear Espresso Bar are just across East Main Street from the 1880 Train (Black Hills Central Railroad), as seen far right in the first photo below. The second photo shows a late 1800's Early American Pressed Glass platter depicting a train very similar to the steam train that we know as our neighbor! The platter was recently sold here at Smiling Bear's Antiques Shop (click pic to enlarge).

1880 Train Close to Mountains To Prairies B&B

· Yellow Sweet Pea Wild Flowers

Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast/facebook

Yellow Sweet Peas joined the Lilacs on the breakfast tables. Our guests of 5 nights enjoyed Ham Hash, fruit & French Toast made with our own Roughly Oaty Bread. Sam introduced the two syrups as Mrs. Butterworth and her daughter Wild Chokecherry. A Truffle Bluff from the Espresso Bar was set before one of the party...and promptly seconded by another! (The treat had been requested by the lead man as a surprise.)

· Crazy Horse Memorial Events

Crazy Horse Memorial, near Hill City in the Black Hills, is featuring a veritable kaleidoscope of major events from Memorial Day Weekend through June, and on through the summer months. If you participate in the Volksmarch or attend any of the events, please stop by Smiling Bear Antiques Shop and Espresso Bar, 200 E Main, on your way through Hill City, coming or going! Crazy Horse Memorial, the world's largest mountain carving, is having Open House over Memorial Day Weekend, May 29-31, with free admission to South Dakota residents, extended also to Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming residents.

Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast/facebook -

June 5th and 6th put on your hiking shoes for the annual Volksmarch at Crazy Horse Memorial, taking in 6.2 miles of beautiful Black Hills scenery!

Crazy Horse Volksmarch

www.crazyhorsememorial.org

The annual Crazy Horse Volksmarch (an organized hike) is a 10K (6.2-mile) woodlands ramble to the world's largest mountain carving in progress. The Crazy Horse Volksmarch is the most popular organized hike in the United States (15,000 in record year). ...

· Major Lake Wildlife Loop!

Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast - Sam and Linda walked around Hill City's Major Lake near dusk yesterday, enjoying cool spatters of snow and the sights...from Canadian geese, to a hungry beaver, a soaring heron, disturbed mallard ducks, and wild crocuses. This morning at 5:30, checking on the RHUBARB found its spreading leaves weighted with snow. The frequent precipitation helps ensure a beautiful forest for tourists this summer.

Major Lake Wildlife Loop! 05.05.10

22 new photos (click the above title for the complete album)

· Essence of Latte!

Mountains To Prairies Bed and Breakfast (Black Hills Home Cabins) ☞ Here is our espresso system - made by Salvatore - warming up for the day...Magnifico!

(click the picture to enlarge...will take you to M2P on facebook; your back button will bring you back)

Remove

Our former espresso bean supplier

no longer roasts. Bad news.

But, we called Dark Canyon (Rapid City),

a Black Hills coffee house supplier

where arabica espresso beans are roasted daily.

Given four fresh samples

of various strengths and taste profiles

to take home and try,

yesterday we had a tasting spree.

In between tastes, Sam updated our front signage

to include our Mocha Polka along with

Wild Chokecherry Latte.

Guess what?...Miniscule sleep last night!! Poor Sam,

he is really groggy this morning,

since he actually SWALLOWED all those samples.

Today we will taste-test DECAF.