Handsome Molly's Bistro and Small Wine Shoppe

Handsome Molly’s Bistro and Small Wine Shoppe is located on Main Street in the heart of downtown Marion, VA. This restaurant is a favorite of ours and many of our guests. The atmosphere is relaxing and intimate, yet casual and unpretentious. The menu consists of fresh salads, gourmet pizzas, wraps, paninis and more. In addition, they also have wine and beer available along with espresso and freshly brewed, locally roasted coffee. 

Indirect lighting and soft jazz in the background make Handsome Molly’s Bistro a wonderful place for lunch or to unwind after a long day of work or travel.

Come check out their newly expanded menu and hours. Lunch and dinner are served Monday-Saturday 11:00 AM until 9:00 PM. You can also view their menu and find out more by visiting their newly launched website at http://www.handsomemollysbistro.com.

The Collins House Inn is conveniently located and within easy walking distance (only 1-1/2 blocks) of Handsome Molly’s. So if you are looking for a quick but relaxing getaway, our Inn and Handsome Molly’s makes a perfect pair.

Collins House Inn Signature Belgian Waffles

I have sent this recipe home with many guests, so I thought our blog would be a great place to post it so that others could try it out. The waffles are super easy to make, have a wonderful light, crispy texture, with just the right amount of flavoring. The original recipe was taken from Rachel Ray’s $40 A Day cookbook, but I have made several “embellishments” to add more flavor. I’ve only ever made this in a deep-pocketed waffle maker, so I’d highly recommend having one. But, hey, you can always try it in a regular waffle iron. Also, the recipe can easily be doubled.

As for the optional fruit topping, for the strawberries, we just wash and dry them well, hull, slice, then place in a bowl and sprinkle confectioner sugar over them and stir. If you try the recipe and like it, let us know by posting your comments. ENJOY!

Collins House Inn Belgian Waffles

Servings: 3 deep-pocketed Belgian waffles

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup All-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup whole milk or buttermilk (I use 1/2-cup of each)
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring
• Melted butter, syrup, fruit topping of your choice (optional), whipped cream, cinnamon

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix well. Add the milk/buttermilk, vegetable oil, egg, sugar, vanilla, and butter flavoring and mix well. Let the batter sit for 30 minutes (Don’t panic if it sits longer — I’ve tried letting it sit for an hour and it still works fine.)

Preheat a waffle iron. Do not use non-stick spray on the waffle iron; the oil in the batter will allow the waffle to release easily. Follow the directions on your waffle iron to cook the waffles. Serve immediately with melted butter, syrup, your choice of fruit topping, and top with whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon.