Recently in Holiday Category

Happy New Year from Value Place!

Posted by jkramp on December 31, 2007 at 2:36 PM

2007 was an exciting year for Value Place.  We opened 44 new extended stay hotels during the year, bringing our system-wide total to a whopping 77 open hotels.  Our development plans for 2008 are even more robust, and we are looking forward to serving you and thousands of other guests in the New Year in cities like Colorado Springs, CO (now open); Jacksonville, FL (now open); Austin, TX (opening in mid-to-late January); Sioux Falls, SD (opening in May); and Las Vegas (opening in late summer).

Check the locations section of Value Place.com frequently to keep up on our growing list of open and under construction Value Place hotels, and make your reservation online or call 1-800-ValuePlace. 

While you're on the web site, enter our 1000 Dollar Week-Stay Giveaway. Every month from now through March, you could win $1000 and a free week stay at the Value Place of your choice.

From all of us at Value Place, Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays From Value Place - Remember to Keep it Simple

Posted by glscharoun on December 20, 2007 at 7:52 AM

Christmas carols, a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows and enjoying time with family and friends -- these are a few of my favorite things about the holiday season.  Of course, I also really enjoy all of the baked goodies that are so popular around this time of year, but wonder how people find the time to make those elaborate trays of tempting treats. 

 
My team at Value Place maintains the philosophy of "keep it simple," and I apply those words of wisdom to my holiday baking.  That said, I want to let you in on a little secret and share with you a super simple but delicious recipe that you can whip up in a flash.  Your friends will never know that you didn't spend hours over the stove.

This recipe is so easy in fact, that you could even make it in the kitchen of your Value Place hotel room, as no baking is required (although, you would need to bring along some of your own kitchen supplies or purchase them at the local Wal-Mart).  The recipe is listed below.  Happy baking (or in this case, no-baking)!

 

     White Chocolate Oreo Truffles

      Ingredients:

1 package of regular or mint Oreos

8 oz. package of cream cheese

1 package of white almond bark candy coating

1 package of chocolate chips (optional)

 

     Directions:

In a blender or food processor, grind all of the Oreos until they look like coffee grounds.  Add the package of cream cheese to the Oreos and blend until smooth.  If you don't have a blender or food processor, you can crush the Oreos in a plastic zip-lock bag and then kneed in the cream cheese.  Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.  Roll the Oreo/cream cheese dough into small balls and place them on the waxed paper-lined baking sheet.  Put the Oreo balls in the freezer for approximately 1 hour.  Melt ½ to ¾ of the package of almond bark in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl or over low heat on the stove in a saucepan.  Dip all of the frozen Oreo balls in the melted candy coating and place them back on the waxed paper-lined baking sheet.  Return the coated Oreo balls to the freezer or refrigerator until the candy coating hardens. 

 

Optional Step:  You may wish to finish off the Oreo balls with some chocolate swirls.  This step will make your treats look ultra-fancy, but it somewhat goes against my "keep it simple" motto.  Use your discretion.  If you have a little extra time, go for it.  Here's what you do:  melt ½ cup of the chocolate chips and a teaspoon of vegetable oil in a zip-lock bag in the microwave.  Snip the corner of the bag, and pipe chocolate swirls over the white chocolate Oreo balls.  When finished, return the treats to the freezer until the chocolate is set.  Store in an airtight container in the freezer until you are ready to serve.

 

Do you have a favorite holiday recipe to share - one that abides by the "keep it simple" rule?  Post a comment below and share it with us.  We'd enjoying hearing from you.

 
From all of us at Value Place, have a safe and happy holiday.  We look forward to serving you in 2008.

 
Warm regards,

 
Gina-Lynne Scharoun
President, Value Place Franchise Services