Personal Chef For a Day

I feel as though I didn't leave the Kitchen all day.  But I loved every minute of it!  My mom and some of her friends rented out a house (just outside of Rochester) for a mini quilt retreat.  The house is unbelievable! Each room is decorated down to the last detail, I was shocked when I walked in.  Not to mention the kitchen is beautiful.  For the quilt retreat they have rented out the Heritage House in Stewartville Minnesota.

Defiantly check out the website to see the amazing rooms!

Anyways I decided to make a number of goodies for the women.  As soon as I got home from my 5:30 am power class/run I started my marathon bake session!  Starting with a amazing coffee cake!  I used this recipe for the Coffee Cake.  The coffee cake is a Ina Graten recipe, and was a hit with the quilting group.

I squealed with excitement when the coffee cake slid from the pan perfectly!  Followed by the coffee cake was brownies!  I have to admit I used a bog brownie mix but I spiced them up!

Check it out!  

You can dress up a brownie mix easily by adding a chocolate candy bar in the middle (one of my sorority sisters taught me this trick).  Here is what you do mix up the brownies as the box directs.  Pour in half the prepared batter mix into a baking dish.

Then place your chocolate bar of choice on top of that.  

Finally cover with the rest of the brownie batter!  The chocolate hidden inside is like a little surprise when you bite down into the brownie!  I used a symphony bar, but when I make them for Mark he prefers white chocolate!  The possibilities are endless, be creative!

But I have to say the dessert I am most proud of is my Triple Berry Pie!  This was the first successful pie I have made on my own!  I used this recipe!  Let me just say if I am going to splurge and eat dessert I want to splurge on a dessert like this!  Here are the step by step pictures!

And finally my dad and I tagged team a dinner for nine!  Denise (one of the ladies on the retreat) her husband made a amazing salad I will have to get the recipe.  The main course was two types of lasagna! A Sausage Mushroom and Spinach one for meat lovers, and a Caramelized Onion for the veggie lovers! Both turned out great.  Although I have to say the Caramelized Onion one was a bit labor intensive but the end result was well worth it!  

The one on the left is the Sausage Mushroom and Spinach one, while the one on the right is the Caramelized Onion Lasagna!  I know the Caramelized onion one doesn't look the prettiest but It was definitely tasty!  I had a meatless bite of the Sausage Mushroom Spinach Lasagna and the flavor was very good as well!

But it is time for this girl to head to bed.  I have had a busy busy day, I am definitely going to sleep well tonight!  Enjoy your evening and remember to live Happily Ever Healthy!