Back from Training

I got back from Michigan about 8 pm Wednesday, but didn't blog because I am slightly behind in my life.  I had a customer to cook for on Thursday and today, but also the laundry got a little behind and the cleaning is way behind.  I wouldn't care much about the cleaning (that's normal) but we are getting company on Saturday.  It is my sister and she says she doesn't care if the house is a mess, but she's pretty good at cleaning and I don't want her in a mess.  She will be here for a week with my nephew and they will be coming to kid's cooking.

Last night we went to Jazzercise since I missed two days and the people at KitchenAid fed me well.  We also raced home, changed and hit Costco.  A little laundry and a little cleaning.  I gave my husband the choice of folding clothes or cleaning the powder room, he chose clothes. 

The trip to KitchenAid was wonderful.  I am a tiny bit of a control freak, maybe a little more than tiny, and all the reservations and arrangements were made by someone I didn't know, in another state, through email.  I was to fly into Midway airport in Chicago, meet up with 7 other people, get in a van and be driven to MIchigan.  Off I went.  I now know the arranger and she is wonderful!  A big thank you to Sissel from Chicago for making that all work.  We lost one person from New York but only because her flight was canceled and then delayed, so she made the trip from Midway be herself.  We had Melissa from Seattle, Jannine from Pittsburgh, Jim from Pittsburgh, Linda from Virginia Beach,and Nancy from Colorado Springs. 

We stayed at the Boulevard Inn in Saint Joseph.  It was very nice and across the street from Lake Michigan. 

Once we checked in on Monday, we had about an hour before we were being picked up for dinner.  I went for a quick walk downtown with Nancy, we didn't have much time to look around, but there were many cute little cars all decorated.  I had to take a picture of the produce truck with the cow driver.

Off we went for dinner.  I was quite hungry, it had been a long day starting with going to Marta at 8 am.  We ate at Tosi's and it was wonderful!  We had a private room and there were about 18 of us.  We started with Spinach Artichoke Fontina Spread, Gamberetti al Coco, Toasted Ravioli and Deep Fried Zucchini Blossoms.  Then it was time for dinner and I went with the Salmon in Parchment which would have been a nice, healthy meal, but I bowed to peer pressure and ordered dessert with everyone else - Chocolate Raspberry Tart.  We got back to the inn about 10:30.

Bright and early the next morning we gathered for our trip to KitchenAid.  We were told to wait for breakfast because Mary Chris at KitchenAid was expecting us hungry.  During breakfast and throughout the day we ate and played with KitchenAid equipment - waffle iron, counter top oven, slow cooker, pasta attachment, stand mixer, ravioli attachment,  ice cream attachment many others.  Of course there was food involved with each.  Here is the wonderful Mary Chris with bruschetta and the counter top oven.

And here is the ravioli attachment and some ravioli.  We did not eat the pasta.  That's about all we did not eat!

 We also learned about the message board, expense reports and that after lunch, for a late afternoon snack, chocolate lava cake is amazing from the slow cooker. 

It was off to the inn to get ready to go to dinner.  Yes, we had eaten all day long! We went to a place called Grand Mere (I'm pretty sure) and it too was great.  I had the fresh fish special.  We could see Lake Michigan from the restaurant and Jim and I decided to explore and go to the lake.  It looked closer than it was!  If we had climbed down an embankment, crossed a highway and hiked through a forest, we may have been close to the lake.  We did not do any of that.  I did take a picture of the sunset. 

I had a great time, learned lots and now need some new things - the slow cooker and the grain mill attachment just to mention two!

I am now going to do some laundry and make a list for the evening's cleaning.  And maybe a trip to the grocery store because our personal chef chapter party is tomorrow and I have no idea what I am taking.  No pressure, just 25 or 30 chef friends and family all bringing great food.  More eating!