Re-vamped Package Deals!

Check these out! There is still lots to do in Lanesboro, despite the efforts of Old Man Winter!! Call our office (507-467-2674) and I can help you plan your relaxing getaway, family trip, or active outdoors experience. Mention this blog post and receive 10% off when you reserve one of the packages below. (Offer not in combination with any other offers.)

January "Snowed-In" Specials!

In-room breakfast any morning, in any of our single rooms!

Or...

Free hot chocolate and cookies!
______________________________________________________________________
Winter Packages! Offered November through March.

Romance and Relaxation Package
--One of our single rooms with private baths (Latte, Java, or Mocha) plus...
--One voucher for a sleigh ride for two (two possible locations)
--One dinner voucher for the Old Village Hall Restaurant
--One circulatory massage voucher for Prana Massage
--Wine and two signature wine glasses from Scenic Valley Winery, delivered to your room
--In-room breakfast at the time of your choice
--$295 total for one night...all arrangements and appointments will be set for you.
Stay two nights or more and receive a $20 discount! (Valentine's Day weekend excluded)

Ladies Getaway Package
--Our Double Espresso room plus...
--One breakfast or lunch voucher for Pedal Pushers Cafe or The Pastry Shoppe
--One drink and appetizer voucher for the Old Village Hall Restaurant
--One crafting voucher for Potiche Pottery and Gifts
--Two circulatory massage vouchers for Prana Massage
--$275 total...all arrangements and appointments will be set for you
Stay two nights or more and receive a $20 discount!

Family Retreat Package
--Our Double Espresso Room plus...
--One voucher for a sleigh ride for four (two possible available)
--One voucher for lunch at Pedal Pushers Cafe
--One crafting voucher for Potiche Pottery
--A group tour of the Lanesboro Arts Center
--$255 total...all arrangements and appointments will be set for you.
*Add a sleigh ride guest= $25 per person
*Upgrade to our Cappuccino Suite with whirlpool tub, living room and full kitchen= $80

The Weekly

Art Reception: Lanesboro Arts Center
presents artwork by 9-12th grade students from
Chosen Valley, Fillmore-Central, Lanesboro, and
Rushford-Peterson schools. Join us for this free
reception and see a variety of two-dimensional
and three-dimensional work. The exhibit is
supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board.
Jan 15; 6 – 8 pm
Lanesboro Art Center 467-2446

Variety Show Benefit for Whalan Hall:
Old Pederson (AKA Phil Dybing) will MC
the Variety Show to benefit the renovation of the
Whalan Village Hall. Uff da! It will include lots of
laughter and music. Drawing will be held to
ascertain the winners of the Whalan Hall Raffle.
Jan 15; 7 pm
St. Mane Theatre 467-2111

Toad Runner Express
January 15; 8:30 pm – 12:30 am
Root River Saloon 467-3355

Fish Fry for the Eagles Cancer Telethon
Saturday Jan 15th: 5pm until the Fish is gone.
Sponsored by the American Legion.

Dogs like tasty treats, too!

Since Coffee Street Inn is pet-friendly, I figured it was just about time I post something for our canine companions. By the way, I don't have anything against cats (my husband may say differently...) but I have never had one and just don't know what they're like! So, I will stick to dogs for now. If any of you happen to have some kittens for sale or for free, let me know, and maybe I'll be able to diversify my blog content a bit. ;)

Apple Cinnamon Drops

1 large apple
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup of water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/8 cup whole wheat flour

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 ° F (180 ° C).

Core, slice and mince the apple (use a food processor if you have one). In a large bowl, combine the minced apple bits, honey, water, cinnamon, and oatmeal. Gradually blend in the wheat flour, adding enough to form a stiff dough.

In a small bowl, add 1/8 cup wheat flour. Spoon the dough by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches (5cm) apart. Using the bottom of a glass dipped in the wheat flour (to prevent sticking), flatten each spoonful of dough into a circle. Adjust the size of the drops based on how big a treat you like to feed your dog.

Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and flip each cookie to brown evenly on both sides. Reduce oven temperature to 325 ° F (180 °C). Return to oven and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Let cool overnight.

Makes about 3 dozen crunchy cookies, depending on how big you make them.


Puppy Pretzels

1 teaspoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2/3 cup water
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3 tablespoons soy flour, low fat
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk
1 tablespoon dried liver powder
1 tablespoon bone meal flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg -- beaten (1/2 in recipe, 1/2 in glaze)
2 tablespoons cooking oil
3 tablespoons wheat germ
Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water.

Combine dry ingredients. Add half of the beaten egg, oil and yeast-water mixture. Mix well.

Knead on a well floured board until dough is firm. Place in oiled bowl, cover and let rise until double in bulk.

Shape into pretzels and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 15 minutes. Remove and brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with wheat germ. Return to oven and bake at 300 degrees for about 15 minutes until nicely browned and quite firm.

Note: You may omit liver powder and bone meal flour if you have difficulty locating them.


Poodle Pasta

3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
8 ounces beef liver
3 whole egg
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 tablespoons butter -- optional
Puree beef liver in blender until smooth. Add eggs and blend for about a minute.Put flour in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center of the flour.
Pour liver and egg mixture into well along with olive oil. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
Turn dough out on floured board and knead well for at least 5 minutes or until smooth and shiny.
Wrap dough in plastic wrap and let dough rest in refrigerator for at least 1 hour, no longer than 2 days.
When ready to make pasta, divide dough into 8 equal portions, approximately 4 oz. each.
Form into desired pasta shapes with hands or use pasta machine.
Cook in rapidly boiling water until al dente. For thin noodles, approximately 10 minutes, for thicker noodles a few minutes longer.
Drain noodles and toss with 1 tablespoon butter per serving, if desired.

Instead of butter, try tossing noodles with 1 tablespoon olive oil, canola oil or other oil high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Recipes courtesy of http://www.bullwrinkle.com/Assets/Recipes/Recipes.htm

The Month in Review--December

Just a few notes left from our guests last month, but they're good ones!

"The Kelley girls were here, with our mom! We had a great time and loved the play "Little Women." Lots of food, lots of talk, lots of laughs. We will be back as soon as we can; thanks!" --a close-knit family in our Cappuccino Suite December 4 and 5

"Beautiful snowfall, candles, music, and theatre. The Java room was quiet and relaxing. Nice weekend in Lanesboro!" --A couple from Eden Prairie, MN in our Java room December 3

"My birthday! I loved the bed quilt and soft pillows, the shower curtain and painting on the wall, and the fluffy Martha Stewart towels-- thank you! The coffee and hair dryer were a great plus!" --Guests in our Mocha room December 10

Also, a post from Trip Advisor! Coffee Street Inn was recommended by Trip Advisor in 2010...we're excited to work at making the cut again this year!

"The wife and I stayed at the Coffee St. Inn for our Anniversary weekend. Originally booked Sun. and Mon. nights, due to my wife having her Sat. plans cancelled, I sent an E mail and asked about adding Sat. I was told it was booked and started looking for plan B for Sat. Got an E mail the next day telling me our room opened up. Kate is a wonderful young Innkeeper, just learning the businees and catching on quick. The zucchini bread she made on Sun. morning was terrific. This place overlooks the bluffs on the Root River and has just the coziest little patio/garden area. Parked the car for 2 days, not needing it to explore the wonderful little town. Their Buffalo Bill Days celebration was going on and it was great. Wonderful parade and the fireworks over the bluffs were awesome. Only bad point is that the shops and restaurants close pretty early, we're not night owls, but there was only a few places to go after 9PM. One of them a very loud rowdy bar called the Root River Saloon, great for 20 somethings but not for us. The Riverside on the Root was much nicer but even they shut down at 10PM. Caught a live radio show at the Commonweal Theatre on Sat. Highly recommended. They have some very nice theatre here. Thanks Kate for the zucchini bread you left for us Tues. morning, you're a sweetie. Try this place!!" --Great guests who first stayed in August during Buffalo Bill Days, then again in October! (They made it for my anniversary and my birthday ;)

Me--bundled up against the cold!

This video, found by Lanesboro, MN in Fillmore County (check them out on Facebook!) best describes how I've been feeling lately. The cold has set in and we are all asking ourselves WHY exactly we live here. My parents are leaving tomorrow for a short trip to Las Vegas after already having a break from the bitter cold during a 10-day trip to Hawaii! Of course, those are both business trips... (right). I guess once your kids are out of the house you can do that sort of thing, which means I have a LONG ways to go. Ah well, a skiing trip is in the cards for Matt and I! I'll have to see about getting some mini "Reno" skis...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62RwHHFuf14

The Weekly

Just a few events this weekend, but skies should be clear as should the trails-- come and help fill them up!

Victorian Tea
Jan 8, 1 – 3 pm
Victorian House B&B and Events
467 – 3457 $18

Dinner on the Bluff: "Harpy Eagle - Spirit of the Ceiva Tree".
Escape the MN winter doldrums and join Emmy winning
cinematographer, Neil Rettig as he discusses
the raptors of the Tropical Rainforest. He will
be bringing his Harpy Eagle for an up-close
view of this rare and magnificent bird.
Presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed
by a buffet dinner.

Menu: hearty lentil and barley soup; shaved
zucchini salad with parmesan and pine nuts;
chile-honey glazed salmon; tortellini with
asiago-walnut sauce; warm winter
vegetables; fresh baked dinner rolls; kahlua-
spiked frozen mocha lattes.

Jan 8, 5:30 pm
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center
Reservations are required for this event and can be made by calling:
467-2437

$20

Favorite hot chocolates of winter...

So hot chocolate is quite possibly my favorite drink (year-round...not just when it's cold!) and I think now would be a fitting time to pay tribute to it's greatness. With freezing temps all over the United States, folks will be looking for hot drinks and hot meals. If you like the recipes (they're very simple) make a reservation at Coffee Street Inn and I will make you a complimentary cup!

Hot Chocolate Zinger:
This was a great drink at my first job-- the Kernel Restaurant in Owatonna-- during the winter months when business was slower than usual and I very cold vehicle to look forward to at the end of my shift. Sugar, coffee, and more sugar. :)
Standard mix of your favorite hot chocolate powder and water, but only fill cup 2/3 full
Add one liquid pouch of french vanilla creamer
Fill the rest of the cup with black coffee
Add caramel to taste

Matt's Hot Chocolate
This wonderful mix was brought to my attention just last year by my husband, Matt. It adds a lot more flavor with just two extra ingredients! I can't believe I never experimented with this before...
Standard mix of your favorite hot chocolate powder and water, leaving just a little space at the top of the cup
Add one tablespoon vanilla (or less, if you prefer)
Sprinkle the top with cinnamon

Classic Winter Hot Chocolate
This is a standard hot chocolate, and it typically made around and after Christmas.
Break a regular red and white candy cane into pieces and place in the bottom of your cup.
For best results, place desired amount of chocolate powder on top of candy cane and boil water in a separate container. I have found that this hot chocolate tastes the best when left sitting for 5 minutes or so so the candy cane can melt sufficiently and the cup is not burning hot when you grab it out of the microwave. Vanilla may also be added to this recipe, though you may find it to just be too much of a good thing!

Have other hot chocolate faves? Comment on this post or on our Facebook wall!
http://www.facebook.com/coffeestreetinn