Ample breakfast at Porches made lunch unnecessary. We checked out Mass MoCA, took a little walk around town, and picked up some Big Y sushi for me (Jason was still working on the grinders). Fireplace, wine, Scrabble, hot tub. What else could I need?
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| Jason enjoying (or escaping?) art |
A little mid-week getaway to North Adams! We stopped in Pittsfield on the way up for Year of Pizza (Crust....Jason was dubious but it was very good). A little visit to the Clark and then we were able to check in early. Dinner was Chex mix, grinders from home, and a broccoli salad with smoked almonds, dried cranberries and goat cheese (OK, not amazing). Chocolate chip welcome cookie for dessert. The room was a bit small but we made it work.
We just had leftovers for dinner....going away for a couple of nights so trying to get the fridge cleaned out somewhat.
"Lasagne Soup", from the NYT. Not a traditional red sauce type, but creamy, with Italian sausage and sage (skipped that). I liked this a lot, although I would add even more cream next time (it was a bit thin, I though). I didn't use lasagne noodles (that felt like a dumb gimmick....cavatappi was fine) and followed the commentariat's suggestion of just adding the spinach at the time of stirring from keeping it from getting too wilty.
We had dinner with Jodi; she gamely tried the sweet potato and tofu curry that I made, but I wouldn't say she was a fan. It was from the NYT, and I thought it was really good what with the coconut and peanut butter. Would definitely make it again, especially as it seems pretty versatile (for example, I added the last of some mini peppers and a partial bag of green beans). Jason made a batch of pretzels that were better received. He used the King Arthur Flour and I would say they were a step up from when he wings it.
Dinner with Jen and John and Laurie...an interesting Blue Apron of a sort of pierogi soup with spinach and dill. We let it sit a bit too long while gabbing and drinking, so the pierogis got a little mushy and the spinach lost its joie de vivre, but the flavors were good, especially with a little sour cream swirled in. Laurie brought some parm, olive oil and Balsamic from her recent tip to Italy---really nice with Jason's bread. I wanted to make something easy and comforting, so I did a boxed yellow cake with chocolate frosting (American buttercream from Sally's Baking Addiction; the cocoa powder tamps the sweetness). Turns out everyone was in the mood for a nostalgic cake. Home late again, bit at least it was a shorter drive!
Our Game Night friends invited us up to Stockbridge to check out their new condo, so that was an adventure. We all met for dinner in Lenox at a pizza place called Boema. I liked it, Jason was predictably underwhelmed. We shared some meatballs and a cheese pizza. Too late, I remembered that they offered free hot honey as an add-on; I think it would have been an excellent addition. it was my turn to make dessert and I made Mexican hot chocolate cookies from the NYT. I think they went over well, especially with Scott. Games were fun, but we got home LATE. Maybe we should have taken them up on the offer to sleep over?
