Wednesday Lunch Out

On Tuesday, we had found out that Gail’s brother was coming from Wildwood to see her Mom and offered to stay with her while we went out to lunch.  We took him up on the offer and we were off to Pat’s Pizza Family Restaurant.

It was great because it’s actually within walking distance and we could get back to Gail’s house quickly if there was a need.

Ralph and Gail!  They always have a good time together!

Margot and Alice!

We had a great time!  I was there too, but forgot to take a photo or have someone else take one!

Ralph couldn’t finish his cream of broccoli soup, so I had just a little…

It was tasty, but I have NO idea how it was made.  It was probably very high in points, so I’m glad I didn’t have a whole bowl.  It could probably benefit from my reduction powers! 😉

My lunch was one of the new additions to their menu called a “Wally Salad.”  I hadn’t tried it before.

Wally

 

Lettuce, Grapes, Cranberries, Apples, Avocados, Wallnuts, Mandarines, Croutons and Gongonzolla Cheese.  (The “typo” is from their on-line menu, not, mine!)

 

 

I had it with the balsamic vinaigrette which is very good there.  I used the old Weight Watchers of just dipping my fork into the dressing and then picking up the salad.  It’s such a good way to get the flavor of the dressing without using so much of it.  It’s really helpful when you have no idea what the nutritional info is on a dressing.   It came with 2 small pieces of garlic bread.  The salad was delicious! 🙂  Also very filling!

 

Later that night after coming back from Gail’s I just had 2 veggie burgers on toast.  Nothing exciting…

I tried something new later for a snack.  I had recently bought a box of Weight Watchers smoothie mix in French Vanilla.  I needed to test it out.  Since I still had the last of my pineapple purchase cut up in the fridge, needing finishing, I decided to add some of it.  I also used the Silk Pure Almond Milk.  I even dug out the old Magic Bullet!!

 

 

You can mix the drink with water or milk.  I think I would have liked it better that way.  I think the almond milk gave it an odd taste.  The addition of the pineapple was yummy though.  It reminded me of the summer after I graduated from high school.   I worked at a frozen custard stand.  We made all kinds of custom  custards from the basic vanilla.  We even made sherbet from it…mmmm…lime…  One of the things I always used to make for myself was a pineapple milkshake.  It was outstanding, if I do say so myself! 😉  That’s what I was looking for with this. 

I’ll try it again, just not with the almond milk.

 

Here’s the finished product…

 

 

Served up in one of Gram’s antique iris glasses.  Another find in the cabinets!  They are definitely staying with me.  Somewhere I have vases that match these. 

 

I guess now is when I have to confess that I gained 15 pounds while working at the custard stand that summer.  Well, I had to test out my experiments, didn’t I?? 😉

 

Not sure what Thursday holds for me.  Tomorrow is Ralph’s birthday and I need to do something about a gift.  I have NO clue…I’ll have to come up with something.

 

I’m off…Happy Thursday!! 🙂

Tea for Four

Isn’t it frustrating when you have the best intentions in the world to get together with friends and it doesn’t seem to happen?  That happens to Ralph and me so often but sometimes it does help to have persistent friends.

Our friends Ed and Tina keep saying we should get together, but Ed is  a take charge kind of guy.  He called Ralph and they set a date. 

So yesterday, we found ourselves here…

The Tea Place in Sewell, NJ.  I’ve been here before and it is so unique and so much fun.

Beautiful hand painted art work.

We had Chelsea Tea and White Tea, both delicious. 

We all started with the butternut squash soup.

It was good, but it needed to be spiced up a bit.  You know that must be true because not only did I add pepper, but I added salt too!  It was warm and I was freezing, so I enjoyed it! 🙂

I then had the Queen Spanish olive with pimento in cream cheese on pumpernickel. 

 It was served with cucumber slaw, a very delicate dressing on thinly sliced cucumbers and onions.  Very Tasty!  Also on the plate were delicious rice crackers that are on sale in the shop itself.  I should have bought some to bring home, but I didn’t. There was one more piece to my sandwich, but I’d already eaten it when I took the photo! 😉

We sat and sat and talked and talked.

Tina and Ed…

Ralph and Me!

Ralph making an editorial comment about being photographed for BCDC!!

We had a lovely, long visit and extra pots of tea.  It was so much fun.  Ed and Tina go to The Tea Place regularly so we’re going to try to get together again sooner rather than later.  There’s also a cigar club in the same shopping center and the guys will probably get together there at some point which means that Tina and I can get together and do girl things!

It was a great visit!

My meditation practice went well in the morning and I feel more connected to it every day.

Since it was Ash Wednesday, I’ve decided what I’m giving up for Lent.  Drumroll please…Chips!  Ok, can I do it?  Ralph told me this morning he’s never stuck to giving up something for Lent.  He doesn’t think I can stick to it.  Sounds like a challenge to me!  Day one! 🙂  Happy Thursday!