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Savoring life in the Berkshires

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Making Up For Lost Time

Published on August 29, 2013 By Emily. Updated on August 29, 2013

It’s that time again, folks. The point in the summer where I realize just how little is left and finally get myself in gear to do some of the things I intended to in June. As of last weekend, my summer to do list looked this this:

Go to Tanglewood  – x2; I’m getting a little obsessed with that place
Make ice cream. Repeatedly. – unbelievably, I only made ice cream once.
Grow tomatoes
Can pickles
Run a 5k
Furnish the guest room – done! Thanks to hand me downs and tag sales!
Make potato salad – Brian took care of this one
Go blueberry picking – twice + we made jam!
Buy ice cream from the neighborhood ice cream truck
Attend my 10 year high school reunion (!!!)
Experiment with making non-alcoholic beverages
Hang out on my porch
Check out the Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market
Explore yard sales
Have a picnic

Actually, I didn’t think I was going to cross off that many things.  Maybe I was selling this summer a little short.  But I don’t think anyone ever looks back on their summer and feels like they did everything they wanted to do.

I was thrilled when my CSA still had pickling cucumbers available, even after my busy schedule caused me to delay getting any for a couple weeks.  I bought 15 pounds of cucumbers and Brian helped me turn them into pickles on Monday afternoon.  It wasn’t until we began the process that I looked at my 2011 pickling post and discovered that ten pounds of cucumbers had resulted in 17 jars of pickles.  Apparently we had a lot of pickles ahead of us.

pickles 7

Of all the things I’ve canned over the past three years, I find pickles to be one of the easiest to make and most quickly eaten.  Brian and I are not huge jam people (I’m planning on stopping at one batch this year), but pickles are an entirely different story.  After a few hours, we had 27 jars of cucumbers in brine.  That should last us a while.

pickles 2

One thing I intended to start doing the moment we closed on the house was have people over regularly.  I had visions of dinner parties and casual get togethers and game nights and tea parties.  But it hasn’t worked out that way.  Granted, we had a lovely house warming, and since then we’ve hosted overnight my parents twice, Brian’s parents once, three friends from college simultaneously, and my sister and her husband.  In addition, we were out of town for three weeks, in total.  So there has been a bit of a scheduling problem.

Tuesday night we finally had some friends and their children over for dinner and games.  I employed my always successful “when in doubt, make lasagna” strategy which always comes in handy when planning a menu on somewhat short notice and/or serving children.  I made a 9×13 plan of my favorite lasagna (I increased all the amounts by half), focaccia and salad.  It’s an excellent meal for company because everything can be assembled ahead of time and be ready to come out of the oven shortly after guests arrive.  Overall, the meal went well, though I think the children may have been a little puzzled by the plethora of broccoli in the lasagna.  We had an really nice evening playing Wits and Wagers, Get Bit and, a belated housewarming gift, Run for Your Life, Candyman!.  Hopefully there will be a lot more evenings like that in the future.  I often imagine hosting dinner to be much more effort than it actually is; the amount of work is far outweighed by the enjoyment of the event.  If you’re interested in joining us next, let me know!

spring 004

 

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Filed Under: food, life Tagged With: canning, hosting, summer

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Emily
Despite the cool temperatures and wet weather, we Despite the cool temperatures and wet weather, we had another fantastic year at @freshgrassfestival. I can never get over how, in addition to all the incredible music, the event features a great venue (@massmoca), delicious food from mostly local vendors, a great local beer tent and bar stocked with @berkshiremtdist and a kid-friendly atmosphere including a @kidspacemm art tent.
Shout-out to some of my favorite acts of the day @ajleebluesummit, @cj_field with @gregcaproni and @theblacklegacyproject.

Looking forward to next year!
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#WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #FreshGrass #FreshGrassFestival #bluegrass #MassMoCA
I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my blog posts, but I just hit publish on my end of August/beginning of September meal plans! Some blogging progress is better than none! Click the link below or visit my profile to see how we used these 2 CSA pick ups from @mightyfoodfarm.
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https://www.relishments.com/blog/august-slipped-away-csa-meal-plan-153/
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#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebo It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebotanicalgardens.
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#Maine #CoastalMaineBotanticalGardens #Boothbay
We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great Barrington today, bringing along our 6 year old for the first time. 
Pictured: onion rings, pressed Cubano, BOX burger, raspberry mint iced tea/ (huge) side of fries, grilled hot dog, strawberry lemonade. Everything was delicious and my daughter especially enjoyed trying out the lawn games.
Until next year!
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#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #GreatBarrington #TheBistroBox
New on the blog: a list of everything I made for d New on the blog: a list of everything I made for dinner this week. A double @mightyfoodfarm CSA pick up plus hosting my in-laws for dinner resulted in me actually planning quality meals.
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Get the recipe links at https://www.relishments.com/blog/twice-as-good-csa-meal-plan-152/ or click the link in my profile.
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#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowe I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls this morning. It was as beautiful as I remembered and a great morning for hanging out with some friends.
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#igers413 #ShelbourneFalls #BridgeOfFlowers #WesternMass #WesternMA
Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before w Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before we went on vacation. I loved the atmosphere, decor, location and, of course, the beer. All eight beers we tasted were delicious and I'm looking forward to going back soon. 
More thoughts on the blog at the link in my profile or at https://www.relishments.com/blog/hot-plate-brewing-in-pittsfield/
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#PittsfieldMA #MassachusettsBrewery #igers413_food #igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #DrinkLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires
I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in La I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in Lanesborough this morning to pick blueberries with my daughter. We had a lovely time at the farm, and especially enjoyed the short walk to the lush blueberry bushes, and the beautiful flower and lavender fields. We didn't participate in pick-your-own flowers today, but it's definitely on my radar for the future.
We are looking forward to some muffin baking soon! 🫐
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#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #LanesboroughMA #SecondDropFarm #PickYourOwnBlueberries
It's good to be home, but we had a great time with It's good to be home, but we had a great time with Brian's side of the family in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina last week.
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#WrightsvilleBeach #NorthCarolina #WilmingtonNC
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