We’ve been on an out to lunch, dinner at a friend’s, and movie kick lately. Not much cooking going on around here. I did make a homemade pizza last night, but it was with dough that I had made a couple of weeks ago, and pulled out of the freezer yesterday morning. Making extra pizza dough and freezing it works really well. If you leave it out in the morning, it’s defrosted and ready to be made into a pizza by evening.

Lunch plans again today. This time in Chatham. Today’s excuse, other than wanting to see our friends, is the need to be in Chatham to drop off Frank’s entry into a photography competition. Planning to become reacquainted with my kitchen tomorrow for sure.

Still thinking about a great approach to entertaining that our friend, Linda, put together last Thursday. She had four different soups bubbling on the stove, with bowls on a nearby counter. Breads, ready for slicing, set up on boards. Place settings for a dozen people spread around a table and kitchen island.

Everyone was free to fill their bowls (or like me, take a half ladle of mushroom, and then scoot back to try the chili, or cabbage and bean, or carrot and parsnip!) It was a casual, fun party. Of course, it helped that Linda had pulled together a congenial group of people.  There was enough commonality for a comfortable start to the evening, and enough diversity to keep the party lively and entertaining. One of those good nights that simply work well.

Closing the door on January today. Days have been relatively mild recently, and last week’s snow has almost totally disappeared. Hope February takes a page from January’s book and keeps the reasonable weather coming. Happiness is an ice free dog walk!