This weekend I…

…Walked around Manhattan with my family to check out the window displays.

This was such a great way to ring in the season, even if the tree wasn’t lit yet.  It was the perfect way to spend my parents’ last day.  My mom snagged me a milk and white truffle from the Lindt store.

And I came home with a really exciting candy assortment from a place in Chinatown.

I am really looking forward to trying the new varieties.

…Ate lunch at Carnegie Deli.

The bites I took of my dad’s matzoh ball soup were great.

We all shared strawberry blintzes.

And I drank the best chocolate egg cream of my life.

Though the very best bites were those my cousin shared with me of matzoh brei.  I don’t know how they make theirs so chewy.

…Shared some exciting drinks with the husband while we explored the city.  A Belvoir Fruit Farms Elderflower and Rose Lemonade.

It was very tasty, and how gorgeous is the packaging?  We also shared a black sugar bubble tea.

Yum!

…Discovered Cafe Dada, a new coffee-house in Park Slope.

I had a cafe au lait which was delicious,

but the espresso in Adam’s cortado was hands-down the best I’ve ever had.

It was so velvety!  And the pistachio mousse we shared was great too.

It was a blend of pistachio and raspberries and the flavors went great together.

…Met up with friends from Buffalo.  They were visiting family for the holiday and we all met up to share a meal.  We took them to our two favorite places – Freeman’s Restaurant {the smoked trout plate}.

sugar, Sweet, sunshine {more pistachio}.

Such fun.  We love it when they come into town.

Tried the Eggnog Jubilee from Jamba Juice.

It tasted exactly like I wanted it to – eggnog and nutmeg blended with ice – but I still didn’t need enough of the flavor to drink the whole thing.  I’m glad I tried it though.

…Ate lots and lots of cheese.  We were shopping in Trader Joe’s one evening when the idea for nachos struck and our eyes lit up.  We got Wisconsin Sharp and New York Extra Extra Sharp Cheddars so we could do a blend.

Adam put pastrami on his (leftover from Carnegie) but my chicken ended up being moldy so I got my protein in the form of extra cheese.  Plus candied jalopenos.

Swoon!  We kept it going with grilled cheese for lunch the next day.

On thick slices of cibatta.

With apple slices on the side.

I probably should have tried to get some veggies in there too.

…Finally got some veggies in with a homemade dinner.

We topped this cous cous with roasted butternut squash, craisins, smoked almonds, champagne pear vinaigrette, and a sunny side up egg.

Runny yolk is the best sauce.

…Decorated for Christmas.

We’re ready for December!