Big Adventure Saturday

 This weekend was all about adventures.  I’m a big supporter of trying new activities, going new places, and eating new foods.  Unfortunately, there’s only so much to do here in Alloway.  So we have to make our own adventures.  

Saturday: We Go to BJ’s.

Seriously.  That was the big plan for the day.  Sounds like small potatoes to you folks in more populated areas, but we in Alloway have to drive 30 minutes to Vineland to go to BJ’s.  THIRTY MINUTES!  If I drove 30 minutes in any direction in CT, I’d be 1/4 of the way across the state.  Most of the drive looks like this:  

(I must admit, it is quite scenic).  

So we went to BJ’s, did our grocery shopping for the week, then threw in a stop at Dick’s Sporting Goods and ShopRite while we were at it.  

Can I just take a moment to say—I MISS STOP AND SHOP!  ShopRIte and Acme do not even begin to compare to the holy mother of grocery stores that is Stop and Shop.  *Sigh*

Upon arriving home, we discovered that Murphy had an adventure of his own while we were gone.  I usually shut the doors to the bedrooms and bathroom when we leave the house, but seeing as our roommate was home (where else would he go??), I left them open, thinking Murphy would behave since he wasn’t alone.  False.  The little fellow decided to go on a trash-foraging mission.  Not sure what was in the trash in our bedroom that smelled so delectable, but it was all over the floor.  And Murphy was curled up on his bed pretending he had been there the whole time.  

I then had delicious a grilled cheese and avocado sandwich for lunch.  At least that was my plan.  Turns out the avocados we bought at BJ’s were all rotten :(  So disappointing.  Instead I made a delicious grilled cheese and cheese sandwich.  So tasty.  

If you feel like trying, here’s my recipe for success.  Inspiration from Jenny McCoy, tweaked to perfection in my kitchen.

                    2 slices bread (any kind, Arturo’s Italian is BEST)

                    Cheddar cheese

                    1/2 ripe Avocado

                    Butter

                    Salt

Butter one side of both slices of bread.  Place one piece butter side down in pan, and turn pan to medium-low.  Place one layer of cheese on bread in pan.  Place 3 slices of Avocado, lightly salted, on top of cheese, then add another layer of cheese.  Place second piece of bread on top, butter side up.  Once butter starts to melt, flip sandwich.  When cheese starts to melt, flip again.  Continue flipping until cheese is melted, and bread is golden brown.  **The key here is patience…the heat has to be low so the cheese melts at the same time as the bread browns!**

You might think that this was enough adventure for one day, but BearFace and I decided to top it off with a trip to The Cheesecake Factory to use up the gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket.  The closest one?  Newark, Delaware.  45 minutes away.  But oh, was it worth it!

Wasabi Crusted Ahi Tuna, seared rare.  On top of brown rice, julienne veggies, and miso sauce.

Lemon Raspberry Cream Cheesecake graveyard.  Just the perfect amount of lemony goodness, complemented by the sweet and slightly tart raspberry sauce.