Shared Pleasures

I've been stopping by the Ciao Thyme Cafe once a week to pick up a quart of their amazingly delicious soup (two choices weekly) and an entrée to share with Phil. The soup lasts us for two meals, and we share an entrée at another, so that's three meals I don't have to do much for, which is a big help at this busy time of year. (Just call me Mrs. Santa Claus…)

Last week's featured entrée was a delicious shepherd's pie of perfectly seasoned braised beef with crispy mashed potato rosette topping, and this week it's porchetta and polenta (tender pork shoulder rolled with pork belly and stuffed with Umbrian sausage, served on creamy polenta with sautéed kale and chard), which we enjoyed tonight.

I've been known to pick up a dessert or two at Ciao Thyme as well, and today was no exception. Phil and shared this extravagantly chocolate cupcake for lunch today, after our tuna salad sandwiches and sliced apple. The cupcake not only had all the frosting you see here, but also an extra little well of frosting below the surface.

It would be imprudent to eat one of these cupcakes -- or an entrée -- by yourself, unless you were often taking very long walks or runs on the moors, as some of the folks I follow here do, and I do not. We enjoy our treat, and then it's gone, but if I make cupcakes or cookies, temptation is ever-present for several days!