{"id":15555,"date":"2026-06-18T17:27:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T22:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/?p=15555"},"modified":"2026-06-18T17:31:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T22:31:05","slug":"dinner-by-the-sugar-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/dinner-by-the-sugar-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Dinner by the Sugar River"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>and strawberries.<\/p>\n<p>Sunday evening we went to a dinner at <a href=\"https:\/\/sevenacredairyco.com\/\">Seven Acre Dairy<\/a> in Paoli (Powli, as Ms Google calls it). The dinner had been part of their winter paired chefs series, supposed to have taken place back in March. But one of the chefs got sick so they postponed it and mad it part of their dinners by the river series instead. The two chefs were <a href=\"https:\/\/amilinda.com\/about\/\">Greg Le\u00f3n<\/a> from Amlinda, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purslane.kitchen\/about\">Mary Kastman<\/a> from Purslane, both restaurants in Milwaukee. It was Le\u00f3n who was sick back in March not that that really matters.<\/p>\n<p>I actually didn&#8217;t really like the dinner all that much. Most of the dishes were too unrecognizable, I mean the ingredients had had too much stuff done to them so they did not retain enough of their original character. To me anyways. In hindsight, I guess I should&#8217;ve known, because we ate at Amilinda in April <a href=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/13\/mothers-day-in-food-flowers\/\">before Molly Tuttle<\/a>, and I didn&#8217;t like my dinner there all that much for the same reason. And oops, looks like I promised to tell you about it, but I didn&#8217;t so I guess I can rectify that now. At Amilinda, I had the vegetarian main of the night, cauliflower steak. I thought I&#8217;d get a big slab of cauliflower, fork and knife eatable, on top of the chick pea puree, but I actually had a hard time locating the cauliflower. But also in hindsight, I think we signed up for the March Seven Acre dinner because we&#8217;d been wanting to go Amilinda, but it never worked out, until the May Molly Tuttle concert. I was sorta disappointed with her show too, although I really liked the opening act. Or co-headliner, really. Maybe I was just tired by the time Molly came out, but I just felt like I was being assaulted by fast bluegrass song after fast bluegrass song. So the other act, <a href=\"https:\/\/mpgannonmusic.com\/home\">Maggie Rose<\/a>, appealed to me more. She was more bluesy\/R&amp;B\/Americana and there seemed to be more varieties of force and tempo in the songs in her set. Plus Maggie Rose had a great slide guitar player, <a href=\"https:\/\/mpgannonmusic.com\/home\">M.P. Gannon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_15586\" style=\"width: 762px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15586\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15586\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/amilindamenu.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"752\" height=\"847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/amilindamenu.jpg 752w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/amilindamenu-577x650.jpg 577w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/amilindamenu-133x150.jpg 133w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15586\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amilinda menu from early spring 2026<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Anyways, back to Sugar River. Here are the things I took pictures of.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-15555 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/dinner-by-the-sugar-river\/6coursemenu\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/6coursemenu.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-15557\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/6coursemenu.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/6coursemenu-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-15557'>\n\t\t\t\tThe menu &#8211; 6 courses\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/dinner-by-the-sugar-river\/favabeanpateasparagus\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"593\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/favabeanpateasparagus.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-15563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/favabeanpateasparagus.jpg 593w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/favabeanpateasparagus-137x150.jpg 137w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-15563'>\n\t\t\t\tThe first course, fava bean pate with green &#038; white asparagus. There was some variation in the plates at our table &#8211; mine was pretty loose, like hummus, where others had kind of a cube. I think they started to run out, so they pureed the pate with more olive oil to stretch it\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/dinner-by-the-sugar-river\/roastedcarrots\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/roastedcarrots.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-15562\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/roastedcarrots.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/roastedcarrots-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-15562'>\n\t\t\t\tThe best dish of the night, roasted carrots in a sauce with sausage in it\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/dinner-by-the-sugar-river\/roastedcarrotsportion\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/roastedcarrotsportion.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-15561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/roastedcarrotsportion.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/roastedcarrotsportion-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-15561'>\n\t\t\t\tIf it had come with bread, I would&#8217;ve been happy to make the carrots my meal\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/dinner-by-the-sugar-river\/stuffedmussels\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/stuffedmussels.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-15560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/stuffedmussels.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/stuffedmussels-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-15560'>\n\t\t\t\tStuffed mussels &#8211; I Iiked the rice and pickled fennel and aioli &#8211; you coulda left out the mussels for me\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/dinner-by-the-sugar-river\/stuffedmusselsshells\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/stuffedmusselsshells.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-15559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/stuffedmusselsshells.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/stuffedmusselsshells-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-15559'>\n\t\t\t\tBut I did clean out my two shells\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/dinner-by-the-sugar-river\/musselshellssaltcodwreakage\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/musselshellssaltcodwreakage.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-15558\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/musselshellssaltcodwreakage.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/musselshellssaltcodwreakage-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-15558'>\n\t\t\t\tThe most processed dish of the night &#8211; salt cod confit with saffron onions and Brussels sprouts. The vegetables were shredded, with flakes of the fish mingled in. The saffron onions were discernible since they were yellow, but the sprouts were just kind of grey shreds. I picked out the fish flakes &#8211; which were surprisingly firm, but still really salty &#8211; and ate the vegetables. It was the guy next to me&#8217;s favorite dish of the night, though, so go figure.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>I did not photograph the lamb borek. It was kind of lasagna-like, with layers of meat, filo, and an egg custard. Again I tried to pick out the meat and eat the crust, but it was kind of soggy due to the egg. And the shepherds salad was just some small cubes of cucumber and tomato and a dab of yogurt and mint on top of each square of the borek. We had interesting people to talk to at our table: the former mayor of Fitchburg, who knew a lot of librarians that we know, since the Fitchburg Public Library got built during his tenure. His wife was Mary Kastman&#8217;s sister, so we got visited by the chef. A couple from Madison, who live not far from Al and Emma, but have their kids at school at Shorewood, who had a connection to somebody from Purslane, since they used to work together. A couple who&#8217;d driven from Freeport IL, the one who liked the cod. And two women close to our age, who seemed to vacation together a lot.<\/p>\n<p>Monday morning I woke up with the most terrible taste in my mouth from all the onions, I think. And felt only slightly hung over from two glasses of wine.<\/p>\n<p>Sunday morning I went out to pick strawberries at Tipi. Partly why I felt OK about indulging in the big dinner &#8211; I&#8217;d worked really hard in the morning! Now, Thursday following, after two days of storms and rain, I&#8217;m glad I went since I think it might&#8217;ve been my last chance. I had also gone on Wednesday with Jasper but only picked about 2 pounds, since he didn&#8217;t want to hang around any longer than that. He&#8217;s potty training and he braved the public bathrooms at a coffee place in Evansville on the way there, and at the BP on the way home. At the BP I bought him a a little bag of Cheetos for his success treat. The next morning when I went out to the garage there was soemthing that looked ike a slug or something white and awful, swarmed with ants. Which turned out to be one of the Cheetos. I guess the ants ate the cheese coating first.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_15583\" style=\"width: 498px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15583\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15583\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/jaspercrashedafterstrawbs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/jaspercrashedafterstrawbs.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/jaspercrashedafterstrawbs-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15583\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jasper crashed on the way home from the first strawberry picking<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It started to rain and we spent the rest of that day inside. We made a batch of slime but it came out kind of crusty and soft, not stretchable.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15582\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/slimeanddinos.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/slimeanddinos.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/slimeanddinos-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15581\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/slimeanddinos2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/slimeanddinos2.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/slimeanddinos2-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15581\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/slimeanddinos2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/slimeanddinos2.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/slimeanddinos2-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We ate a bunch of them and I made the rest of those strawberries into a Brita cake that I took to a potluck gathering for a photography book group I used to go to, right before pandemic. Yellow cake with a layer of meringue, a layer of whipped cream and a layer of strawberries. There&#8217;re a lot of recipes for this cake out there, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nigella.com\/recipes\/strawberry-meringue-layer-cake\">Nigella Lawson<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/smittenkitchen.com\/2022\/06\/strawberry-brita-cake\/\">Smitten Kitchen<\/a>. I liked this one by <a href=\"https:\/\/susanality.substack.com\/p\/strawberry-brita-cake\">Susan Spungeon<\/a> because it&#8217;s a sheet cake.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/strawberrybritacake.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/strawberrybritacake.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/strawberrybritacake-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;re the much larger batch I picked Sunday. And processed Sunday. About 3 pints of jam and four quarts+ frozen. And we ate a bunch.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_15569\" style=\"width: 498px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15569\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15569\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/10lbsstrawberries.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/10lbsstrawberries.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/10lbsstrawberries-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15569\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">10 pounds of strawberries<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_15568\" style=\"width: 645px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15568\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15568\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/10lbsstrawberrieszoom.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"635\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/10lbsstrawberrieszoom.jpg 635w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/10lbsstrawberrieszoom-147x150.jpg 147w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15568\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">close up<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_15567\" style=\"width: 498px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15567\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15567\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/multilobestrawberries.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/multilobestrawberries.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/multilobestrawberries-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15567\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">fun multi-lobe strawberry<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_15587\" style=\"width: 498px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15587\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15587\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/june15brekkie.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/june15brekkie.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/june15brekkie-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15587\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">That multi-lobed berry is in here somewhere, the healthy breakfast I had on Monday after a bike ride. The rest of the day&#8217;s eating went downhill due to feeling a little sh*tty from the 6-course dinner with 2 glasses of wine on Sunday<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_15565\" style=\"width: 498px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15565\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15565\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/brekkiebefore6course.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/brekkiebefore6course.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/brekkiebefore6course-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15565\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Though I did start Sunday with a pre-dinner healthy breakfast after strawberry picking. Whole wheat bagel with tomato and cucumber, no butter or mayo; fruit salad<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_15564\" style=\"width: 498px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15564\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15564\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/strawberriesprocessed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/strawberriesprocessed.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/strawberriesprocessed-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15564\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">And here are the strawberries on Sunday afternoon, processed<\/p><\/div>\n<p>This week, Wednesday, Jasper day was another rainy one. We had our first bug class, out at <a href=\"https:\/\/aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org\/\">Aldo Leopold Center<\/a> and things worked out surprisingly well. We met and sang our welcome song out on the porch like usual. Jasper was too cold in his shorts, so sat in my lap for warmth which was nice. Then we went inside and did the project, paper dragonflies, made iridescent with glitter glue, with pennies clipped to their wings so they could perch on your hand or arm or finger. Jasper liked the project ok at the time but later the finished dragonflies were THE thing in the last 20 minutes of our day waiting for Al to come get him &lt;grin&gt;. The rain slacked off, and we went out for our walk around the grounds. What he really liked was getting into one of the full body rain suits the Center had, and feeling impervious and being able to stomp in mud puddles.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15589\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bugclassdragonflies2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bugclassdragonflies2.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bugclassdragonflies2-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15590\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bugclassdragonflies.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bugclassdragonflies.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bugclassdragonflies-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It rained more later in the day and we pretty much stayed in after bug class. We made better slime that was stretchy. I bought some contact lens&nbsp; fluid which I think is a key ingredient. And Elmer&#8217;s glue. Jasper did OK with getting to the potty out at Aldo Leopold, but when we got home we had a bunch of accidents. I had to do laundry because he was starting to run out of clothes. Every time he didn&#8217;t make it to the toilet, it was after I&#8217;d told him it was time to go try and he said no. Ah well, it&#8217;s all a process.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15594\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/betterslime.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/betterslime.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/betterslime-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15593\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/betterslime2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/betterslime2.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/betterslime2-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_15592\" style=\"width: 498px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15592\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15592\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/betterslimeitstretches.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/betterslimeitstretches.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/betterslimeitstretches-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15592\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">It stretches!<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I fed my sourdough and baked some bread on Tuesday. The recipe I&#8217;ve been using makes two loaves so I tried cutting it back using the proportions in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kingarthurbaking.com\/recipes\/no-knead-sourdough-bread-recipe\">King Arthur recipe<\/a>, but the dough seemed dense, too much flour to liquid. The bread came out really soft and white, finer grain than what I expect in sourdough. Like the white Italian bread from the grocery store, good for Primanti Bros. sandwiches.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15595\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KAfluffywhitesourdough.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KAfluffywhitesourdough.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KAfluffywhitesourdough-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I ended up with a lot of starter so Wednesday I made a multigrain sourdough, also a King Arthur recipe, with added yeast and lots of grains (I used bulghur and oats, since I didn&#8217;t have their grain mix). It uses two cups of starter which was attractive. It came out a little damp and dense, but Japser liked it. With cream cheese. He actually ate the bread instead of using the bread just to get the cream cheese to his mouth.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15591\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/newbreadwithcreamcheese.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/newbreadwithcreamcheese.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/newbreadwithcreamcheese-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_15598\" style=\"width: 498px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15598\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15598\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/multigrainsourdough.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/multigrainsourdough.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/multigrainsourdough-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15598\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Multigrain sourdough<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_15597\" style=\"width: 498px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15597\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15597\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/multigrainsourdoughtexture.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/multigrainsourdoughtexture.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/multigrainsourdoughtexture-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15597\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Multigrain sourdough, slightly damp texture<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Meanwhile Monday night I got a loaf of the last batch of whole wheat sourdough I&#8217;d made with my usual recipe, to use for toast for BLTs. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was even after freezing, even UN-toasted, since I sampled some that way, too.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15596\" src=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/wwsourdoughfromfreezer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/wwsourdoughfromfreezer.jpg 488w, https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/wwsourdoughfromfreezer-113x150.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I love bread. <span style=\"color: #993300;\">\u2665<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>and strawberries. Sunday evening we went to a dinner at Seven Acre Dairy in Paoli (Powli, as Ms Google calls it). The dinner had been part of their winter paired chefs series, supposed to have taken place back in March. But one of the chefs got sick so they postponed it and mad it part &#8230; <span class=\"more\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/dinner-by-the-sugar-river\/\">[Read more&#8230;]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" data-url=https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/dinner-by-the-sugar-river\/><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15604,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[224,347,285],"class_list":["entry","post","publish","author-ds83473gmail-com","post-15555","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-blogpost","post_tag-eating-outside","post_tag-rainy-days","post_tag-strawberries"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15555"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15606,"href":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15555\/revisions\/15606"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debslunch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}