I know you mentioned you were thinking about heading up to the mountains this weekend. We did that drive last fall and honestly the views were incredible around this time of year. Just make sure you check the road conditions before you go because sometimes they close the pass unexpectedly. There's a great little café about halfway there that serves the most amazing apple cider. We stopped there both ways. Also if you need any gear suggestions let me know because we went a little overboard with our packing list. I think we brought enough clothes for two weeks even though it was only a three day trip. The weather can shift pretty fast up there so layers are definitely the way to go. Anyway let me know if you end up going and if you want company for the drive.

I also remembered that there is a scenic overlook about ten minutes past the café that gives you a great view of the valley. We almost missed it because we were too focused on getting to the trailhead. Definitely worth a quick stop if you have daylight left.

Oh I totally forgot to tell you about that recipe I tried last week. It was one of those ones that looked way too complicated but actually came together really quickly after I got started. The key was letting the vegetables roast long enough to caramelize properly. I added a little extra garlic than what the recipe called for because honestly when is that ever a bad thing. Everyone at the dinner kept asking for seconds which never happens when I try new things. I'm going to make it again for the potluck next month. Send me a message if you want the link. I took a photo of the final dish but it does not do justice to how good it smelled while cooking. The recipe originally came from a blog that specializes in weeknight dinners and most of their stuff is pretty reliable. I ended up adjusting the seasoning a bit and it turned out great.

Let me know if you try it and what you think. I have a feeling it will become part of the regular rotation around here.