April 12 Run: 61C Cafe again for a mystery run

We'll meet at the 61C Cafe on Murray Ave. again, head toward Frick Park, or Schenley Park, or both. Or maybe Homewood Cemetery, where there is now a family of wild turkeys adding to the other fauna.  We'll be spontaneous.

Well, I tried to see if our route last week did in fact look like the outline of a squirrel - umm, not really - but we did note the new Welcome to Squirrel Hill sign en route (PtB says they need volunteers for the garden.) And there was a bit of related theme, as we passed another garden that claimed to be a "certified wildlife habitat" (this is really a thing!) and also visited Sylvania Natives, an almost hidden-away nursery for native plants.  But the main thing was synagogues and churches up and down and near Beechwood Blvd., and we ran by a whole bunch of them - mainly homey little places, like the Agape Life church (left), B'nai Emunah, famous for its hot dog lunches, and one adorable place that doubles as both AND has services in Ukrainian. Also a church named Mary S. Brown Ames, with a mysterious grave marked "Shawnee" - and RG's devoted researcher PtB has uncovered that it's the 2nd oldest graveyard in Pittsburgh.   Also Iain revealed that Beechwood Blvd. was once the Nemacolin Indian Trail.  I think we've got enough for a novel here.

Endorsements:

• kosher for Passover baking (recipes below)
• doing a "phone cleanse"
• the word "perseverating"
• Sally - who grew up on "Mad Men"
• Cuba (can't wait to hear about the trip!)

Bonus feature!

Recipes for those of us starved for pastries during Passover:

1. PtB's recommended Ricciarelli via Nigella Lawson

2. Cheryl's Mom's Chocolate Chip Mandelbread

6 eggs
1 1/4 c. sugar
1 1/4 c. matzo cake meal
2 T. potato starch
1/2 c. oil
2 c. chopped nuts
1 t. lemon juice
Lemon rind

Sift cake meal, starch through strainer.
Beat eggs with sugar. Add oil, lemon juice and rind.
Mix in dry ingredients. Stir in nuts.
Add 6 oz. chocolate chips to batter.
Spray cookie sheet pan. Spoon into 3 loaves.
Bake 30 minutes at 350.

Cut and slice into 1" pieces.
Turn on side. Return to oven 30 minutes or until crisp.