nurture and nature

FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!

Jeff was coming over for dinner tonight, so I torpedoed out of work early only to be thwarted by the Traffic Minions of Satan. I really wanted to make him a special dinner, because that poor bunny has been sick for awhile now. One cold then another while traveling. And he really doesn't get sick often. And he's been struggling with some other things and I wanted to do something extra nice for him, because he deserves some TLC.

I made:

Pea soup with mint topped with creme fraiche and chives
Ciabatta sandwiches with roasted bell peppers and goat cheese
Baby green salad with grape tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, fresh mozzarella, and sunflower seeds tossed in a roasted red pepper vinaigrette
Yogurt gelato (in the freezer from earlier)

( More details about the cooking process than anyone needs )

Tomorrow is mine. All mine. My goal is to unpack (still, hello!) and do laundry. I have to tend to my garden. I need to make a grocery list and meal plan for next week because I'm tired of last minute bad decisions and a dearth of any real nutritional matter. I'm going to wander over to the Farmer's Market because there's a rumor of early season berries.

I also want to take a walk up to Diva Espresso to read more of Host, which I am so goddamn entranced with, I don't know what to do.

oh YES

Summer is HERE!



(More Farmer's Market squeeage after breakfast!)

breakfast and more

( Market Blather )

I came home and decided to make a proper breakfast. K's visit reminded me of how much I enjoyed it. I can't do this on the weekdays, but why not on the weekends?

I soft-boiled two eggs, roasted some asparagus, and toasted the sourdough. I have this amazingly glorious marmalade, which I applied to my buttered toast.

It was fucking sublime.



I can't express how amazing the combination of roasted, salty asparagus is with the egg yolks. I think this is my new favorite thing. I don't have egg cups (though I may have to buy them now) so it was an incredibly, delightfully messy meal.

mmmmm

Obviously, I'm trying to remember to take photos.

I didn't get nearly as much accomplished today as I hoped. Mostly because of the enormous afternoon nap that somehow happened.



But I did manage to make shortcakes for the market berries. So that was exciting. I used Alton Brown's shortcake recipe and it was absurdly easy using my food processor. I can't believe I had everything on hand--even shortening and half and half.

The berries are good. Not perfect yet--still a bit too tart (so I macerated them in sugar for a bit). But they're exciting nonetheless!

Also, my camera and the general lack of natural light is bumming me out. Every picture I take ends up too dark and slightly blurry. BOO!

I still have 3 loads of laundry to do (two loads of it towels and bedding) and I have to go grocery shopping for the week, but at least the kitchen's been tidied up (one more load of dishes to go) and the countertops aren't sticky anymore. I also finally unpacked. Whee!