And not a bad way to end one, either - John and I closed out yesterday with a lovely al fresco meal, on the deck, after what had been a pretty rotten day for John. Very stressful work day, made worse by an injury to what he calls his "good" foot (the other suffers a chronic achilles tendon aggravation). A trip to the doctor confirmed it wasn't a break, but it still swelled up like a balloon and was making him miserable. I'm happy to report that it's much better this morning, so perhaps he's dodged another chronic injury. Let's hope, because John without basketball is like, well, John without chocolate. Shiver. Not good. For him, or for any of us.So back to this dinner...I tried a new recipe, a roasted vegetable panzanella (bread salad).
Gorgeous, chewy, garlicky, fabulous. Simple. Rustic. Most definitely a keeper (recipe posted in comments, below). Enjoy it outside with a nice glass of wine, like we did, and you'll be glad. (Just be aware, as you enjoy the gentle evening breezes, that gnats are flying up your skirt and biting the insides of your thighs. You'll be blissfully unaware as you sip your wine, but oh, 'round 2:30 a.m., you'll know...)
My oh my oh my. I made myself a killicious little dinner tonight, mmm hmmm. Artichokes sautéed with ham, from a tasty little cookbook called Tapas, A Taste of Spain in America, by Jose Andres. I had the afternoon completely to myself, which doesn’t happen all that often, so I took my time this morning planning this weekend’s meals (there will be other dishes from this cookbook, oh yes, so stay tuned…) and shopping this afternoon. The artichokes – I used baby artichokes, but you don’t need to – are sautéed in olive oil, then combined with a bit of tomato sauce, wine, and ham to simmer until tender. I chose to eat mine with slices of toasted baguette, which I rubbed with a split garlic clove and drizzled with a bit of oil. Damn! Now that’s a dinner. Or as John would say, a mo fo. Yeah, baby. (Recipe posted in comments, below.) Now I’m going to brew a cup of tea and settle in with the fascinating book I’m reading, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan. If you’re into food, it’s a must read. Ahhh, a moderate epicurean’s dream Friday evening... little wine... cooking... olive oil... vegetables... bread... garlic... reading... cozying up to my hubby... Hope you’re enjoying yours…
