Very back-to-school

Whole wheat bread. Or, rather, whole wheat + white whole wheat. It rose well. But fell a bit during baking. And I had to use a slightly larger than ideal pan because my just-right pan is in the freezer with a babka I've been saving for later.

In any case: this bread, KAF recipe (of course), is delicious. Subtly sweet. The recipe suggests a few options for sweeteners. I used honey.

One reason I don't post many recipes

I don't often use them. Or, rather, my cooking is so simple that a recipe would be ridiculous. Baking is another matter, of course. But grilling? Please. Olive oil, pepper, a little salt. That's pretty much what I do. Maybe a squeeze of lemon.

Here are three versions of that "recipe."

Grilled vegetables with a filet. And a gin & tonic, my drink of preference when I was at La Quinta (the name of the resort and the town, in California) and now back at home too.

And... grilled vegetables with lamb chops.

And... salmon with slightly different vegetables (grilled butternut squash---delicious---and sautéed kale with grape tomatoes from my friend Tim's garden). Wine this time.

As for poetry, a topic I said I'd (maybe) post about, now is a good time.

I feel about poetry the same way I feel about cooking: don't make a fuss.

Pizza!

I pretty much like everything I cook. Which is good, don't you think?

But these pizzas were especially pleasing.

Thanks to my friend Rosemary for expertly shaping the dough.

First, a lemon and prosciutto pizza, recipe courtesy of the Georis winery's Corkscrew Cafe in Carmel Valley, California. I didn't have meyer lemons, so this was a little stronger... and I forgot the arugula, which is odd since I used it in the other pizza. Anyway: delicious.

Next, a lovely fig-carmelized onion-arugula-goat cheese pizza (recipe), with the Georis crust.

And now both of them, Instagrammed for more dramatic lighting, etc.

While Rosemary and I were eating, a hummingbird stopped by for a sip at the feeder. He (she?) could very well be last year's Pedro, or Pilar.

Tough to see (bc tough to photograph), but in any case:

On a walk

Many interesting things happen when Theo and I go on our walks.

Recently, we saw these very pretty crabapples. Or at least I think that's what they are.

Well, that was fun!

Chocolate-covered kiwi pops!

On a gorgeous Sunday

Today is mild, especially for August. 70s. Breezy. Lovely.

Here's something I've been wanting to try for a few weeks: grilled naan with a garlic-onion chutney. The recipe called for garlic scapes, but since I didn't have those, I improvised with garlic + green onions tops + a little basil. And for the cheese, I used low-fat feta. Fun to make and delicious to eat.

I'm considering making these for a party—they were that good—but I'd probably need to triple the recipe, which seems a little daunting...

A pleasing presentation

More grilling: lamb chops, "gemstone" potatoes (love that name), tomatoes... with arugula and pecans and feta.

As for the day, it turned itself around. A sunny-ish later afternoon/evening and more pleasant dog walking.

Elegant

Olive oil cake. Food & Wine recipe. Really very lovely. Even the batter was beautiful. Forgot to take a photo of that, though. I used my still-new Mary Ann pan, hence the edge like a crown.

Three pictures: the cake, a piece, and then---oops! I forgot the berries---a photo of the mostly eaten piece with blackberries and raspberries.

Weather report: typical for a Saturday: rainy. Some thunder would be of interest.

In the mood to bake and cook, but not to post

Apparently.

Much to catch up on.

So, briefly (per usual)...

Double-chocolate zucchini bread, KAF recipe.

Different day. Lemonade. Very satisfying to make.

Next up, sugar snap peas with red onions. Very simple.

And then the salad along with sautéed patty pan squash (love those little flying saucers) and tomatoes with feta and grilled salmon.

Next day: more salmon, this time with sautéed kale and grilled tomatoes.

That's it, pretty much. 

Oh, and the weather has been absolutely lovely.