Oh, August

—So that was July. Much travel. Lots of reading (Lawrence in Arabia and the Bate biography of Keats were the main things; both are recommended). Not enough cooking. But now it's August, and I'm back home, happily.

Some recent highlights, beginning with this eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, tomato bake that my sweet friend Beth and I shared.

And then a couple of other typical meals... whole wheat gemelli with chicken, pecans, dates...

And a farro salad like the one at the always lovely La Quinta resort (or maybe theirs is like mine... yes, I think that's more accurate). 

This buckwheat bread seemed wintry, at first, but then it just got better and better, especially with some hummus.

And last night, I made these oatmeal-date cookies (with cardamom). Delicious.

Finally, it's Kitten Time here. This is Miss Myrna Loy. She is about 10 weeks old and quite precocious, she wants you to know.