use real butter

Ah, we finally got around to inviting Tom and Kellie over for dinner this coming week. Even though they live next door, we rarely bump into one another because 1) we all work real jobs 2) they go fishing in their spare time while we go hiking and 3) when they’re indoors they are recording music while we’re inside dorking out on computers.

So Tom will eat anything, and Kellie is flexitarian (eats fish and chicken). I’m brainstorming menu ideas…

appetizer: grilled coconut lime shrimp
main: grilled wild salmon with fresh dill and lemon
side: deadly mashers
side: edamame
side: wild greens salad with carrot-ginger dressing
dessert: chocolate-espresso crème brûlée

I made lasagne today with some of that awesome organic beef from Paidom Ranch. I like my lasagne loaded with vegetables too - so I mixed spinach with the ricotta, and added onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes to the beef and sauce, then layered sliced zucchini and mushrooms in between.

crunchy baked top

loaded lasagne

We had a very summery meal for dinner tonight. While I was preparing the food, I came to the conclusion that I not only like winter for the weather, the skiing, the warm covers, but also for the kind of cooking I can do - filling the house with warmth and good smells from the oven or the slow cooker or a pot of simmering chili… Summer meals involve more grilling, salads, and summer produce.

potato salad begins with potatoes, green onions…

…and ham, boiled eggs, and seasonings

This morning was cooler than usual. I telecommuted and noticed a strange smell wafting in through the open windows early on. It was the smell of National Forest burning because that is the same smell I experienced in So Cal during the fire season. The valley was full of hazy smoke for most of the day - obliterating my view of James Peak. Then as soon as it came on, it cleared out before Jeremy got home. Strange… and a little scary.

tossed with olive oil and basalmic vinegar, then skewered: zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant

We encountered our favorite neighbors on our way to walk Kaweah tonight. Tom was nearly bounding out of their garage to come and tell us how thrilled they are that Jeremy got the faculty job - that they’re really psyched to have good neighbors sticking around. We really like these two. I mean, we’re all on the same page and can practically finish each others’ thoughts. And everytime we talk to them we learn so much, like the house on the hill is the local drug dealer! Huh, I guess that would explain the incredible amount of traffic going up the road, at 3 am. As we walked past the house, I told Jeremy if I started dealing drugs, that would be a business I could run from our home…

spicy italian sausages round out the meal

Today I got a package from Down Under - from Kell!! She told me she wanted to send some black vinegar (I didn’t know of it, but then when I showed it to Mary - my Chinese co-worker, she was like, “yeah - don’t you know black vinegar?”). However, I wasn’t expecting the cute sample tube of sunblock or the PACKAGE OF TIM TAMS! Our love affair with Tim Tams dates back to our trips to New Zealand. I’ll admit that I love Chit Chats more, but Tim Tams and Chit Chats are both Happy Foods (still relishing memory of Laura’s chili chocolate Tim Tams - mmmmmmmm). International care packages are so fun! But what, if anything, is good from the US? Will have to ponder that one.

goodies from oz - thanks kell!!