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Three day weekend.

A long overdue lazy Friday evening, a night in, with wine that we'd been saving in the fridge from Aaron's parents' visit here in September. There's a great Italian-type grocery store that's known for its handmade pasta and sauces. We had a coupon, so obviously that's where we went for dinner. Garlic and parsley fettuccine with a vodka cream sauce and we ate the whole pound. For added hipster-slash-yuppie effect we played jazz on our newly functional record player. And it didn't hurt that the jazz was mostly recorded at Hill Auditorium in our beloved Ann Arbor. So this seems like a pretty good start to a three day weekend.

Old Friend

The Joy of Cooking is a wonderful cookbook and from now on I will try to not forget it as it sits on the shelf next to Mark Bittman's bright red How To Cook Everything.

Dreaming at Work

When I grow up I will host dinner parties and my guests will set their drinks on cute paper napkins. I will try out multiple versions of recipes and there will be neighbors with whom I can share my creations. I will have a burr grinder for my coffee, and the coffee will be kept in a big metal canister with a heavy stainless steel teaspoon scoop. It will brew in an automatic drip pot and be ready for short visits and overnight guests. My house will have hardwood floors and I will enjoy various projects for beautifying my home and garden. I will plant vegetables in the spring and can them in the fall. I will be wearing an apron with a v-neck. I will make Halloween costumes for my children on my sewing machine. I will host Thanksgiving dinners with too much food and just enough wine.

I will learn how to start sentences in a story with another word besides "I".

Weather Update

It's raining here in Charlottesville. What I've found after living here for a few months is that when it rains, the crickets that so happily live outside in the grass start coming into our house.

This is Charlie.


I caught him a few weeks ago when it was raining and he decided to get out of the damp weather and warm his little jumpy legs by our TV. I gave him food and water and then he died. Then I caught three more crickets and they died, too. Then I gave all four little guys, which I named the Charlie Quartet, to my friend Daine so he could fish with them. Yesterday (it was also raining) there was an ancient humpback cricket by the front door but he looked too old to keep so I let him back outside.

Soup: A Play in Two Acts

Act I, Scene 1
Melt one tablespoon each of olive oil and butter in a heavy bottomed pot.

Act I, Scene 2
Add mirepoix when the oil/butter mixture is hot, let cook until soft and flavorful.

Act I, Scene 3
Everything is soft and flavorful now.

Act I, Scene 4
Add leeks and mushrooms, cook until brown and flavorful.

Act I, Scene 5
Add garlic paste and thyme, and cook until heavenly smells arrive at your nose.

Act I, Scene 6
Add barley and let it brown. Critics say this is reminiscent of cooking risotto, and they're right.

Act II, Scene 1
Add the rest of the stuff. Roasted vegetables, kale, chicken broth, already cooked beans all make their debuts in Act II. Simmer for a whole hour (hope you went to the bathroom during intermission!)

Act II, Scene 2
Season to taste with salt, pepper, and a little red wine vinegar.

Act II, Scene 3
The soup! It is complete!

Act II, Scene 4
Garnish with chopped celery leaves (standing in for parsley tonight) and some drained yogurt with the garlic paste and thyme.

Epilogue: I ate it all. And it was good.

It's Monday and all I got was this soup.

October Barley Mushroom Soup

The ingredients are indeed on my washing machine. Because usually this isn't a washing machine, it's counter space.

Featuring the Mirepoix: Onion, Carrot, Celery

Also starring: Mushrooms

Best supporting role: Leeks

Flavoring by: Garlic



...and Thyme



Fiber by: Barley (with special guest Bay Leaf)



Protein by: Pinto Beans



Secondary Protein: Chicken Stock



Special Guest Stars: Thyme Roasted Potatoes (pictured) and Carrots (not pictured)

Stay tuned for the compelling motion picture!