Love People – Cook Them Tasty Food!

This past weekend was over the top with food and love.  Weekends are the days I look forward to – for cooking and playing in the kitchen.  When a weekend rolls around AND we have company, it is all the better and more pleasurable. This past weekend, we had the good fortune to have “Fairmaiden” (aka Jennie) amongst us.  Arriving on Friday afternoon, she departed this morning.  The house seems empty and dull without her presence.

Friday after Jennie arrived, we sat on the deck and had a margarita – perfect on a warm summery day – and for dinner, I grilled (baked) flour tortillas slightly to a crisp texture filled them with baby spinach, and greens from our neighbors garden, topped with freshly made black beans, brown rice, grilled beans, mushrooms, olives, sharp cheddar cheese and a creamy dressing of lime juice, dill, cilantro (and of course garlic!).  It was just the right salad for a summer day, filling but light.

Saturday, I outdid myself!  As marionberries are so fresh and luscious right now and one of Johne’s favorites, the day started off with fresh baked marionberry muffins (all healthy ingredients including: oats, spelt, flaxseed etc); then I made a batch of “Jurgen-Daaz” (our version of vanilla ice cream) followed by individual marionberry crisps and yogurt.  This was all done by noon.  Phew!  Moving out to the deck the afternoon was spent talking, reading and then a bicycle spin around the loop!  Jennie had not been on a bike for a few years but did fabulous!  As we returned to the deck, for more iced tea, discussion revolved around what to do for dinner – as we had options.  We ended up going with green friend tomatoes (used the grill) as one of the sides and built the rest of the menu around that item.   Saturday’s dinner menu: grilled figs, stuffed with chevre and gorgonzola; spinach and beet greens and other summer veggies; potato kabobs (for Johne); grilled salmon drizzled with a marionberry beurre blanc sauce (first attempt was tossed - second attempt was divine and all during my making the sauce we laughed about Julia Child and her saying "Oh there is no such thing as a mistake").  Desert was of course – the marionberry crisp topped with the Jurgen-Daaz.  Roy Orbison singing the blues with a sky filled with stars and the full moon rounded off the night. We even brought out the telescope!  Heavenly is an understatement! 

Sunday we started our mornig with cappucino's and then a long walk out into the desert, a visit to Abraham (horse friend), then back home for waffles and an array of fresh fruit.   More lounging and talking on the deck, sipping “Chat-tea” and enjoying the great weather and temperatures.   For dinner, it was tempura veggies in a light tempura batter  (made in my 36 year old wok), sticky rice and edamame and for sipping pleasure, chilled sake. 

Today, while all that remains are leftovers (few) it will be the memories that linger for years to come, making it all the more of a treasured weekend.  To loving people and cooking them tasty food!  And to biking and walking off all that that we ate.