I have been a cooking fiend. Last night was scallops and spaghetti sprinkled with chili peppers, cilantro, garlic and olive oil. Skewers of toasted sourdough and mozzarella cubes drizzled with garlic, lemon juice and butter. I’m addicted to gratins and fresh herbs lately. Fish poached in coconut cream and sesame seeds. It’s time to break out the smoker. Hickory chips are waiting to burn. Baked beans with smoky chipotles and bacon simmer with sweet brown sugar. It’s summertime, after all. Aint it funny how I’ve become so consumed by food?
I have a friend who can only be described as my food friend for we only meet for meals. Nothing more, nothing less. We don’t talk on the phone. We don’t see movies. We place all of our conversations in the company of food. Something new to talk about only goes with something good to taste. He wants me to try a deep fried hamburger. He’s the same one who wanted me to try goat testicles
Food circles my life and winds in and out of my days.
To celebrate the Closer I have wine (Merlot, of course) followed by one perfect RingDing. Kisa gets the other one. We lick chocolate off our fingers and smack our lips for a treat too small.
Before Rebecca shows it’s gourmet pizza and maybe now a rootbeer float after. I just need to find a better beer.
Then there are roadtrips. They require bottled water and smoky, salty beef jerky.
Monhegan means crab apples straight from the tree, blackberries from the bush, mocha whoopie pies and lobster by sunset’s dying glow.
If I lived in New Jersey I would want a Creations salad, a spicy italian sub or better yet, a shopping spree at Delicious Orchards. Picking perfect plums, soft gouda cheese and crusty sourdough bread. A picnic by the sea.
If I lived in Colorado it would be a Chipotles burrito chased by Fat Tire – bar none.
My most intimate moments are prefaced by food. Sharing spoonfuls of something good leading to something better. Leaning in over linguini to confess something deep.
Food has always hidden my denying ways. Picking walnuts out of a waldorf while breaking up; bringing the rest home to my sister. Holding an oversized mug of coffee with both hands, steam hiding my face as I hear about the cancer that is killing you. You can’t see my tears. Flinging tomatoes to swooping, squawking seagulls, pretending not to hear, yet I listen.
Feed me.
~*LunaSea*~ 
Have you tried any of the recipes in the cookbook I gave you for Xmas?
Miss that book, wish I could afford one for myself.
glassowater said,
June 27, 2007 at 8:55 pm · Edit
Have you tried any of the recipes in the cookbook I gave you for Xmas?
Miss that book, wish I could afford one for myself.
As a matter of fact I haven’t. Now that I have two jobs I need meals that can be whipped up in a matter of minutes.
I feel terrible you can’t afford one for yourself so I’ll send it back to you. I’m sure you’ll put it to better use!
Since when do you re-gift?
I went to the bookstore looking for that book and, long story short, to order it would have cost me almost 20 bucks over the cover price. Some sort of policy change on special order books.
In my world re-gifting isn’t giving it back to the giver. Not sure what the correct term is…
I never knew B&N charged extra for special order books! Shame on them! Grrrr. $55 is a lot for a cookbook!
local BN expert…
as far as i know there wouldn’t be an additional charge at BN or at BN.com.
actually if the book is over $25, you usually can get the shipping fee waved.
Local BN said they “do not have the book in stock at any of their stores” so they were no help, then went to a local bookstore in Portsmouth I’ve had alot of luck lately finding odd books. They said they could order it, but now there was a $19.95 shipping fee added to books they consider “coffee table books”. They didn’t buy my argument that it was technically a “kitchen counter book”. Sorry to take up blog comment space with my foibles in the world of book shopping.
try the web. used copies on amazon are very reasonable.
is this an old book…i’m suprised BN couldn’t get it for you
ooooh! I love love amazon!
Wish I could check out that link, but “shopping” is filtered here at work. Damn them for wanting me to work….
george if you really wanted this book im suprised you haven’t worked harder to find it at a better rate.
Ok, again, sorry to take up comment space with my shopping disaster. If you want to know why this book was on my mind recently, please email me. I’ll be happy to bore you with the silly details. Not sure all of H’s readers want to hear it.
gparnell@portford.com
the only details i was looking for is the name of the book. but i won’t bore H’s readers but attempting to be helpful.
…..and you help is greatly appreciated. I apologize if it seemed otherwise. Just wanted to end the topic, since now, with yours and h’s help, I’ll try to find it on Amazon, since I hadn’t thought of that. Hopefully Amazon will prove to be a better buying experience than my previous silliness.
When you are able to click on my link in my amazon comment not only will it take you to their site, but to the actual book.
As an aside, instead of “regifting” a friend suggested I loan you the book back. How’s that for an option?
As an aside to the “all H’s readers” comment…I’m sure all five of them are bored silly, right guys? 😉 Just kidding!
… and now for something completely different.
A recipe that you asked for my dear:
Quinoa Tabouleh
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
sea salt
cucumber (I used 1/2 of a medium cuke)
red onion (I used 1/4 of a medium onion)
fresh scallion (I used about 2-3 scallions)
fresh mint leaves (I used a bunch of these)
medium lemon (or fresh lemon juice)
extra virgin olive oil
1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, put in 1 cup quinoa. Turn down heat and cover. Cook until all water is absorbed. Take off stove and cool to room temperature.
2. Chop up: cucumber, scallions, fresh mint, red onion
3. Mix in separate bowl: Lemon juice, sea salt and olive oil. This is the dressing … so you may want to play with the amounts. It is suggested that you do 2 parts lemon juice to one part oil.
4. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
Serves about 4, keeps well in the fridge.
True credit for this recipe goes to my Holistic Health Coach … Vanessa Burgos of Joy of Health in Easthampton, MA. Her website is http://www.joyofhealthweb.com
As far as my taste buds were concerned, this salad was the highlight of your party. I can hardly wait to make this! Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so stealing that recipe!
It’s been over a year since this post and I’m happy to say I’ve made the recipe at least 5 times, each with different variations…so so so yummy!