What's cooking these days

Made a couple of good dinners that I thought I'd share. Last night's was throw whatever vegetables I had on hand into a Thai stir fry and put it over brown rice (organic, microwaveable from Trader Joe's). I used asparagus, red onion, snap peas and cauliflower. First I sauteed garlic and onion in sesame oil, thend I added the cauliflower then the peas and asparagus. I tossed in some Thai spicy peanut sauce I had, then a hot Chinese sauce that I can never remember how to spell (like Tabasco). Then I added chopped cashews and toasted sesame seeds. I think if I'd added tofu it would have kept my belly full all night. As it was, I felt great after eating it but hungry in the middle of the night!

Tonight's was more filling: fried 1/4 lb. of pancetta (can also use bacon). Put the fried pancetta on paper towel, then added a large clove of chopped garlic to the remaining oil. After a minute or two, I added 2 cans drained Canelloni (white kidney) beans. I let it sit while I made the dressing (follows), then added 1/3 finely chopped red onion and a bag of arugula. The dressing was 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan and 1 garlic clove. Blended it in a blender, than stirred in 2 TBSP chopped basil. Tossed the arugula/bean mixture with the dressing, then put the fried pancetta on top. THEN I added grilled asparagus (first parboiled them, plunged them in ice water, then oiled and salted them before I put on the grill for 3 minutes til blackened). We had this with a bottle of 2004 Argentine Merlot, a very different merlot than what we have in the states. As it sat out, it got better. Dennis brought home a case, so it'll be fun exploring!

I'm adding to my garden every day. I have a bunch of seedlings in my house, but I am so anxious to get planting that I can't stop myself from buying a few more every day. They're doing pretty well, but a little yellow on the leaves. I added a bag of organic fertilizer (to the organic mulch and soil). We'll see. I thought my tomato seedlings were ready to be planted with the big kids (3" already..I'm so proud of them)...but it wasn't to be. They are very sad, all wilted over. I think it's still too cold at night (40). So this afternoon after our 76 degree day, I covered them all with plastic wrap! Improvising a cloche. I hope it works! I feel like I've abused my little friends. Good thing I didn't plant them all.

Enjoyed half of a Toblerone bar and 6 animal cookies. They are so good. Seems I can't eat so healthy after all. Our bodies crave fat! Will cover workouts another time, but suffice to say they support my wine/cookie habit.