Yes, it's true, I've been aloof these past couple of days, and to make up for it, I am providing you with an early Friday morning post to help get you going. Also I fell asleep very early last night - probably from a combination of allergy and pain medication (But trust me, it's all right). Thank goodness it's Friday indeed!
I used to say that I hate cooking, but I've recently experienced a strange change of heart. In all fairness, it is not true cooking, but I have been using the oven more and the microwave less (Although that might be because I don't own a toaster). Ovens really frighten me, actually, and I am not sure why.
Most of my ingredients are meals from Trader Joe's that I've become bored with and have dressed up in new and interesting ways. Some of my favorite things right now are lemons, heirloom tomatoes, cucumber slices, spinach, and mint. I've had some major accomplishments this week and I would like to show them to you.
This is the Pizza Margherita with papaya and mango salsa and slices of Tofurky Italian Sausage - it is vegetarian. It has a zesty, spicy, sweet flavor, like a Hawaiian Pizza.
I know I showed you this one before, but it bears repeating. It is another Pizza Margherita with spinach, (Fake) Italian Sausage, and sliced mini heirloom tomatoes. It is delicious with a glass of red wine and has a "greener" taste (The tomatoes are my favorite part).
Last night we played an imagination game where I owned and operated a restaurant called California Cafe. This sandwich was the main inspiration and it contains humus, spinach, avocado, and prosciutto with a zest of lemon on a toasted French roll. We said that maybe the restaurant serves "NorCal versus SoCal" food, and this sandwich would be on the NorCal menu. Its SoCal counterpart is two slices of prosciutto between layers of papaya and mango salsa on another toasted French roll, which I made last night but did not take a photo of.
I served this "NorCal Avocado Sandwich" with a glass of iced Yerba Mate tea and some milk chocolate wafers. We learned last night that it is difficult deciding the names of food. My companion in this endeavor suggested we name it after the fellow who discovered LSD...because "humus is for hippies."
This was my post-Halloween hangover meal: A strange combination of corn bread topped with boysenberry jam and a sprig of mint, heirloom tomatoes dressed with olive oil and rice vinegar and salt and pepper, and a refreshing glass of Reed's Ginger Beer.
In my not-so-humble opinion, Reed's Ginger Beer ought to be consumed in only one way: In a nice glass, with ice, and a slice of lemon. You may add rum for an exceptionally exquisite Dark and Stormy. Part of me is curious to add cinnamon.
I know I have shown you this before, but it is my favorite decadent breakfast of Tazo Awake tea (With mint and lemon and sage honey) and a slice of corn bread with boysenberry jam and the usual mint.
Speaking of decadence, it is important to treat yourself, and to treat yourself well. This is a slice of Trader Joe's Chocolate Cloud Cake (Something like that), on a plate drizzled with buckwheat honey and adorned with a mint leaf. I had this treat with a cup of hot Yerba Mate tea, but a cup of black coffee is another excellent companion.
Last night on our walk home (Because the bus broke down and the air was right for a three mile jaunt), we stopped at Gelson's for an avocado. Well, I couldn't help myself, and bought two very big, very beautiful heirloom tomatoes that I am excited to bake and eat tonight. I also bought a bottle of rose water and I am very excited to play with it. Last night I started off by adding just a drop to a glass of water, ice, and a lemon slice. It was really a very delicate, delicious treat, and very lovely to look at!
Happy Friday!
(Drawing by Yours Truly!)
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