Hey man (my favorite Cooper greeting). Craziness out there these days, I won't pretend I'm not glued to the web (radio, TV) like everyone else. It's a wild ride, and more than a bit unsettling - perfect times for making a little dinner (waaaay cheaper than eating out, for one, and healthier and more comforting to boot). As I've mentioned, I've been in entertaining overdrive, what with Tuesday's party and another (big one) this coming Saturday. But since Thursday is CSA veggie share day, and I've been running on empty for the last several days, I decided ahead of time an uber-nutritious, vegeful dinner would hit the spot.

I didn't pick up my veggies until 4:30 or so, but since it was just John & me for din, I knew I could improvise. I opened up the box and found - a pint of cherry tomatoes. Yay! I just happened to have a spot of crusty bread as well (leftover from Tuesday night), and Parm in the fridge, so garlicky cherry tomato & bread gratin they became. Oooh, that dish is sick it's so good - and it's crazy-easy as well. It's all about good tomatoes, so make it when you can source the real deal (garden, farmer's market, CSA share - whatever works).

While I could eat just tomato gratin for din, I knew John would be left wanting, so I also roasted the broccoli, included as well in my box of veggie treasures, and made - don't die of shock - another frittata, this time with veggie-share spinach and leeks. Easy. Nutritious. Cheap. Delicious. All good.

(Unlike last night, when I made french onion soup for dinner. Oh it tasted yummy - to John and me. The kids? They didn't hate it, but one ate only the broth and bread - no cheese, no onions - the other ate only the cheese. If we had a third who ate only onions, they could all have shared a bowl. Right.)

To come full circle, here's a cheer-up pic of the lovely, creamy bouquet of roses I bought at Whole Foods on Monday. So pretty, roses, even the virtual kind. G'night!

Moderate it: it's nice to have a meatless dinner a couple of times a week. Cheap too. Give 'er a go, I'll bet you won't miss it one bit.

Had to snap a pic today of one of my favorite appetizers. Crusty bread, topped with a smear of hand-dipped ricotta cheese from Whole Foods (the stuff should be illegal, it's that good) and roasted tomatoes (which I didn't make myself, although they're easy enough; these I also picked up at Whole Foods, in the produce section, and they are particularly delicious, roasted in olive oil with garlic and herbs). I might have had some for breakfast this morning. Maybe. (Or, try this gorgeous recipe from our friends Kris & Harry, they of the beautifully Foodie dinner a few weeks back - tomatoes roasted with a bit of honey, atop scrumptious home-made ricotta cheese, finished with a drizzle of honey-balsamic. Beyond good. Recipe posted in comments, below.)

I don't usually have all these goodies on hand, but had purchased a round of tasties in prep for tonight's Susie Silpada Sales party, here at the hacienda. Girls, girls, girls, with snacks and wine and jewelry to boot. I put together a big platter of said tomatoes, as well as roasted peppers, carrots, and onions; salami; cornichon pickles; black olives; and rouille. Also set out a frittata cut into small squares, as well as chips and guacamole. With Kim as my Bar Beyotch (she is the fiercest bartender I've ever seen), Kathie and her sis Lisa doing party prep, and Suz jeweling her thing, we were all good. Even in pouring sheets of rain! Thanks ladies, for turning out and making it a great night!

Moderate it: a frittata is a terrific light, simple dinner, filling and tasty to boot. Without the crust and cream of quiche, but definitely with the perks of delicious fillings, nothing makes a better short-on-time dinner. And, good party food as well.

Alright, after all my reading (I've been a bit buried for days, sorry), I've decided to back way off on sugars and grains. I haven't completely eliminated them, of course, but I'm consuming very few. Even more emphasis on fresh meat, dairy, veggies, fruits. Whole foods, baby! Actually not much of a change, I haven't been eating all that much bread anyhow, since I decided to pare things down exactly one year ago - except toast for breakfast. It's been a week since I started tinkering and I have to say - I feel great. And I'm not puffy, or hungry, since I'm not limiting fat. I'll let you know how I continue to feel, and look, I find it all quite fascinating. Me, interested in food and nutrition? No way!

So...mushroom & gruyere omelets for dinner, yum. Sunday nights are often omelet (or frittata) nights, they're just so tasty and easy, you know? We had a shockingly, wonderfully lazy weekend - Nathan and I have been on a big Grey's Anatomy kick (past seasons) and we had ourselves a little marathon since he had extra days off for MEA. And, oh, John and I continued our anniversary celebration yesterday afternoon with lunch at Bacio followed by a sweet, appopriately romantic movie, Ira & Abby. Way fun.

So my head's in the clouds, but I'm still here, still cooking. Just thinking. Hmmm...

Tapas for dinner, I've decided, mostly after I picked up my LaFinca CSA veggie share. Green beans and tomatoes for Spicy Braised Green Beans. Carrots for A Pile O' Roasted Carrots (uh, they've been piling up in the cooler, time to pile 'em into our stomachs). Peppers, more tomatoes, and potatoes for a frittata. I happen to have some Marcona almonds, olives, and manchego cheese on hand, they can go on a pretty plate together. Perhaps a nice Spanish red and we'll call that dinner - NICE!

And ooh, there's a head of cabbage in this week's haul, which means it's time for one of my all-time favorites, Navy Beans Sauteed with Cabbage and Bacon. Crazy good, that stuff. Perhaps tomorrow...

I'm dining alone this evening...what should I make? I'm thinking either a simple frittata (spinach, onion, and tomato, cuz that's what I have) or grilling myself a veggie mushroom burger (the meat-free kind, I actually really love them) to eat in a toasted whole-wheat pita with avocado and sundried tomato spread. Both sound great, it'll be hard to decide! The grill might win out because it's such a spectacularly perfect grilling day. WOW, what a day. Before that, perhaps a late afternoon walk to smell the lilacs while they're blooming. And afterward, little outside music, little reading on the deck... Hope you're finding some way to enjoy a lovely Friday evening's sensual pleasures...have a great weekend!