Since last week was way too crazy, I made Susie a birthday lunch today, one week late, but better than never. I love cooking for my girls - they'll eat anything so I can make all the things I love that others in the fam are too picky to eat. Like scallops. And polenta. Yep, polenta - with the weather taking a big turn for the cooler, comfort-y type foods are suddenly hitting the spot. And because fresh sweet corn is still tasty, I stirred in a cup or so right as the polenta finished cooking. Sweet and crisp, a nice addition.

Since polenta just begs for something a bit saucy, I served it up to Suz. Ha! Actually, I simmered CSA veggie share green beans and tossed them with a fresh tomato-garlic sauce (chopped fresh tomato, garlic, and olive oil sauteed/simmered together for a few minutes). Alongside scallops saltimbocca (I used Nueske's bacon instead of pancetta because, well, that's what I had; yes, I realize I'm beating the saltimbocca theme to death lately but what can I say? When it rocks, it rocks...), the polenta was in good company and we took our plates - and perhaps a glass of wine - out onto the deck for a nice summer-into-fall, girly-birthday luncheon. All good.

Until...I pulled a warm lemon souffle from the oven, and then it was all great. Sheesh. Topped with dollops of softly whipped cream, washed down with sips of strong, hot coffee...oh yeah. I don't know, I can't think of a chocolate dessert I love more than a warm fruit souffle. (Recipe for lemon souffle posted in comments, below.)

As Suz said, "Like I really want to go home and make dinner now," I'm thinking that John and I might end up wandering out later for sustenance. After checking out Vicky Cristina Barcelona, that is, which I've been looking forward to seeing.

Hope you're starting off your weekend in a nice way too! Happy Birthday Saucy Suz!

Later: three quick raves - one, for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which is sexy/funny/fabulous, I recommend it completely. Two, for Restaurant Alma, where we went afterward for a lovely dinner - no shock there. Sweet corn flan and rigatoni with fennel sausage for me, yum. Three, a quick bop into the Cedar Cultural Center, to catch the end of the Punch Brothers' performance. I admit, I went grudgingly (John's taste in music does not er, match mine, that's what seven years' difference in age will do to a couple), but I was pretty blown away by... I'm not sure... Classical alternative bluegrass? The mandolin/lead singer's voice was angelic, kind of scary perfect. The technical talent of the violin, guitar, mandolin, banjo, and string bass players was incredible. So...a damn good day, all in all. Def a keeper. G'night!

Moderate it: I've said this before about savory souffles and the same holds true for the sweet versions - they're actually quite simple to make, and not overly rich/caloric, but they impress and are, not surprisingly, absolutely delicious. I declare, the world needs more souffles.

Wow this weekend flew by, here it is Sunday already. What happened? John was away skiing with the boys and I was going to enjoy a nice, quiet, productive weekend... Which I did, sort of, but then as usual I accidentally kinda filled the time too and before I knew it, the only quiet night I had was Thursday. And it was awesome! A long walk, followed by polenta for dinner (of course). But after snuggling in for an excellent-but-disturbing book (Jesus' Son) and movie (In the Valley of Elah), I had rather completely creeped myself out...

...so was quite glad to see that like the shoots of an early crocus, a spontaneous Friday-night gathering of the Baseball Moms had sprung joyfully from the grey snow into my inbox. Laughter to the rescue! McCoy's or bust! And of course I had a blast, cackling and screaming and talking smack, as well as eating pizza and drinking beer, with Beth, Bobbi, Jen, and Sonja. Thanks ladies!

Then last night, off to my parents' for another delicious dinner (Dad's pheasant roasted in cream, alongside rice, a quick salad with little goat cheese tartlets that I made, with Susanna's scrumptious buttery- cinnamony apple crisp to finish). Hanging with Nathan, Stacey, Dad, and Susanna most definitely set my spirits right again. I admit it, I'm overly-affected by dark stories and movies, but luckily I'm easily steadied by good company, good cheer, and good food. Omigosh, I sound like a hobbit! Well then, just call me Stephanie Baggins, ha. A mite tall for a halfling, but my appetite for comfort is in the right place!

Friday night, the deepfreeze has abated, I had polenta for dinner, and life is goooood. Although, I hardly needed dinner, given I was full all day from our raclette dinner at the Shubert's last night. Oh, John and I went wild, broiling cheese over ham and potatoes, eating the melty goodness alongside sauteed veggies, coarse mustard, and cornichon pickles. After stuffing ourselves like French pigs rooting acorns, we still found room for chocolate fondue, merrily dipping grapes, bananas, pound cake, and strawberries into melted hazelnut Toblerone chocolate. Oy. So delicious. So full. So happy. Thanks Shuberts!

Yet despite my fullness...I still found room for the polenta, which I ate simply alongside mushrooms sauteed with a little garlic and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. All on my own for din - therefore the polenta! - forget about it, beyond good. I guess my shopping trip to the Mall of America today did spark a bit of an appetite. Me, at The Mall? Those of you who know me well know that I really don't do malls. Especially MOA, Lord help me, I carefully avoid the place. Insta-headache. Insta-mallness. Ya know? But for Suz...I did it. And had a great time, of course - it was with Suz! And maaaybe I picked up a few little rewards for myself. (Woo hoo!)

And oh! I also received a case of extra-incredible olive oil, directly from Italy. I had ordered it from a woman named Ludovica, who my aunts and stepmom met on a recent stay in Umbria. This is serious olive oil, lovingly made from the carefully picked fruit of hundred-year-old trees. Smooth, fruity-peppery taste (with quite an after-kick!), bright golden green color, fresh as fresh can be. I'll save it for bread and salads, when its delicious purity can be best savored. A delivery of Umbrian warmth, right to my wintry, grey doorstoop. Amazing. Grazie Ludovica!

So yep, Friday. Time to snuggle up in bed and watch a movie. Fall asleep early. Nothing exciting, which is damn fine by me. I'm over 40 you know. But it's all good.

I'll confess, there were some pretty big whoops around the TV last night when the New York Giants pulled off their upset Super Bowl victory. John's from NYC, so you know, a no-brainer for him... My stepdaughter and I were just a teensy bit swayed by the Tom Brady Cuteness factor, but I was glad for such an exciting game and to see John and Nathan so jazzed. Homemade pizza and a win, sheesh, the Super Bowl was actually fun this year, I can't remember the last time I thought that! (As in, never?)

Tonight, it's all quiet again; in fact I dined solo, so (naturally) took the opportunity to whip up a few of my favorite tasties - particularly those that no one else in the fam particularly enjoys...

I've been flipping through a gorgeous new cookbook, The Gift of Southern Cooking, by Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock, so was inspired to whip up some grits (I often make grits/polenta when I'm cooking just for myself) to enjoy alongside a simple saute of okra, tomatoes, onion, and a bit of bacon (recipe posted in comments, below). Deeeelicious. Keep this dish in mind this summer, when there are both just-picked okra and perfectly ripe tomatoes at the farmer's market. Fresh sweet corn would be a delicious addition. Or perhaps that's gilding the lily - you decide. The dish is completely successful in the winter as well - just choose grape cherry tomatoes (sweet even in the winter), and unblemished, plump okra (skip if they're shriveled).

This Yankee lurves me some okra. And grits. And cracklins, biscuits, fried chicken, braised greens, pork in every iteration, black-eyed peas, sweet iced tea, and most likely crayfish, too, if I had access. Yeeeeehaw!

Oops, I Did it Again! Somehow I accidentally slow-roasted another pork shoulder, this time an Italian version (think fennel seeds, tons of garlic, oregano, and thyme). Same technique as carnitas, same silky, porky result. Rarrrr, LOVE it. Nice to have sitting in the fridge over the weekend, ready to eat as is, or toss with a bit of rigatoni, or enjoy alongside creamy polentaaaaah, or stuff into a warm, soft roll, with thinly sliced onions and pickles, for a killer sandwich. None of those options suck and I'm glad to have them all. Yeah.

I met Susie Silpada Sales for a last-minute Friday Morning Coffee with Suz today (both Kim and I were busy on Tuesday, so Tuesday Morning Coffee with Kim & Suz had to wait for next week, boo). So fun! So necessary! Nothing like the elixir of girly chat (and Almond Joy candy bars - Suz brought Almond Joy candy bars! My very, very favorite, yay!) to wrap up a craaaaz-ow week. What to tell first? About Nathan's new school? Driving through a hailstorm? Eating delicious, strange animal parts, barefoot, in front of a television crew? Cooper's vomiting all over Stacey's car? My parents' new home? My accidental flashing of the Metal sign at a religious event?

And then, what to listen to first? About Suz's impending move? Her kids' new schools? Her new Susie Sales job? Her new kickass fur vest and totally Metal boots? It was too much, there's just too much going on. Life is wild right now, in a good way, guess we'll just have to get together again (hee, hee) - like on Monday to celebrate The Maven's 40th! Yes, that nauseatingly young beyotch is about to join the ranks of us cougars. Hope she can handle it... I'm cooking and haven't quite decided yet what I'm making. Stay tuned...

Hey! Almost the end of Thursday, thought I'd sneak in a quick post. Fun, fun dinner tonight with Bill & Karla, Joe & Genie, and Stu (The Wine Genius) & Debbie here a the hacienda. Summer casual, as in very, sticking to the menu I outlined yesterday except I baked a Summer Fruit Upside Down Cake instead of a tart. Eh, just a whim sort of thing. A marriage of Suz's Quick Cherry Dessert with the fruits I had on hand. With a bit of lightly sweetened whip, gooood stuff. Creamy Polenta (polentaaaaah) was nice too, I could eat the whole pan but since I had to share, you know, with my guests, I reigned myself in. A bit. Ha. (Recipe posted in comments, below.)

On a non-food note (no!)...check out this Plum TV interview of our friend Maud Bryt, regarding her current show of paintings inspired by her childhood summers on Nantucket. Maud is a photographer as well as a painter and many of her photographs of our children - luckily! - fill our home.

After Saturday's Date Day and Monday's Date Night, we've had a couple of days of very simple, low-key eating (and tough, tough walks and bike rides in this heat, makes me feel like I've hit a brick wall, ugh). Moderation, you know, ha - woo hoo! Mostly salads, although tonight I made a simple, garlicky, brothy shrimp sauce to toss with pasta. I sauteed spinach and ripe tomato as an optional add-in (we had both kids tonight, neither of whom would be thrilled to find wilted spinach in their pasta, ha) for John, Stacey, and me. Turned out light and so pretty, with pink shrimps, dark green spinach and fresh parsley, and red tomato, yum.

Tomorrow night, we're back on for a bit of part-ay-ing. John's partners Stu The Wine Genius, Bill, and Joe, with their wives Debbie, Karla, and Genie (respectively), are coming for a casual dinner. Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Tomatoes and Onion will be the main course, alongside creamy polenta and a medley of grilled vegetables. A nice tart for dessert, I think (can't get enough of summer fruit desserts, rarrr...) Looking forward to it!