AAAAAAAAAAAND, it's battle of the ethnic foods for dinner tonight!

[Shakespeare]

So, it's one of those weird nights where we're having a little of this, a little of that. On the menu:

Korean barbecue (Bul kogi - marinated boneless beef ribs)

Mashed potatoes

Fresh lima beans, southern style (my husband's favorite)

insalate caprese (because it's one of MY favorites, and I just pulled the tomatoes and basil out of the garden, and picked up the fresh mozzarella at TJs).

We're hoping a big, zesty red will unite all these discordant flavors!

Anybody else having a weirdo dinner tonight?

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Not tonight, but we've done those kind of dinners before

Its always fun to do a sort of fusion thing.

Actually, I take that back about tonight .......

I'm having company. We're doing Tuscan bean soup for a starter, gen-yoo-wine Maryland crab cakes (again), roasted peppers on olive oil and balsamico, baby greens salad with fresh tamadas, a really nice wine from Espana, Pellegrino water, and a baked, crusted pear with sweet vermouth sauce and espresso for dessert.

So .... a little Chesapeake, a little Italian, a little California, a little Espana, and a little French. Company will be here in about an hour.

[Shakespeare]

3. mmmmmmmmmm...roasted peppers....

Which wine? My current favorite spanish varietal (albeit from a California winery) is tempranillo. Sort of like zinfandel-lite (and I think of petite sirah as zinfandel-plus..LOL).

Can't wait for cold weather to kick in--well, yes, I can. BUT, I'm looking forward to putting the soup pot in its winter location (on the back burner of the stove, accessible at all times) and having soup or stew (or chili) at least once a week.

In the meantime, I'll continue to whine about our funky too-cool growing season this year and keep on urging my tomatoes and eggplants to ripen faster before the cold weather's here for good. Please, please, ripen.

That Tuscan bean soup sounds Yum-MAY.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. It was a 2004 Malvasia from Zamora

Nothing special, really, but a nice frame for the crab cakes. My wine lady suggested it and, as always, she's yet to make a bad sugegstion.

I made 8 crab cakes and there are 3 left. That'll be dinner night after next (I froze 'em for now).

I have to confess .... the soup was from a bag!



I'm here to tell ya, this stuff is killer good. And very easy. To be sure, homemade would be better, but I am also here to tell ya that if ya don't wanna fuss, no one will know this isn't homemade.

Here's a trick if you buy this. It says to cook it for 12 minutes. I cook it longer and add some olive oil to it. It makes all the difference in the world.

[The empressof all]

2. I'm cleaning out the freezer & Pantry

Hot Dogs and Saurkraut (the good ones from Costco)

Pasta Alfredo (Pasta Roni----I know but I have to use it up)

and I think I have enough veggies for a salad

[NMDemDist2]

4. my kitchen was a wreck cuz I didn't feel good last night, so I just made

chicken quasdillas tonight

but the kitchen is clean again, fresh cookies in the cookie jar and I'm proud to report my BIG cast iron is working very well again :)

[OldLeftieLawyer]

5. Costco gyoza with homemade peanut sauce

Followed by Irish oatmeal with Irish butter and Vermont maple syrup.

Don't ask.