Simplicity ....

I love having quiche with a simple salad, a warm loaf of crusty bread with butter (homemade butter - I am addicted to making this) and a nice glass of vino! Tonight I made a wild mushroom quiche! For dessert a bowl of summer strawberries topped with cream that I lightly scented with vanilla - no sugar! Simplicity is heaven sent sometimes ...

Ribs! Ribs! Ribs!

Last night we had our friend W. over for a cookout. Warm evening in the city and we were going to take advantage of our beautiful deck & Weber! Started the evening with a bottle of 2004 Tobin James Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel and a Hummus Platter. The food was great and the wine was FANTASTIC - juicy, jammy and spicy all wrapped up in one! We then grilled up some beef short ribs which I had rubbed down with a Chipotle Pepper and Salt rub, that I made earlier in the day. These ribs are really outstanding - full of flavor!! I am drooling just thinking about it - summer addiction for warm nights on the deck! Served it with an Asian Inspired Slaw that I tossed together and then we popped open a 2004 Tobin James French Camp Vineyard Zinfandel - another winner which really complimented the grilled beef, which was slightly spicy as well as the sweetness in the slaw! We ended the night with chocolate anglefood cake which I bought at Whole Foods and covered it with those great strawberries I have been raving about! Fantastic meal for a warm summer night in the city!!!

Blue Moon Strawberries

I picked up some strawberries at Whole Foods, today, mainly because they were so darn cute. Bright red & petite and some were oddly shaped, but really cute! Then I took a bite ................... the sweetest, juiciest, sinful strawberry I have ever had - I am completely in love with Blue Moon right now!

Tangerine Soba Noodles ....

with roasted veggies! Light, refreshing & delicious! Had a butter lettuce salad with a wasabi dressing with hit. Served it with a nice 2005 Shiraz. Dessert ............ a big bowl of luscious fresh strawberries!

Tuesday's Dinner

I did not feel like going to the market today so I had to get creative with what we had in the house, after a long weekend away, it was not much! I was inspired by BF's Portuguese background as well as my Basque background - both his mother and my grandmother use to use a lot of chickpeas in their houses and we have come to love them! Decided to throw in some secret seasons as well as some of the Portuguese Chorizo we won at the auction a couple weeks ago & why not some spinach I had picked up during the day - this is what we got! Enjoyed it with a wonderful glass of 2005 Blackwing Shiraz - super delicious!!! Dessert was left over frozen yogurt from last week as well as some strawberries I picked up. Enjoy!

Thursday's Dinner

As I have said before, when BF is not here, I tend to get a bit lazy ... actually, too busy tonight to cook, so I whipped up some of David Lebovitz's Frozen Yogurt - can you say, Viva La France?! Very Berry Good!!!!!