Sometimes I think food is the only thing that matters. Eat well, and all is well. We spend a good deal of our waking hours thinking about dinner, shopping for dinner and preparing dinner. Then there’s breakfast, lunch and happy hour, but I’ll save that for a different day.
News of the world has distressed me, so I’m trying to stay off the internet and focus on the simple pleasures that make me happy. That’s probably good advice for all of us.
I guess it’s not much of a blog post, but I thought, why not just list what we’ve been eating? It’s a pretty awesome list. Maybe not the healthiest – I’m looking at you dairy – but awesome nonetheless. I hope reading about food takes you to your happy place.
Monday – Dale made grilled bison cheeseburgers. I made a grated carrot, fennel, hazelnut and orange salad to go with. We each had a handful of potato chips. The brand is Gibble’s. They are from Pennsylvania. The chips mysteriously arrive in the mail when Dale is left at home without adult supervision.
Tuesday – Dale’s homemade chicken tortilla soup from the freezer. We top it with crumbled queso fresco, diced avocado, fried tortilla strips and cilantro. Oh, and a squeeze of lime.
Wednesday: Dale made his original version of pork curry with green beans, corn and eggplant in a spicy tomato sauce. I made raita (cucumbers and yogurt) to go with. We also had a dollop of apricot chutney I made from some fresh apricots a neighbor plucked from his tree.
Thursday – I made whole wheat crepes stuffed with mushrooms and asparagus in a creamy pecorino Romano sauce. Spinach and arugula salad to go with. The mushrooms were cooked in a bit of water first and then almost caramelized with a little oil. This is my new favorite way to brown mushrooms.
Friday: Dale’s homemade pizza with whole wheat crust, shrimp, kalamata olives, basil, fresh tomatoes, habanero peppers and goat cheese. I pick the peppers off, and it’s still crazy hot. Dale is a machine.
Saturday: Donna’s tomato pie with cheddar cheese, basil and chives in a double biscuit crust. I used half lard and half butter in the biscuit dough, and we both thought it was better than all-butter.
Sunday: Grilled lamb chops with rosemary and garlic, grilled asparagus (the other half of the bundle I bought for the crepes) and tabbouli salad. Dale did the grilling, and I made the tabbouli, which is bulgar, tomatoes, parsley, mint and green onions in a vinegarette. I was generous with the olive oil and lemon juice, and Dale thought it was a wee bit too wet. I thought it was perfect, but next time I’ll back off the juice.
Monday: Leftover tomato pie reheated in the oven.
Tonight: BLTs on Donna’s homemade sourdough bread. The dough felt kind of dry, but I got the best rise ever on this loaf. Great for sandwiches. Something to be learned there.
The tomatoes were late this year, but the farmer’s market starting carrying them two weeks ago. So, it’s really a race to the finish. How many tomatoes can we eat before the season is over?
Oh, and on the tomato front, upon a tip from the NY Times, I made a tomato sandwich for lunch one day with salt, mayonnaise and a generous shake of furikake, a Japanese seasoning made with sesame seeds, nori and maybe some salt and sugar. Delicious!
Tomato Pie
Ingredients
For the filling
- 2 pounds fresh tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup minced chives
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise thinned with 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
For the crust
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1 stick butter cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Peel and slice the tomatoes and let them sit in a collander about 30 minutes to drain. Freeze the butter for about 20 minutes.
- In the food processor, blend flour, salt and baking powder. Add the butter pieces and pulse until the butter is roughly incorporated. Add milk and blend until it comes together. Divide the dough in two, and gently roll out the bottom crust, using more flour to keep it from sticking.
- Line a 9-inch pie plate with the bottom crust.
- On top of the crust, add the sliced tomatoes and then the basil and chives. Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheese on top, and then drizzle the mayonnaise/lemon mixture over the top and then add the rest of the cheddar.
- Roll the remaining dough and fit it over the filling, pinching the dough around the pie plate to seal the edges. Cut several steam vents in the top crust and bake the pie at 400 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown on the top and bottom.
- Cool on a rack for a few minutes before slicing.
Holy heck, how do you eat such delicious food and remain slim? Seriously!
Everything sounds absolutely amazing! I’m very interested in your tomato sandwich, and will make a point to get to the farmers market this week to pick up some beauties in order to give it a try.
The tomatoes were worth waiting for! I am lucky to eat well and stay slim. I used to think it was because I exercise, limit portions, etc. But plenty of people who do that struggle with their weight, so who knows?
Enjoy your lovely food and metabolism then, you fortunate one.
I am as low as I’ve ever been, in the low 120’s, but even with miles and miles of daily hikes, I have to eat like a mouse or gain weight. Likely the result of too many years of crazy dieting. Oh well, I’ll live vicariously through you. 😆
Yep, we think about food like you. But what really forced me to respond to this note is your statement about news of the world and staying off the Internet. Bingo!
We have canceled cable (250+ channels of crap). We don’t read the local, national newspapers. (Don’t need to know who got killed, who said what about a particular person/politician, car wreck). The only thing we did watch was the Weather Channel. Now I just look outside.
Don’t want to know about politics or the parties. A local church is having a Trump for President sermon and bake sale. I thought churches are supposed to stay out of politics?
Anyhow, we are much happier reading books recommended by the NYTimes or going to Barnes&Noble for reading time morning, afternoons and evenings.
Thank you!
I love, “Now I just look outside” instead of watching the Weather Channel. I’ve been kind of a news junkie most of my life, but I agree with your assessment completely. The political stuff is toxic for everyone. Reading and cooking are way better for you!
That does it! I am coming to your house for dinner! It made me want to see pictures and recipes. Maybe you should start a food blog too.
I’ve thought about it, but I’m not sure I have the desire to do the pictures and recipes, so there’s that …
“The chips mysteriously arrive in the mail when my husband is left home alone.” I love this. I am the evil influence at our house. I mean the guy does live on cheeseburgers and pizza but he is not a big sugar eater……unless I’m leading him down the primrose path.
Me: Want some ice cream?
Him: Nah.
Me: Stop here. I’m getting some ice cream. Sure you don’t want some?
Him: Oh, okay.
A version of this happens a few times a week.
My husband isn’t big on sweets, either. But he’s definitely in the burger and pizza camp. I thought I had eaten my lifetime allotment of ice cream when I worked at the ice cream store after high school, but lately I’ve been enjoying it again.
Donna, you & Dale elevate a menu! Years ago my son scoffed at my SIL & I for oohing/aahing over a decadent dessert. “It’s just food,” he said. NOT. A bologna sandwich is “just food.” Your menu is more than just food.
I never have understood the “just food” people. Food is life!
I ordered an air fryer a few days ago and expect it to be delivered tomorrow. I don’t go in for kitchen gadgets usually (not enough counter space, for one thing) but I’ve read enough to make me want one. One big attraction is using it to cook for two without heating up the house with the oven. Your dinners sound yummy… care to share your tomato pie recipe (we are drowning in tomatoes too)?
I added the tomato pie recipe to the post. Enjoy!
I grew up in New Jersey—-the Garden State and summer meant fresh tomatoes at every meal,fresh corn, peaches, and more. I know the delight of a fresh tomato/mayo sandwich!! Love the food posts!! I also enjoy cooking and we like to eat well..restaurants usually disappoint (and deflate my pocketbook,too!!)
I went to college in Pennsylvania, and some of that good New Jersey produce made it across the border. The best peaches I ever had came from up that ways (sorry, Georgia).