Deliciousness

I've kind of gotten into cooking. The way some people enjoy movies, or buying new clothes, or sunsets--the kind of experience that just transports you into a state of utter glee--is how I feel about food. Not that I don't enjoy all those other things, because I'd certainly miss them if I couldn't experience them, but there's just something really amazing about a good meal where all the ingredients come together and enhance each other in just the right way such that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Maybe novelty is playing a factor, I don't know, but the satisfaction of creating a delicious meal out of multiple components (the right entree, the right side(s), the right alcoholic beverage pairing) is beyond anything else I know right now.

So I'm going to start writing about them. If nothing else, these will be good reminders (because I'm simply too lazy to actually create recipe cards are start organizing stuff; that sounds like work). And it's my blog, so... rock.

Tonight's dinner that I'm unnaturally excited about:

White Bean Salad

• cannellini beans (I prefer navy, but this was what they had)
• fresh cut basil
• diced fresh tomatoes
• garlic
• olive oil
• ground black pepper
• feta cheese
• kalamata olives (halved)
  
• baby spinach

I'd add measurements, but I really just sort of make this stuff up.

I shall be pairing this with a nice glass of sauvignon blanc, and a turkey burger (bun-less--the ingredients in the burger are such that I think it can stand on its own) and/or a piece of toasted sourdough bread. Oh, and possibly some salami. But only if I decide not to have the burger. Dear God but I love having options like this--they all sound delicious.

Bon appetit!


Delicious update:
White bean salad, sauvignon blanc, toasted sourdough with Boursin garlic & herb cheese, and salami. Dessert: lemon tarts. C'etait parfait.

Best-laid plans

...or not. My friend Joy is bravely going where she and her friends have clearly never gone before, and it seems she's experiencing some trepidation about the whole enterprise:

due to lack of cohesive planning, we are going to the forest in a prius. not only are we going to the forest in a prius, we are going to the incorrect forest. is there really a wrong forest? yes. we are going to kings canyon forest instead of sequoia national park. the pepper spray that i ordered through amazon.com has not come. it was supposed to double as potential bear repellent. however, i think the bears are still sleeping so we don't have to worry about that. only about the prius, the miscalculated distance, and the cold cold weather.

Take pictures, Joy. Take lots and lots of pictures. Cuz I have to know how this turns out.