Catch up

I haven't posted food pics in a while, but there's been cooking going on. Some things to catch up on in the past few months. I really need to get some sort of decent camera.

Creamy penne pasta with prosciutto, crimini mushrooms and basil


BBQ one afternoon with friends:

Special, impromptu tri-tip marinade. I don't really remember everything that went in here but there was a good amount of Jack D and pineapple juice and teriyaki.

Kielbasa, bacon wrapped green onions, tri-tip kabobs

Infamous, mouth-watering, heart clogging bacon-wrapped green onions

Marinated tri-tip with roasted red onions, mushrooms and bell peppers


Another meal: Grilled chicken panini on sourdough with roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, swiss cheese, arugula and roasted-garlic dijon aioli. Also Israeli couscous with sweet potato, shallots, and pumpkin butter.

Baked spinach and sausage ziti with tomatoes and parmesan

Garlic shrimp-stuffed mushrooms

Oh baby, mochiko chicken. Cooked 15 lbs of it.


Desserts: Homemade chocolate ganache, chocolate croissants courtesy of Pillsbury

My pineapple cake!

Fresh blueberry coffee cake

Simple Lemon Icebox Pie

Homemade dark-chocolate brownies, homemade hot fudge, Trader Joe's Vanilla icecream

From a mix, but still mention-worthy. 5lbs of Almond Jello

Doesn't look like much, but my favorite creme brulee thus far: An espresso-coffee creme brulee.

Recap

I have this desire to start a book club.

Vision

When I close my eyes this is what I see:

A large, circular, white sandstone fountain, its edges veined with aging cracks and clouds of dust that perpetually settle upon its surface. It is in the center of a much used marketplace, surrounded by wooden stalls and the distant murmur of life fading in and out of the background, filled with a beautiful, sky-blue water that lightly gurgles as the peaceful reflection of distant clouds on its face ripples outwards. The sun is a bright, constant reminder of the midday life surrounding me, reflecting off the rough, sandstone edges of this large fountain I'm standing next to. I can almost hear the sound of bells tinkling, and faintly feel the pleasure and heady joy of life beating around me with an almost tangible, undeniable vitality. Nothing has ever felt so real, yet the only thing that matters in this instant is that it is here that You meet me, the two of us standing face to face in front of this weathered, white fountain in the midst of the marketplace. My head is always bowed a little low, and Your eyes are always looking at me with patient encouragement as if You know where my next step lies, and are but waiting for the joy and pride of seeing me discover it for myself. I see you, dusty and weathered, warm and comfortable, Courage and Peace.