kayb

Last night -- pan-grilled, oven-finished sirloin, marinated in garlic and herb marinade, served over risotto with leeks and sweet potatos, with steamed sugar snap peas with butter and tarragon. Recipes on my blog, www.kayatthekeyboard.wordpress.com (nothing for sale!) This morning/brunch, a Mexican frittata with black beans, fried potatos, chorizo and guacamole, topped with salsa and grated cheese. No photos as I can't find the charger to the camera battery. Kim, a make-it-quick tomato soup that beats canned all hollow -- 1 1/2 cup V8 juice or Bloody Mary mix, 3/4 cup plain yogurt, stir and simmer until hot and well blended. Spice to your personal taste (I usually add a shot of Worcestershire if using V8, nothing if using Bloody Mary mix).

I go to Nashville periodically, and will go more often now that my daughter and son-in-law are moving there in June. I thought the hellfire bitters would be worth a trip in and of themselves, but I have GOT to try a bacon old-fashioned! Can't wait. See y'all this summer. If it's a success, maybe a branch in Memphis....

A few weeks ago, I was in Washington DC, and my Moroccan cabdriver was eating the spiral flatbread (I forget its name). He told us that bread had been baked by his mother in Morocco the day before and brought to him by another relative who had flown over for a visit. We began talking food and I mentioned I needed to buy a tagine. He immediately offered to take me to the local suk, and when I agreed, turned the meter off and away we went. He haggled for a tagine on my behalf, carried it out of the suk for me, and delivered me and my tagine back to my hotel. I got his card and made peanut brittle and sent to him when I got home.