FD, FM

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there, especially mine, Daddy, and my T, a wonderful father to our boys!

We let T sleep in this morning, and during those many early hours played, made a blackberry pie and homemade cards and then kissed him briefly as he emerged from bed and we left for the farmers market. It was an abundance of all good things, and as the boys sucked on Pleasant Pops (Chongos for Ol, pineapple basil for J), we meandered about buying strawberries, garlic scapes, rhubarb, bread, cheese, lavender and a smattering of other goodies. Can you tell that I am really(!) getting excited for the hours I'll have this week while the boys are at camp? Don't even call me. It's me and my kitch!

After dropping everything off, the boys and I left again for brunch at a dear friend's house. Her children and grandkids are in town, and the kids played while the adults ate and chatted. It was positively lovely. Ol woke up at 4a with a nightmare, and I never got back to sleep so as he started to wane, we said our goodbyes and headed home for some quiet time.

I'm happy that a beloved former teacher is coming to babysit later so T and I can spend some time together. The gym beckons, we'll grill a pizza tonight, and at some point, I seriously hope to cook!

Dinner, figs, ricotta, Happy FD

My ricotta looks pillowy and perfect. The poached figs and plump and sensual as they swim in their syrupy, spiced bath. Together, these will make a hell of a breakfast for moi tomorrow morning. I also made a lovely dinner, each element of which was the definition of simple and further underscored the dictum: buy the best-quality food you can and then simply let it shine with little or no adornment. Height-of-the-season corn on the cob? A three minute cook in was-boiling water, and voila, magnificent. Just caught King salmon? Seasoned with salt, pepper and a few tablespoons of fresh whey (another good fat would also suffice), wrapped in a foil pack and roasted in a hot oven...perfection. A simple couscous dish for a hearty side? Wonderful. Tonight, I made Amanda Hesser's couscous with celery, parsley and a minimalist red wine vinaigrette, a recipe I discovered the summer T and I lived in Amsterdam and which has been a favorite ever since.

Everything was so basic, so elementally good, and I feel infinitely satisfied. And now to bed because tomorrow is Father's Day. I feel a slight grr towards this only because I count on the weekends so very much as times of shared parenting. But c'est la vie. The boys treated me so well on Mother's Day and I can reciprocate.

Off.to.bed. Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!

Figs!

Today was exceedingly average, and we can't wait for the boys to hit the sack. Everyone is tired, borderline grumpy, and T and I just need some peace and, wait for it...you guessed it...quiet. Jack really does talk entirely too much. I have to say that we returned to glorious weather, giant tomato plants, hydrangeas in bloom and suitcases full of clean clothes as we did all laundry before leaving NC. It's a treat to not already be slave to my washing machine. Jack and T ran an errand while Ol and I went to the market. Fresh summer fruit is HERE in abundance, and I felt deeply happy and content amidst it all. It is possible that I bought way more than any small family needs, but no worries, Em-i-lis is here!

Peaches, plums, pluots, melons, berries and figs. Yay! I've made some fresh ricotta and will caramelize these beauties later for my snack o' champions: coriander sugar-poached figs with fresh ricotta. Aren't these photos fantastic?