Not a lot of cooking planned for today, my little O

Y'all should see my fridge. I sent peeps home with as much as possible last night (and three cheers to your willingness to do so!) and my icebox is still packed to the gills. It would be a ridiculously prodigal pursuit to cook anything new, so I won't have much to share in that regard today. However, I did enjoy a brownie, sliver of blackberry pie and mini turkey sandwich for breakfast. Not a thing wrong there if you can wrap your taste buds around Moroccan mustard and cranberry sauce at 7:30am. I posted the two tart recipes from last night and will also be sharing one for some cherry-almond macaroons that foodie friend S brought last night. There was not a shred of coconut left nor did I get a pic, so you'll just have to trust me and the rave reviews these garnered and make some of your own. Bene, bene.

As I mentioned recently, Bob the Builder leaves a little something to be desired re: quality, but Oliver is beyond smitten with it. Now that he will regale me with this song (click link for video), I can no longer mind his obsession as this is truly one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Oliver sings Bob the Builder

Did I actually write 'icebox' up above? Wow!

There's Something About Pie, amazing nuts, what's for dinner?

Today was such a marathon. T left the house at 5:15am to catch his flight, and by 7:25a the boys and I were at a local breakfast spot, waiting for it to open. Then we went to a friend's house for a playdate and dogdate. It was super fun but wow- all those little boys and boy dogs. The energy was major. While being chased by host dog, Percy pooped mid-run ON my friend's carpet. Could I have died? Yes! Did I even know that was possible? No! Oh lordy, thank you, L, for being such a sweet and laid-back pal. I didn't think T would make it home for dinner tonight so all I've got planned is this key lime pie. Ah well. I'm going to make some sugared lime wedges to go atop the whipped cream I'll put on this once it cools. It's supposed to chill for at least 8 hours, but again, ah well. It'll get about 2. We'll get its full force of flavor tomorrow at breakfast I suppose. The color of real key lime is so funky; looking at this pic, I feel like I'm gifting my hubby with a pistachio pie. That might also be good, but this is indeed just lime juice.

Do y'all ever wonder why I make so many pies? For one, pie is just good. Secondly, they're quite easy by and large. Thirdly, they've got a nice crust-to-filling ratio which I find critical, and lastly, T adores pie. He much prefers pie to cake, and in fact, in lieu of the groom's cake that is so traditional in the South, we had 9 pies- three each of his three favorite flavors. I am not kidding when I tell you that all 9 were gone faster than we could clink our champagne glasses. So, there is something about pie.

Today I bought provisions for the best seasoned nuts recipe I've ever enjoyed. The recipe is courtesy of my dear writer friend, D, and I'm going to roast some of these up just before the party starts on Thursday. Mixed nuts, butter, rosemary, brown sugar, cayenne and kosher salt, all tossed and baked until fragrant and zippy. I've never seen folks be able to control their intake of them, and with D's permission, I'll share the recipe with you soon!

Grapefruit tart screeches to a halt, Kitchen Item #3 That You Need

Y'all, I got home from the market with all the ingredients to make this grapefruit tart, and lo, I forgot to purchase grapefruits. Really people?? I think I assumed I had some here since my crisper drawers are usually laden with them, but alas no. So, the dough for the tart shell is chilling in the freezer, and dear T said he'd pick up some ruby reds on his way home. Do you what is amazing? The boys are at their grandparents' house until tomorrow. Hallelujah. We had a parental-child come-to-Jesus this morning about what listening means, and who -much to their surprise?- is in charge in our home and family. I dare say they were to an infinitesimal bit chastened. Where do kids get their negotiating skills? And is their egocentrism to blame for the shock they seem to feel when you tell them that the entire world does not revolve around them? Good lord. Though I adore children in general, and especially mine, they really are, in many ways when small, parasitical little creatures that need serious guidance out of their uncivilized shells.

So anyway, the gramps took them as a birthday treat for T, and I came home from yoga salivating over the grapefruit tart I planned to immediately make. I'll just have to salivate a little longer I guess. ~~ Today's Kitchen Item That You May Not Think You Do But Might is.... the spice grinder, an indispensable tool that makes a world of difference. I've got two: one for a course grind and one for fine. They're made by Kyocera, I got them from amazon, and they were somewhere in the neighborhood of $12-$15 each. Fresh cumin and coriander seeds take on whole new identities when put through these mills, especially after being toasted. Another perk of these grinders is that you do not get seeds jumping all over your kitchen to avoid being crushed the way you do if you're attempting to grind with a knife blade or the like. This is a contained unit from which your seeds cannot escape. Nice!