What a lovely, summery dinner. And check out these cool new bowls we bought via Lot18 (

What a lovely, summery dinner. And check out these cool new bowls we bought via Lot18 (http://www.lot18.com/i/Em-i-Lis), T’s new company from which you can get great wine and epicurean deals at terrifically discounted prices.

Anyway, I made the roasted sweet potatoes and asparagus just with EVOO, honey, s&p.
The succotash was easy as well: grilled corn, fava beans, red onion with -awesome last-minute brainstorm- that lime butter from last night. YUM!
And finally the cheeses: Grayson by Meadowcreek (stinky and fab), Bûcheron, and Pierre Robert (melty Brie). The Brie was too soft to accomodate the prunes- they’d pair better with a firmer cheese like Port Salut or even a hard one like Manchego or Idiazabal. But it was nice with the Tabasco pepper jelly. That stuff is the bomb!

The ease of a dinner cheese plate with a pretty salad on the side

Just when I started to despair about handling dinner while so freaking tired from Oliver’s 4:40a wake-up this morning, I recalled that I bought some goooorgeous cheeses yesterday as well as some fresh favas and English peas. I also took the plunge and bought two ears of corn despite the fact that it’s really not corn season yet. But, I’m going to grill it and then make a succotash with either the favas or the peas, but probably the favas. Maybe some thinly sliced red onion in there and a soft vinaigrette. For the cheese plate, we’re going to dig into this gorgeous brie I bought as well as good old Bucheron.

Y’all have probably not had this as I’ve never seen it out of Louisiana, but Tabasco makes a fabulous pepper jelly that is a ridiculously good accompaniment to brie. I have some of that as well as my stewed prunes which I think might be good. For the goat cheese, I might put some fig spread on the side. Yum!

Oh, and I spy two sweet potatoes in the pantry which would make a nice healthy side: think I will roast them with EVOO, honey, some s&p and maybe a little smoked paprika…

Ugh

Friends, I am thankful that I am not a man, but I will tell you that every few weeks, I sure think us gals got the short end of the reproductive stick. For those of you for whom Miss Flo is a non-event, give thanks as I am currently prostrate, cramptastic, and nauseous on the couch, attempting to amuse Oliver.