Picnic dinner, lime cake, so forth

A delightful and easily pulled together dinner. People, I must be frank in telling you that the lime-lemon glazed cake is awesome. It is SO good on the second day. I think most cakes improve but this one is especially that much better. Holy heck! Tomorrow is finally Friday. It is so arbitrary that that actually means anything to me these days, but still, TGIF. At least I know it's babysitter Friday- whee. Pedicure here I come.

On Saturday I will be cooking a Southern feast for friends: gumbo, shrimp creole, garlic bread. T is already excited and has proclaimed his contribution to be Bourbon Old Fashioneds. He just loves these; me, I think they taste like my throat is afire. But go T!

Inspired, call to action

Nick Kristof has done it again. I am so inspired by his continued commitment to highlighting and educating us about the poverty and lack of rights that afflict so many, especially women, around the world. Did you read his article today? Jane is an amazing woman in Kenya who was left by her husband (for another wife), homeless and with two small children. She became a prostitute to support her children, but five years later joined Jamii Bora, a Nairobi-based anti-poverty organization that teaches entrepreneurship and financial planning in addition to providing housing and sobriety programs. Jane now has a successful dress sewing business, bought a home in the suburbs for her and her (now 3) children, all of whom are in school and doing extremely well. It is difficult to escape years of poverty though, Jane recently had to liquidate her savings to pay for medical care for her youngest daughter, and she struggles to find good material for her dresses. Kristof has set up a way-station to which anyone wanting to help Jane can send old bridesmaids, wedding or fancy dresses; he will then get all donated dresses delivered to Jane. So, if you have anything that could be of use to Jane, I offer myself as the collector and mailer. I'll gather dresses for a couple weeks and take care of getting them to Mr. Kristof in NY. Please consider digging through your closets and shoving anything my way. Many thanks!!!

If you'd like to read additional information about Jane, see this blog post by NK.

Cake-off peer review, leftovers lunch, playing dinner by ear

Foodie-friend C gamely dove into both pieces of cake yesterday: lemon-lime of old, and the 2011 Recipe Redux version. As T averred, C also felt that the modernized version was superior but wondered if in it, I might be able to mimic the retro color marbleization. I do have some all-natural food coloring (no weird "dyes" folks) so will attempt to dye the syrup and see what happens. I too love the crazy psychedelic hues of the older style. Once I test that -NOT today- I will post a new pic. My fridge is insane, chock-full of delish leftovers, and that is what will be my lunch today! Braised cabbage, roasted cauliflower, some fresh ricotta with marinated, roasted tomatoes. Mmm...I can't wait, actually, now that I write that.

I don't have any big plans for dinner this evening- we might go picnic style with a tuna-white bean salad and a cheese plate. Have y'all tried this salad? It is so good in its simplicity. Every flavor bursts onto your palate, and it's so good for you. I'll post the recipe under Salads just to give you a prod. ;)

Jack is really pushing for a cowboy hat and bandana right now, but this far I have not acquiesced. I told him I called several local stores, and he told me that he and T looked around for one last weekend but to no avail because he didn't like the way the string on it "hid" his shirt when he tightened it under his chin. Always the fashionista, that 5 yr old. Anyway, I said, "well, Jack, I guess we'll just have to keep pretending," to which he immediately replied, "or you could check google." Oh my lord!