Yummy!

Look at this beautiful compost salad from lunch and this gorgeous pasta coming together tonight. Though I swear I photo'd the final product, my camera tells me otherwise. Very suspicious- wine brain? These are collards rather than the called-for spinach; they're what I had and were delicious though, because they don't wilt as quickly as does spinach, I blanched them in the pasta water before adding them to the sauce pan. This worked perfectly. As it turned out, I did not have any fresh breadcrumbs, nor the makings for them, so had to abort that idea, but did sprinkle some crushed red pepper over half of mine for a taste test. Both sides were delicious. I loved the way the garlic spiced up the tuna here, and I like the way boulangere described this as being about simple ingredients making bold statements of flavor. Indeed- such is the essence of good Italian cooking.

Buona notte.

Dinner tonight= pasta a la boulangere, Whole Foods daily deal tomorrow

I wrote last night about all the folks I've gotten to know or have met since I started Em-i-lis, and one is another avid cook who is also active on food52. She and I correspond somewhat regularly which has really been a treat. Though I've not met her in person, I feel we know each other in a small way, and it's neat and appreciated. Tonight, I'm making a pasta dish she created after a visit to Florence, Italy. As my sister lives there, Florence is special to me, and I love Tuscan food, too. Her (my far-away friend, not my sister) food52 name is boulangere, and she's got a great spirit. I know we'd enjoy wine, laughter and conversation if ever we were to meet. So tonight I'm going to make this delicious dish (boulangere, I might dust mine with freshly toasted breadcrumbs, and I've got collards so am using them in place of spinach; decidedly un-Tuscan I know, but call it Florence joins forces with Louisiana; interestingly, the fleur-de-lis is the official symbol of BOTH; how cool is that?!) and will send you a toast from DC. Here's to community and conversation! ~~ Tomorrow's One Day deal at Whole Foods is a 5 pound box of fresh CA satsumas for $4.99 (rather than the regular $7.99). Yum!