Cookies, compost salad, out to dinner, The Help

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T and I watched The Help last night, and I really thought it was good. The acting was superb. Viola Davis deserves an Academy Award- she had such a  beautiful dignity and strength. But really, everyone was excellent- wow, what an ensemble! It is raining cats and dogs today; everything just feels soggy as get out. You can't escape it. It's as if the world is made of dirty caramel. Ah well, we're going to have a cookie-making afternoon over here. I just bought some new holiday cookie cutters, and the butter is softening on the counter. Mr. J went back to school today feeling about 75% and I suspect he'll be totally bushed after pick-up so sitting and icing cookies sounds calm yet fun.

At present, I'm enjoyed a hell of a compost salad- how yummy does this look?! - and am meeting a friend for dinner out tonight which will be nice. T and I are very much looking forward to our getaway to Philly this weekend- you know how I feel about the food scene there. Whoa!!

Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Leeks, Garbanzos and Bacon, Turnips and Arugula

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We considered ordering out tonight, but one glance in the fridge suggested we may want to use some stuff up. I'd been sitting on a Melissa Clark recipe for an arugula and shaved turnip salad so made that (wonderful!) and improv'd with my leeks and remaining bacon and garbanzo beans by: cooking and draining the bacon, sauteeing the leeks and the zest of 1 Meyer lemon in a little butter + bacon drippings, adding garbanzos, stirring in the cooked pasta + some cooking water + some fresh ricotta and topping with crumbled bacon. It was all quite good, and we're now retiring to the basement to eat the rest of the rice pudding and watch The Help. PS- we recently watched Super 8. TERRIBLE. Don't waste your time.