Fruit is macerating, inspo for tonight and tomorrow

Isn't this beautiful?! What a perfect ruby red. Do y'all want to know the best-ever surprise? T got home at 5:45, and although he leaves again first thing in the morning, he is putting the boys to bed right now. All hell is breaking loose up there, and I'm down here. BLISS! Oliver is yelling about wanting to sleep in "Mommy's bed." Riiiiigght... In the meantime, I've had inspiration for both dinner and a treat tomorrow. After I wrote earlier about the possibility of panini tonight, I became increasingly keen on the idea of a fantastic sandwich. So I think I'm going to go with thick-sliced harvest bread (many seeds, many grains), roast turkey, sour cherry spread and Bûcheron. Mamma mia!

Tomorrow, my madeleine pan arrives. I've never made a madeleine in my life, but they are so pretty and a nice size for a snack, so I ordered a well-reviewed, inexpensive pan and am noodling on a cinnamon-cocoa dough. Mmm.

Strawberry-rhubarb-lemon jam, rice pudding, what's for dinner?

Y'all, last night's batch of rice pudding is the bomb! I tweaked the recipe some and used brown jasmine rice rather than white, and I must say, this is my best batch. Oliver ate leftover pindi chole with a side of feta salsa for lunch but would not touch the rice pudding. What? What is up with my children and comfort food? Do they not need comfort? Maybe just not from food, and honestly, amen for that, but no mac and cheese? no grilled cheese? Kinda odd. Bygones.

I swore that Melissa C's jam recipe called for Meyer lemons, so I made a special trip out for them this morning. Alas, no, but I might use them anyway. In this recipe, you mix together and macerate the fruit, lemon and sugar overnight as MC says doing so candies it a bit pre-cook and improves the texture. Interesting. I'll get it together later and can it tomorrow.

Dinner tonight will be a basic one- maybe a panini or something equally simple but good. The sky's gray shroud is in effect big time today and as the sun seems to have been sucked into oblivion, so too my energy.

One Day Deal, Bill Maher in DC!!!

Tomorrow's One Day Deal at Whole Foods is whole, organic chickens, for $1.99/pound. Roast chicken is simple and delicious, or you can chop your bird up and make a tagine. If you love Bill Maher as much as I do and you're in the DC area, get psyched because he'll be performing at Strathmore's music center on April 1. Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning. I am completely chagrined that I'll have to miss his show as we'll be out of town. Boo!