Pulling together dinner at the last minute sparks creativity

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I finally started up my application reading for Columbia again- yay! Love the work, but fitting it in around the kids, Em-i-lis and life in general is a challenge. As such, tonight at 6:45 found me hungry and with no plan for dinner. The need to improv can definitely lead to inspo, and I'm now full and satisfied and with a newly invented recipe in hand. I had some ricotta and feta lingering in the fridge so decided to combine, bake and then serve with leftover caramelized onions, some freshly chopped tomatoes and mint and crackers. Lovely! T took care of some leftover meatballs, and my desire for veggies led to a wonderful vat of roasted sweet potatoes with hazelnut-coriander gremolata. I will definitely share this simple but fab recipe with you. Mamma mia!

Did anyone watch The Colbert Report from last night? Guest was Jonathan Safran Foer... It was an absolutely brilliant episode. As, might I add, by the way was The Daily Show immediately before.

News and events for foodies, cooks and enviro-lovers

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--Have y'all visited J.B.Prince's website or bricks-and-mortar store? I'd never heard of it until recently but man oh man, they have everything you could need in the kitch. Based in Manhattan, J.B. Prince is a restaurant supply store but also a must for culinary students, caterers and the like. Knives galore, every pastry tin/mold/baking sheet possible, pots, pans, tools, machines... It's great fun to peruse the site, and I will make haste to spend a leisurely afternoon there the next time I'm lucky enough to visit NYC. --This Friday's One Day Deal at Whole Foods is Rao's pasta sauce; usually $9.99/jar, it will be just $4.99 per until supplies run out.

--D.C.s 20th annual Environmental Film Fest begins next Tuesday, March 13 and runs through 3/25. The offerings look fascinating, so if you're in the area or can head in, check out their calendar.

--Lastly, on Thursday, March 15, Frances Mayes of Under The Tuscan Sun fame, will be at Williams-Sonoma in DC's Mazza Gallerie signing copies of The Tuscan Sun Cookbook. The event begins at 6p. While I was totally chagrined by the bastardization of her book in the film version, Under The Tuscan Sun was one of the works that lit my culinary and writerly flame. In fact, as I might have mentioned previously, on a trip to Italy years ago, I made Tom and my sister pilgrimage with me to Cortona to find the actual house she'd so lovingly restored. It did not look anything(!) like the home on the cover of the book and after walking miles, there was some real disappointment in that, but nonetheless, I've been there, seen it, walked those same Cypress-lined roads. Delightful!