Half of an avocado sprinkled liberally with salt. I don't know why avocados, like mangoes, taste so much better when you're standing over the kitchen sink with spoon in hand.

Next time try it with a sprinkling of sugar. I used to only put salt on my avocado until my husband's family in Hawaii introduced me to using sugar. Definitely not what I expected, but still very good. Now I alternate either sugar, or salt and freshly cracked pepper.

Had some hen-of-the-woods mushrooms that I picked up at the Dupont Farmers Market this morning. Sauteed them in some olive oil and butter with sprigs of thyme according to a recipe I found online. Very meaty and earthy flavored.

Spent most of the day yesterday making the pastrami referenced in this thread and must say that if you are a fan of the meat, you really must give this a go. With the brining and smoking, it is very time consuming, but was worth every second for the payoff. I braised it in chicken stock and a bottle of beer until about 11 last night and had it with some horseradish mustard on rye for a ridiculously good late night snack. Next time I do it, though, I think I will go lighter on the pepper, maybe more of a 75/25 mix with the coriander on the rub. The meat was so damn tasty from the brine that it really didn't need to have that strong pepper flavor shining through.

Also, if you do decide to give this a go, I would give the meat only around 5 hours in the smoker, as my ends came out a little stringy (but still delicious).

A spoonful of Jif and two unsalted pretzels from the tub in the break room. Plus coffee.

White bean and lamb soup from Virginia Lamb. I may have to buy another for recon, but I'll be adding this to my soup repetoire!

Big bowl of steamed rice with minced, soy-sauce-steeped mountain garlic and shiitake mixed in. Mmmm.

Popcorn. Sea Salt. Listening to Vin Scully's call of the 9th of Sandy Koulfax's perfect game. I think I know how it ends! I saw one of the no-no's but not the perfect game.
"He is one out away from the promiseded land!"
They broke the mold when they created Mr Scully. The only Dodger lead announcer I ever knew!

Toast with homemade orange marmalade from one of Azami's students
Nice hot cup of Kenya coffee

Surely not the most nutritiously sound breakfast...

Kasugai roasted nut mix
Banana
Chai

Ha! I've got you beat. I'm eating chocolate chips that spilled over when I measured them out for the cookies. I predict that in about 10 minutes, I will be eating chocolate chip cookie dough .

Haagen Dazs Fleur de Sel Caramel ice cream. Very good stuff.

Fresh ricotta drizzled with acacia honey.

Pretzels dipped in crunchy peanut butter--this is probably the third day in a row I've been craving this . Great combination.

Talk about combos-I had leftover chili mac topped with blue cheese dressing My love for this goes back 20 years or so, when mega salad bars were all the rage in newer supermarkets. Nachos and all the fixin's were omnipresent, and I used to get them and a salad. Well, the ranch or blue cheese dressing always got mixed in with the chili topping the nachos, and it was a Reese's moment.

A very good friend... a cooking buddy... absolutely hates cold soups. So, in her honor: split pea soup with bacon.
I may not be able to produce porn-worthy buttermilk biscuits, but I can do some damage to skillet cornbread.

Aah... the joys of working from home on a cold, rainy, overcast Monday afternoon.

leftover fettuciine alfredo with broccoli rabe, almonds, and hot pepper flakes

Salad made with lettuces, endive, and sorrel, all from my garden.

Egg salad with cornichons and celery on a toasted everything bagel

A confession: my suffering with a sinus infection self is eating Lipton noodle soup (kept on hand for occasions just like this) with extra egg noodles and lots of black pepper. I really need a boyfriend (who can cook for me when I'm sick, and when I'm not).

I used to like Lipton soups and that would make me feel better if I were sick with a cold. Feel better!
I split a Milano sub from The Italian Store with my better half. I'm glad I know that TIS keeps already made hoagies on the counter. I almost got out of there quickly, except it took a while to check out. Oh well, a hoagie, a couple boxes of canelloni and boxes of pasta was worth the wait .

If I had more, I'd be slurping some right now.

A Pacific Rose apple...unbelievably crisp and sweet.

I'm addicted to a bowl of cereal every night, no matter what I've had for dinner. Tonight was Harris Teater brand multigrain flakes with dried sweetened cranberries and vanilla soymilk. The cereal was new. I like hippie cereals as a rule, but these were a little bland.

Fresh peas, with a bit of tarragon from the garden. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Koiwai Farms Blueberry & Cheese ice cream. More blueberry-y than cheesy.

Kettle brand chips, Salt and Ground Pepper flavor. Bad girl.

A Daniel Boulud-recipe Burger: Home-ground sirloin mixed 4:1 with pulled pork barbecue; grilled medium rare; on a home-made whole wheat bun with jalapeño mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, cheddar, and roasted corn salsa. Accompanied by corn on the cob. Great night for eating outside.

Brioche a tete with strawberry jam; made last winter and stashed in the freezer for mornings like this. Tomorrow morning I think I'll take a brioche loaf out and make French toast with it. You know - egg, milk, and butter bread cooked in egg, milk, and butter.

Strawberry cream pie and coffee followed by sesame chicken. Now I am just waiting for BLBaby to decide if he is done with his golden delicious apple so I can have my share...

You've got to be kidding!!! Four hours... and counting... before THE picnic event of the year. I'm saving my appetite for those deviled eggs.

Koiwai Farms plain yogurt with a handful of candied yuzu peel mixed in. Everything is better with yuzu!

Spicy chicken bibimbop from the cart at 14th & L. Yes egg, yes kim chee, yes just a little bit of hot sauce. The top of my head might blow off, but oh, it's so good.

Beef marrow on everything flatbread

Leftover gemelli with tomato sauce and meatballs after a girls night out. I'm seeing double right now, but typing (reasonably) well. Bed.

Fennel potato salad with buttermilk dressing leftover from last night

Lettuce harvested from the backyard garden topped with slices of leftover rib-eye and grilled corn; diced mango tossed with fresh mint, red pepper flakes, and honey.

Popcorn with butter, coarse sea salt, garlic powder, and grated Parmigiano

Everona "Piedmont" cheese. Pretty good stuff.

Cauliflower and lentil curry w/ brown rice

a kit-kat bar.

My friend from Texas' beef and bean, and chicken and spinach enchiladas with avocado and red salsa. Baby carrots and Wegman's light ranch.

While watching Ratatouille I'm enjoying smoky bacon flavored potato crisps.

Interestingly enough the package noted that they are vegetarian friendly.

Just got back from Max's where I had a chocolate chip icecream cone.
Dinner was merguez, heirloom tomatoes, bread, and cheese.
Veggie daughter had cold sesame noodles and cukes.

Summer is here.

Cherries from Dupont Farmers market farmer that sells random stuff like blueberry scones and beef jerky. At least I think that is where we got them.

But... what is odd is the taste they have while drinking espresso over ice. I ate a few cherries then took a sip of the coffee. Interesting combination.

Chocolate tortilla chips. Saw them at the store and had to buy since I love salty-sweet things. You don't really taste chocolate, more a hint of it as a finish. I could see these going down easily with a smoky salsa for a mole feel.

Fried smelt from Maxim's
Arizona Raspberry Iced Tea

Fresh everything bagel from my favorite place in NY with a side of painkillers for my tweaked back.

Creamy Anson Mills grits, topped with sauteed texas shrimp, shallots, grape tomatoes, garlic, and rosemary. Yummy.

Bostock on brioche with fresh, macerated cherries, and homemade honey ice cream.