Ratatouille

We are eagerly seeking out recipes that begin, "take 2.5 pounds of tomatoes, and . . . " Ratatouille is a great side, because the recipe calls for all the veggies that are in season in your garden or at the farm stand. I made a big pot this week and it was delicioso. Muy.

Tomtoes from your garden are best. We also had green pepper and basil. Oh, it was lovely. Julie Child has a great recipe, but it is a pain to make. Use lots of garlic and olive oil. A spoonful or two of capers add interest.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/RATATOUILLE-108350

Epicurious will not lead you wrong.

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Northern Exposure - Part III

A woo-woo moment: computer crashed last May and I lost my "favorites." Since then, I've been gradually building them up again. This morning, ye gods, my old favorites were back. And of course the new, somewhat better organized were gone. This is too weird.

Meanwhile, back in colorful Colorado: Look at the wild flowers! Apparently in the spring up north in the grasslands the wild flowers are tremendous. My garden is good now. Clemantis has been a little iffy this year, and the black-eyed susan vine needs way to much TLC to leave for even a long weekend, so scratch that for next year. The basil, which was so water-logged this spring is going crazy, as are the bedding plants. All the geraniums I carried over the winter are big healthy blooming specimens. Good dill for cucumber salad. Italian and curly parsley both surging. Moss rose and nasturtiums abloom like crazy. One cleome has shown up which reseeded itself from last year.

Birds have adjusted to the new thistle seed feeder. Baby sparrows and titmice are gobbling down the seed in the feeder at the front of the house. Doves, cardinals, squirrels and chipmunks feeding on what gets spilled which is plenty.

Cool this morning. We drove to the Cape (Woods Hole) last night for a seafood dinner which couldn't be beat. I had my annual swordfish, cajun style. So tasty. Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned.

More later.

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