Key Limes!

Fact: on February 16, 2009 I found double-fist sized bags of little Key Limes at WinCo. WinCo you are wonderful. Why? These little mesh bags of imported exotic pygmy fruit cost $.68 in toto. Who says you can't eat like a gourmet?



To top that, I found a bag of 8 Kiwis for $.98 - and they're delicious! For breakfast, cut them in half and eat the inside with a spoon. Amaanda taught me that in Prague.



How do you store your potatoes? Mine go in a big bowl on my kitchen shelf. Oh dear, my cookbooks are showing.

Georgie Porgie, Pudding and Pie

I found these block-prints in a consignment store in Port Townsend, WA while visiting my family on the Olympic Peninsula for New Years.

Note the wonderful coat rack which the drill-wielding Mark a.k.a. "Level" hung for us. Now our living room chairs don't have an overcoat slung over the back of each. The basket is holding our winter paraphernalia.

Feb. 14th at the Reagans

Conversation three years ago:

Me: So, Mark. What do you like on Valentine's Day?

Mark: I like a big sugar cookie with pink frosting on top.

Me: OK

Isn't it nice that husbands are clear? Mark does not normally like pink. Not pink oxfords, not pink dresses, and especially not hot-pink wallpaper. But on Valentine's Day, he makes his once-a-year nod to the place that pink holds in the universe - on top of his gigantic sugar cookie.



And Mark, the kind husband that he is, bought me flowers. And he knows that roses are not my favorite.



Just look at the insides of the beauties! Thanks Baby!

Burgers 'n Mac

Mark loves Mac 'n Cheese. I try to make it at least once a month and February is especially appropriate. The elbows must, of course, be served in a bowl with two lion's heads on it. That's because I'm pretty sure that the Crusading Knights came home and requested Mac 'n Cheese from their Fair Ladies.

I don't have a recipe (sorry!) since I make it up. But I will say it must have Tillamook cheese, and it must have a little mustard. Cream doesn't hurt either if you have it. :)



If you're fresh out of elbows, you can also make a bacon cheeseburger. That's another February hit!

Charlie's Up

Keith and Nellie have a few pictures of Charlie up at their blog, so zip on over there and check out Mr. Cute.

The Lost Art of Illustration

I uncovered these gems of illustrative wit while searching for a sugar cookie recipe in my original Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book with the "distinctive" red cover.

Yamazaki Bolo from Macys

I love my silverware! Mark actually found them when we were registering for our wedding. They have a nice weight to them, and the shapes are classy and non-distracting.

Thought I'd show a picture of them sitting all happy in their box. Just waiting to dutifully transport something from plate to lips.

Found at a Store Near You

Cara Cara Pink Oranges. Look like oranges on the outside, grapefruit on the inside and taste like oranges on the inside AND outside!

Found these at a good ol' WinCo and I must say they are delicious.

Have I ever told you my tip for picking produce? Smell the fruit. It should be fragrant and smell with certainty like an orange, grapefruit, etc. This works great for melons, too. Be prepared for some weird looks.

Eight Pounds, 13 oz. and 21.75 Inches Long

Keith and Nellie just had Charles Hendrik Dimeler this morning!

I fully admit that I got online right away and bought this:

Oeuf a la Coque with Mouillettes

If you haven't checked out Chocolate & Zucchini yet, stroll on over and download yourself this beautiful desk calendar.



(Soft boiled egg with toasted goat cheese and artichoke bread fingers)