food for love

I have a friend, who has fallen in love with a lovely woman from Spain. He lives in New York.  She lives in Barcelona.  Nightly, he has eaten gloriously fancy dinners out.  Oysters, lobster bisque, a very good bottle of wine to wash it all down.  Dining escapades all over the city are carefree adventures by bicycle using up lots of cash.

Now he needs to save his money for airplane tickets to Spain.  Twice a month!  Gone is the midnight Margaux with a wild mushroom tart and swathes of Saint Nectaire, it's grilled cheese sandwiches for this love struck boy!

Food for Love

Pesto from the masses of basil in our garden, standard but good.

3 large garlic cloves
1/2 cup of pine nuts
2/3 cup grated parmigiano
salt
black pepper
3 cups of basil leaves
2/3 cup of olive oil

In the food processor, garlic first, then everything else. I toast the nuts a little bit, then add the oil.  Keep it a little chunky.  I often lighten up pesto with a little parsley or arugula added in.  Lots of crusty bread to mop up the bowl.  There are so many cherry tomatoes in the garden that I have been frying them in olive oil, very slowly, just until they are about to burst.  Good with pesto but I still prefer a cool tomato salad with red onions and a sharp vinaigrette.

Happy travels...