*en la cocina

One of my favorite things about having a garden has been to stock the freezer with pesto each summer/fall. I think it started way back when I housesat in San Diego. I don't know if she knows this [or if she reads this blog??] but I had grand plans to have her freezer stocked with pesto and pumpkin puree when they got back - only problem is I think I ate it all first :)

Anyway, this afternoon Ben took Vera for a little hike with Boone - something they haven't done in quite a while. Really the best gift he can ever give me is just an hour or two alone at home. By myself -cleaning or cooking usually- is for some reason so restorative. Restful and happy and nice.

[I wish you could have smelled this moment! mmmmmm]

So today I made and froze four batches of sage-walnut and regular basil-pinenut pesto. I also roasted some tomato sauce with our own(!) Romas, onion, garlic and neighbors' squash and bell pepper. I really love the idea of 'putting food away' like that. I haven't had too much success with actual canning [but will try again this year of course], so today I just froze everything. I used a new idea from my NEW FAVORITE BOOK and froze everything flat in its own ziploc - quite handy as it will all stack so nicely!

Ben and I ended our day with a lovey local-esque meal of which I don't have pictures: grass-fed [so elite :)] ribeye steaks, green beans from the market, an enormous and delicious Brandywine tomato from the garden with olive oil and himalayan pink [julie!] salt... and a yummy Spanish wine :) Mmmmm everything was delicious and perfect. We even ate in our actual dining room - right next to where Vera slept. A good day!