school is officially under way. madison began kindergarten this afternoon while jacob started grade 2 last week. my children are finally in the same school and i am no longer driving for 2 hours a day to take someone to preschool. this is the freedom to which i refer and not as much the freedom from my children. i am certainly happy to be sitting on the sofa with my laptop and no one asking me for something to eat etcetera but i am even more glad that i am doing so without having to first drive to china and back. china was nice, don’t get me wrong, but damn, it’s a ways away.

my latest obsession is one that my mother, were she still alive, would have keeled over from the shock of. i am in near constant thought on all things culinary. i watch my cooking shows, i add to my recipe card collection on a near daily basis and almost drool at the thought of taking fifteen minutes to plan my weekly menu. given my abhorration of all things kitcheny as a child this comes as something of an anomoly. i certainly do not claim to be an impressive cook and i likely never will be but what i lack in perfection i more than make up for in mountains of enthusiasm.

i bought a mortar and pestle, for heaven’s sake. to be used in the crushing of things by hand. such as and not limited to herbs and garlic and nuts and whathaveyou.

there you have it. i would linger but i cannot. you see, my children are away and the recipe box beckons. i am making a two week menu. dan has requested home made ice cream sannies with hot fudge sauce for sunday dessert. i will grant him this wish. the people i love crave the foods that i make them.

mother? did i just hear you gasp?

last weekend dan went out of town for a friend’s wedding and when he got back i made him Ina Garten’s grown-up mac and cheese
with her creamy vinaigrette salad from the same episode. For dessert, also from that episode, the lemon curd tart which was quite good. i recommend all of these recipes whole heartedly and am happy we’ve finally found a mac and cheese worth making twice.

also, the lemon curd is nice on it’s own to spread on bread, toast, muffins or whatever. i made some again later in the week to make mini tarts for a party we were going to and used the leftover on bread for the kids today. really nice.