Baby steps

by Jennifer Hess on April 8, 2008

in chard,farro,mushrooms,pasta,quick and easy

Dinner:  April 7, 2008

The last week has been a struggle, but with two weeks left to go before our move, we’re trying hard to get on with our lives. There’s a lot left to do and not much time to do it, and honestly, the sorting and packing have been a welcome distraction. I’ve gotten to the point in my grieving where I have actually been able to get back into the routine of making dinner, though I’ll admit that much of what I’ve put on the table has been uninspired. It’s going to take a while before I get that spark back.

I put together a quick pasta last night, using some really nice spaghettini di farro I had picked up recently at Formaggio Essex. I cooked it until al dente and tossed it with a few odds and ends from the fridge – some sautéed shallot and leftover crimini mushrooms, finely sliced red chard, toasted pine nuts and Pecorino Romano. It was a tasty dish if a little flat; the farro pasta definitely needed more salt in its cooking water, and Mike and I both agreed that some chile flakes or lemon zest or a punchier cheese would have made for a better dish. I’m definitely not back on my game, but this was a start.

(On an unrelated note, check out who’s blogging Tales of the Cocktail… )

{ 1 trackback }

Bits and Pieces — Last Night's Dinner
September 23, 2010 at 7:51 pm

{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

1 amy @ minimally invasive April 8, 2008 at 11:16 am

Good to have you back. We’ll take any game you’ve got, though this seems pretty good to me. :)

2 Mary Coleman April 8, 2008 at 11:38 am

Just wait til you get in that new kitchen…I’m so glad to see you back!
Mary

3 Claudia (cook eat FRET) April 8, 2008 at 11:56 am

looks like a fine dinner to me, jen
and yes, it’s baby steps…
the loss never goes away it just gets covered over by a whole lotta living

4 Anita April 8, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Thought of you guys a lot this weekend.

The supper looks gorgeous — your baby steps look better than most people’s dinner parties.

Don’t forget to take it easy on yourself… grief is hard work. I think anything fancier than take-out is entirely admirable under the circumstances.

(And: Two weeks until the move?! Wow. I’m so excited for you.)

5 Hillary April 8, 2008 at 4:11 pm

I’m sorry about your pet! That pasta looks delicious though, take it easy.

6 melissa April 9, 2008 at 1:58 am

nice job mike!!

the pasta does look wonderful, no matter what you say. but I would expect nothing less from you. you are always an inspiration to me, and I appreciate you.

7 Jennifer Hess April 9, 2008 at 1:47 pm

Thanks, everyone. You guys are the best. :)

8 SallyBR April 9, 2008 at 7:48 pm

Just think about it… what you call “baby steps” is beyond gourmet cooking for so many people.. :-)

nice pasta…. glad to have you back….

Leave a Comment

You can use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>