Culinary Mania

I blame this guy. Shark's head, she-crab, squeegle (hold the spines) man-about-world going all the places I can't go. I won't mention the food. It's far more fun to watch him eat it. Or drink it. But it's all his fault that Dad has been eating like a king this week while my house lies in messy piles of undone lassitude.

I'm not really complaining. I hate housework. Cooking is far more fun. And it's a great way to lose weight. I expend all my creative culinary mania in the kitchen and by the time dinner is actually ready, I'm tired and nibbly instead of ravenous. Genius!

So far this week Dad and John-at-work have dined on:

• Biltmore Pasta Salad
• Rotini with Pink Pesto and Meatballs
• Pork Sung Sesame Pockets with Asian Noodle Bowl
• Fried Green Tomatoes with Sausage Gravy
• Shrimp and Cheese Grits, Louisiana Style
• Ambrosia Salad

Not to mention the bread machine efforts. My first loaf turned out perfect because Danielle convinced me to use a mix. I doctored it, of course, adding a pile of herbs that looked suspiciously like lawn clippings but the bread turned out very yummy and intensely fragrant.

An amazing thing happened when I took the first loaf out of the machine. A short but demanding line of people turned up wanting me to make loaves for them. Huh. Make dough and they will come? Which is why my entire day off suddenly turned into baking day. I'm gonna have to start charging people. Just taking out the Dill Bread now (no mix this time, hooray!) and starting the Pumpkin Bread in a few minutes.

This weekend, I have a green tomatilla chili I want to try. I wonder if I could scoop out a couple of local tomatoes, stuff the chili inside, sprinkle a bit of cheese and cornmeal on top and bake them?