An Appetizing April

I thought I'd take a few minutes to post the rest of the photos we took in April--the ones that didn't warrant an entire post to themselves. It's not that these meals weren't equally yummy. It's just that there are only so many hours in a day.

This pizza was inspired by some leftover pesto I found in the fridge. You'll notice notice that half has onions and half has olives. A veritable pizza compromise.

We ate this minestrone for, like, 12 meals. Or at least that's what it felt like. It was so good, though! Probably the best one we've made up ourselves. And the croutons were especially delightful.

Because I like to cook and eat healthy things, I sometimes feel a little pressure to represent at potlucks. I have it in my head that if I don't make a salad with lots of veggies or whole grains, I'll end up eating a meal comprised of cheese and brownies. Therefore, the opportunities for me to make something truly decadent are few and far between.

This Easter, though, I decided I didn't care. Also, I was getting together with a group of friends who excel in the ways of the kitchen. Hence, this bittersweet chocolate tart sprinkled with sea salt. I didn't photograph the plating, but I served it with a butter rum sauce and brown sugar whipped cream. It was ridiculous. I don't think anyone ate for the rest of the day afterward. But my craving for whipping up something sweet (and salty!) was satisfied.

This was a nice little curry Jon made one night. It looks so pretty sitting there in the bowl, it's making me hungry.

Here's another Jon meal. It was a really interesting fish preparation made with apple juice, of all things. And the sauteed sprouts are a favorite at our house.

One of my favorite pasta dishes revolves around tossing fresh pasta with ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes. Jon was hesitant the first time I made it, but was quickly converted. This version also involved broccoli, red peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes.

This fantastic recipe came from 101 Cookbooks. I didn't follow it exactly, but the general idea was there. Make this. I mean it.

More soon!