Who’s Getting Fed Tonight?
Isn’t that appetizing? Rei forgot (failed to?) feed Jackie on Sunday (her normal feeding day) and every time I walked by Jackie, she appeared to be looking for something, like food.
I’m not a huge fan of snakes and didn’t want Jackie thinking I was her next snack. The dead mice we store in our freezer for her are a much better option for her. I’m only 60% sure I forgot to feed her on Sunday. For all we know, we could have fed her twice in two days! Anyways, she’s almost ready to graduate to the next size mouse, so a bigger meal won’t do her any harm.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, I’d prepared some of the chili ingredients for dinner.
The recipe was from my Silk + Sonder monthly planner and journal and (spoiler alert) it was really good. We will be making this again. I opted from ground beef instead of ground turkey or chicken. Zeke and I had waaay too much ground turkey about two decades ago and I just can’t eat it, even hidden in chili.
It was really easy to make with fairly healthy ingredients. I chopped up the onions and garlic before my friend Mila showed up to drink champagne and snack before we picked Rei up from their job to finish up dinner.
Rei had committed to doing the final cooking but ended up snacking and chatting while I slaved at the stove. You were working about as hard as I was, Mom, don’t lie to the poor, innocent readers!
Once everything was in the pot and simmering, I pulled together a salad of arugula, chopped parsley, sunflower seeds, walnuts, herbed goat cheese, and raspberries. I made a quick vinaigrette with Dijon mustard, aged balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. I thought it was terrible but Rei and Mila said it was fine. You’ve just got weird taste buds. It was fine.
The chili, though, was awesome. I topped it with some shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped cilantro. How many plant based items were in our dinner, Rei? Don’t forget to count the items on the cheeseboard.
Why are you making me count? Corn, beans, cilantro, walnuts, sunflower seeds, arugula, dates, dried apricots, Dijon (does that count?), I can’t remember, almonds, there’s probably something I’m forgetting, apple, and olives! Count them yourself if you really care that much. My, aren’t you testy, Rei.~Terri
Mila brought this beauty of a champagne for us to enjoy. The evening was long so we popped open a bottle of Iron Horse Vineyards Winter’s Cuvee. There’s half a bottle left so I know what I’m having tonight. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right?
And champagne goes with everything.
We sat around the table and continued to chat over a sweetboard of chocolates, almonds, crystallized ginger, Bark Thins alongside a bowl of cuties. I got this idea from Laura Calder a number of years ago. She suggested putting it out after dessert as people sit around with a glass of wine and enjoy each other’s company.
Mila follows a gluten-free diet so I thought this would be a simple dessert that would meet her dietary requirements and is a fun way to end a meal. It’s also light (and we got a few more plants into our diet!).
Speaking of her diet, Rei and I love taking on the challenge of designing a meal around specific requests or limitations. Our guests often apologize for it but we like the opportunity to be creative and step outside of our comfort zone.
Rei, any thoughts on this? You weren’t really helpful last night but you were a sparkling conversationalist and we enjoyed your company quite a bit. :p
Dinner was great, and I totally agree on the dietary restrictions thing. It’s fun to challenge ourselves :)
It’s true — I didn’t end up helping out in the kitchen, but I was tired and it’s hell week (study week, for all you non-high schoolers out there), so I am not physically capable of being anything but tired. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.
Anyhoo, it’s still study week as I write this, so obviously I am still tired. Go figure.
Until next time, ciao, and have a eahrpa.;lkrhga’i;hre day!
Rei and Terri :-)
