I am composing, of sorts, my second tome.



The first was my book of poetry composed for Pat on the occasion of our twenty-fifth anniversary. This was all original work (excluding a parody or two) and was heart felt. The new work is somewhat more plebeian.



I am putting together a cookbook.



I can hear you all salivating at the thought.



Have no fear I do not intend to sell or give you this work. I would be embarrassed too; each of the recipes are stolen. Even though I was taught as a historian that plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery I will not claim anothers work.



The cookbook is a collection of the recipe's that I am trying on a near nightly basis. Having some time on my hands I have determined to toss caution to the wind and try many different recipe's and techniques.



Recipe's are chosen based upon family interest, past successes and even cooking techniques (there have been many challenges that I have approached). Pat had begged for weeks for Panzanilla (bread salad) and I had steadfastly resisted. Much to my chagrin, I mad it the other night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Don't tell her - she will gloat.



So far I have been fairly dead on on my selections. The Three Cheese Penne was almost entirely consumed by Stu. I have made a variety of Bulghar Wheat salads that Pat loves for lunch (and Stu and I tolerate). Tomorrow we are bringing to Pat's sister a Bean and Potato Salad that broke Stu's embargo on green and yellow beans (he never has liked beans; I site as evidence as evidence a picture from toddler times wherein he rubbed them into his gossamer haired pate rather than ingest them).



But why a cookbook?



The cookbook is an attempt to retain the recipe's that we like. So each week as menus are created the recipes are selected from the Internet and copied into a file. The ingredient list becomes the basis of the weekly shopping list and when the recipe's turn has come up they are printed so that the computer is not forced to withstand the tortures of a cooking area. After the meals have been road tested I do go back and make clarifications and modifications.



Only today did I reveal the truly anal nature of the residents on the hill. Not only did I reorganize the document into cooking categories but I went and made all the recipes consistent in font and format (previously a table of contents had been created).



Now, the document has developed some permanency.



Pat is happy, I am happy and Stu is eating out less and appears eager to ask what tonight's dinner is.



For those of you who are curious we had appetizers of Mixed Herb (Pesto) Bruschetta and Tomato Basil Brushetta and are having a main course of Caribbean Shrimp Salad With Lime Vinaigrette. I do hope that salad is good.