Gratitude and Panzanella

It's Sunday. I love the slow pace of Sundays, reading the newspaper while savoring a cappuccino, cooking, walking the dogs, even doing laundry takes on an easier air. Lunch, however, is my favorite part of the day. I prefer to have a substantial meal at mid-day and eat lighter for dinner, if I have my choice. Fixing lunch seems to be my specialty, whereas my marito (husband) who is a fantastic cook, can only seem to manage dinners. I can look at the refrigerator and pantry and always find something to create out of leftovers and stocked items. Antonio needs to always start a meal from scratch. I'm not sure what that says about us, but I am thankful that are talents are not the same!

Yesterday Antonio warned me that he would be ripping up our tomato plants soon. I protested, "Just a few more days, pleeeeease!" I want to enjoy every last possible little red treasure. So, today, I picked a bunch of cherry tomatoes and romas, along with some basil. I had a cucumber from the farmers' market and some old bread - all the makings of panzanella (of course with some very good olive oil, salt and pepper.)

It seems as though I have seen a lot of posts recently using ceci/chickpeas and they were on my mind. We always have ceci in the pantry, so I decided to try some mixed in my panzanella. I say "my" because I have learned not to try anything untraditional on my husband. I let him try my experiments from my plate before I make them for him. It usually works. However, if I had prepared his dish experimentally, most likely he would have not liked it. A little kitchen psychology at work! Anyhow, the ceci on the panzanella was wonderful.

Yesterday I had made Becsfarm's Baba Ghanoush (see her post for recipe.) Today I also added a few of the ceci on top of the Baba Ghanoush and liked it very much.

As we were having lunch, a dark storm rolled in - a very rare occurrence in a Southern California summer. With a bouquet of fresh, home-grown roses on the table, the heavy air and cool breeze, I could imagine myself in the countryside of Italy or France. I felt very grateful for all that we have in our little house, our tiny garden, our love, our friends, our family, our food (and full tummies), our dogs and our slow Sunday lunch.

Oh, here are our "babies", Golia and Ruby, who are also very grateful - grateful to have us all home together: