Meatless March

Despite the many infuriating things about the Olympics ( sexist uniform rules , flawed drug policies, NBC's ridiculously selective coverage and often inane commentary, the potential to exacerbate the COVID-19 pandemic), I popped out of bed yesterday morning and hurried to turn on the live broadcast of the opening ceremony. I can't help myself. I love the good parts of the Games: athleticism, high stakes, sportsmanship, team spirit. This has been true since I was a kid, when I cheered for the likes of Mary Decker, Greg Louganis, Carl Lewis, Katarina Witt, Mary Lou Retton, and, yes,  Eddie the Eagle .  I started running when I was very small, but let's just say most of my ribbons were for participation I remember feeling indignant when I learned that the Soviet Union was boycotting the 1984 Olympic Games, and then sheepish when told that the United States had done the same thing four years earlier. Ever since then, I have felt bad for the athletes who missed those Games, and ...

I have successfully made " Barley Gratin with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes " (from Food & Wine) previously, and somehow this time it made about 2 cups too much for my pan. I used 1 cup of farro instead of 1 cup of the barley because I didn't have enough barley, so maybe that made the difference. Or maybe SOMETHING has to go wrong every time I tie on an apron, metaphorically of course, since I almost never cook with an apron, because I like to live on the edge. I went to the store to buy caraway seeds for this recipe. What was the ONE SPICE that was not in stock?? Ughhh. But fear not, I found them elsewhere. I saved those 2 cups of the barley-mushroom-etc mix for some other purpose and soldiered on, and it turned out well, as it had last time. It's good comfort food. Stirring the barley mix and the onion-mushroom mix into the cheese mix Emma and I decided to bake a dessert tonight to go with dinner. We made "Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars," ...