Mangia!

Earlier this week Bailey called me on a break from work. She was working late and I was at home. On the nights that she closes, there are a variety of activities I may get into. Maybe go out with the boys, clean the house, waste time on the internet, go ride at the park, tinker with bikes, etc, etc. I was about to dive into one of these tasks, until Bailey told me that she really wanted something good to eat when she came home from work.
I had about two and a half until she would be home. I started looking through the kitchen trying to think of something that would be good to make. As I was putting together the menu I kept running into missing ingredients. It was kind of like this minus the weed.

I eventually made up my mind on what I would make. I had even less time so I had to move. With a flash light and scissors, I went out to the garden for basil and tomatoes.

Pesto is one of my favorite thing to make and I hadn't made any yet this year so I thought it would be a good dish to make. My next challenge came in the form of starch. The only noodles we had were whole wheat penne, gross. I guess they are ok for a pasta salad, but not this.

Down came the pasta maker. Eggs and flour a little bit of water and salt. I called my pops to double check on the ratios of ingredients. My dad always comes through on those phone calls. I have called him from the grocery store or kitchen for advice so many times. My dad didn't hand down the typical bundle of fatherly skills. I think by all accounts our home life was less than conventional. But, I am infinitely thankful he taught me how to cook. Years ago he told me that the next best thing to sleeping with a woman is cooking for her!

Back to dinner. Water was boiling on the stove and the oven was on broil. Pasta was hanging off of the braces on a stool flipped upside down and the tomatoes were sliced. Bailey was fifteen minutes away.

If this were an item on a menu it could read like this:
Seared Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon with fresh Pesto Linguine tossed with local heirloom tomatoes.

It ended up tasting pretty good. Bailey liked it and so did I.