It’s been raining all week here and it feels pretty tropical. So I cut some of the crazy Lemongrass that’s trying to take over the front planting area from the established, cranky rose bush and made Tom Kha Gai soup for tonight. Waiting for the pineapple upside down cake to cool enough to eat now.
That sounds fabulous.
I wound up make a huge batch of pesto to use up all my basil. Used some for tonight’s dinner and will freeze the rest. Now that I finally got around to reading Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, I can’t help thinking about it whenever I eat pesto. 
I wish we had basil right now. Normally it grows well but it’s been so dang wet this year it just gets black spots and fungus too easily. I’m sure there’s safe stuff I could spray it with, but I just hate spraying anything we’re going to eat. So no basil this year. I’m jealous of all you guys with fresh pesto.
I have a local farmer to thank for my basil.
I have tons of tomatoes and it’s the first cool rainy day of end of summer - thought I might give this a whirl tonight:
https://www.thekitchn.com/tomato-basil-soup-22931796
I made my annual corn chowder and tomato pie.
I love this weather. 73, clear skies, and no humidity here.
Baked french baguettes for the first time last week (yummy!) and this week’s baking attempt is an almond cake.
^^ Could I have one of those baguettes to dip in my tomato basil soup!?? @momofsenior1
My son is going through a baking stage and it’s making us all fat and happy. This weekend he made croissants and they are to die for. I’m too lazy to make them homemade - with the whole laminating, etc over several days so am happy he’s willing to tackle that. But by dinner time, we weren’t feeling like cooking and ate Taco Bell. It’s an odd world where you go from homemade French pastry in the morning and then Taco Bell that night…
I enjoy baking but I don’t undertake things as time consuming as homemade croissants. I’m impressed by people that do.
I’m about to try making baked mozzarella.
^^^ What is baked mozzerella? Like a mozzarella stick? A pasta w/mozzarella?
I baked coconut macaroons for my A family birthday. I usually mix in mini chocolate chips in half the cookies but this time dipped the bottoms in melted dark chocolate chips.
I’ve been working on a neighborhood cookbook so am testing lots of baked goods. A few of the real winners are flan, chocolate oatmeal cookies, flourless chocolate cake and buttermilk pancakes. I’m avoiding the scale because I’m sure this project has cost me at least 5 of the pounds I worked so hard to lose.
Our baking is on hold for a little bit. After almost two decades of faithful service, my Kitchenaid Pro started making a horrible noise of protest. Took it apart and it needs a couple of new gears. The new gears are on order and on their way, but it’s weird to see my mixer in pieces on the kitchen counter. Maybe this is a good time to take a breather and try to lose some of the fat, happy pounds my son’s baking is putting on all of us.
@abasket It was supposed to be like a mozzarella stick, but in discs from a large chunk of fresh. Except we can’t eat eggs, so I tried olive oil to keep the panko crumbs on instead, and that didn’t provide nearly the same level of integrity. It ended up melting and looking like a pan of eggs sunny-side up! Very tasty, and I’ll keep tweaking. Maybe deep fry instead of baking next time.
S went back to school late last week so I thought a nice, light summer meal was in order for H and me. Made a frittata with ham, peppers and onions and a big salad featuring fresh local tomatoes. We ate around 5 and enjoyed it; but we were so hungry by 8 that we heated up a frozen pizza!
Made the tomato basil soup I mentioned in post #84 - I’ve had better - and made better! Followed the recipe except added a little red pepper flakes. Tasted very acidic. I felt like I wanted to add some cream or something. I don’t recommend that recipe!
I have another tomato basil soup recipe that is a little more complicated but much better tasting.
I’m impressed you figured it out and took it apart on your own!
Don’t be impressed, was less than a 10 minute thing. Dr Google to the rescue. I love being able to google how to fix stuff. It is amazing how much information is out there with just a few clicks.