I recently had two very memorable meals that I want to tell you about.

My sister's boys love good food, and have also developed a real interest in cooking.  So our Christmas present to them was a day with us cooking a meal that we would enjoy with their parents and their grandparents.  We finally got together to make the meal a couple weeks ago.  One of my nephews was particularly fascinated by the cookbook The Last Dinner on the Titanic, so we spent the day making part of the last dinner from the first class dining room.  We had a great time!  We got to spend quality time together.  The original menu had 11 courses (!)--we picked out 7 that we could get done in one day, and that were on the healthier side.  We learned a lot about the Titanic--who was on board, what the meals were like, some of the differences in the way people tended to cook then from now, why almost no one from the super luxurious restaurant staff survived (as contractors, they did not have assigned life boats, unlike the regular staff). It was just a fun day of exploration. 

The boys also seemed very proud when we brought out each course, explaining to their parents and grandparents how each course was made.  It was great food, but the really wonderful part was spending slow, quality time with the boys, and helping them learn some skills that will always serve them well--they are going to be great cooks!

The second memorable meal we ate with an old friend, and what was truly memorable about it was the homegrown tomatoes and basil.  We made Mario Batali's Scallops alla Caprese--grilled scallops on a bed of grilled onions, fresh tomatoes, and basil.  The flavors of the fresh homegrown vegetables were just amazing--this dish is wonderful to begin with, but it had never tasted this good before.

Obviously, it is a little late to start growing a garden this year, but it is definitely worth thinking about it next year.  It does not have to take a lot of space--you can grow herbs, tomatoes, strawberries and other fresh produce in pots, even on an apartment balcony.  If your kids help you grow and care for the plants, it gives you a chance to spend more time with the, and they are likely to be a lot more interested in eating the stuff they grew as well.  What you grow is nearly free, and the flavors are so much more vibrant than most of what you can buy in the supermarket!  Whether your tastes lean to the gourmet side or the comfort side, having your own fresh produce can make everything taste better.  Bon appetit!