Yesterday's lunch.

I know my blog title says dinner, but really, it's just about what our family eats for different meals.  I am also learning how to make a blog work, so I am sure there will be many mistakes until I get it sorted out to my liking.

Recently, Rob has been doing the cooking, so I am going to talk more about what he has been making lately.  Also, this is summer, so good, fresh produce is incredibly plentiful, and we are taking full advantage.

Yesterday's lunch was especially memorable.  This is what Rob made for us:  He cut ciabatta buns in half and spread them with homemade pesto.  Inside, there was fresh, ripe tomato, avocado, pitted kalamata olives and bocconcini cheese.  So simple.  So good!  It was incredibly messy and we wolfed it down.  I think it's the freshness of the ingredients - the sweet, juiciness of the tomato, the ripe avocado.  The garlic and basil always makes me want to inhale far longer than necessary.

These sandwiches came about because when we went away to London, I became separated from Rob for about 2 hours at the Victoria and Albert Museum.  When my angry husband found me, we were starving, and rushed out to the museum courtyard, ready to buy overly priced, bad food.  Instead, we found these incredible sandwiches, with the soft cheese, the pesto, the olives and sundried tomatoes.  Priced reasonably (for London)!  We have been making variations since.  All wonderful, and the children are eating them with great gusto.

I could go on and on about the Victoria and Albert Museum, because it is amazing.  Unfortunately, I will restrict myself (mostly) to food, since this will help me when I am desperately looking for meal ideas in the future!

Regarding the pesto - I buy big bunches of fresh basil and hard skinned, organic garlic from a local produce market.  After I have washed the basil and let it dry (sometimes with the help of a salad spinner), I grind it with the garlic in my food processor with extra virgin olive oil and a bit of butter.  Don't ask me how much.  I just do it.  I usually have enough for 2 large batches in the food processor, and then I mix it together in a large bowl.  Using a measuring cup, I pour it into ice cube containers, put plastic wrap on top, and freeze it overnight.  This all gets popped out and stored in ziploc bags for easy access.  One bag per tray.  Needless to say, Rob has been an active participant throughout the steps. 

I wonder what he is making for breakfast.  I can smell it.  I will go and see.