Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

California strawberries from a farm stand

Farfalle with a sauce of ground toasted walnuts, garlic, chopped herbs, a little cream and a little pasta water to loosen it up, and lots for Parmegiano of course!

Just more foodie pretentiousness, like "dipping sauce" instead of dip, or "smashed potoates" instead of mashed, or "tablescape" instead of - I don't even know what. Its annoying, cut it out.

There was a great taco place, El Caminero, in my neighborhood in Mexico City. My best meal there was when I discovered you could get their wonderful carne asada tacos and grilled spring onions to go! The tacos were always brilliant, but it wasn't the kind of place a young gringa could eat on her own after work. So take-out was perfect. Still miss those fresh tortillas.

Yay for the Presidential veggie garden. Beets make me gag - @cooklocal may be right, maybe its a genetic thing. But there's plenty of other good stuff to plant in DC, and don't forget the fresh local goodies at the Eastern Market and elsewhere.

Thanks for the links, especially @intheyearofthepig's copy of the Bayless recipe. I did search for it, but managed not to turn it up. Enchiladas this weekend!!

Yes, try the Bread Bible. Some the recipes look intimidatingly long, but once you read through them once or twice its clear that the individual steps aren't hard, and most of the time required is just for proofing - no effort on the baker's part. Her basic white sandwich bread can't be beat for a kid-friendly alternative to chemically supermarket loaves.

Hot chocolate from Angelina's in Paris

Greek yogurt

Bagels and lox, NYC on a plate

Chocolate souffle please

Chocolate souffle!

Filet mignon, with a little bearnaise.