Stormy Weather

Well, it was one of those weekends.

Stormy weather. And my man and I weren't together.

So on that note -- and because I hate to drink alone -- let's all raise a glass to the late, lovely Lena Horne.

The weather let up enough for me to get this shot of my lilies -- the prettiest thing in my yard right now.

But mostly I stayed in the kitchen.

On the menu: one of my favorite pasta dishes -- lemon fusilli with arugula. Ina Garten, do you ever come up with a bad recipe?

I'm growing my own arugula this year, and for the first time I get what all the fuss is about. The freshly harvested leaves have a peppery bite to them -- much tastier that the packaged arugula in the grocery store. Because my arugula leaves are getting a little sparse, I had to supplement with some fresh basil which also works with the lemon and tomatoes in this dish.

The first summer cherries are starting to hit the produce stands (how I wish we could grow them here -- they are my favorite) and I celebrated with a cherry clafouti. I've eaten this yummy dessert -- a cross between a pudding and cake -- numerous times in France, but have never attempted to make it at home until today. Easy, easy, easy.

Cherry Clafouti

1 cup sour cream

1 cup ricotta cheese

1/2 cup flour

3-4 Tablespoons granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 cups pitted fresh cherries

powdered sugar

Mix the first five ingredients together. Pour into a Pyrex pie pan. Drop the cherries over the top. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes until puffed and just starting to turn brown. Dust the top with powdered sugar. Serve while still slightly warm.

And then, after all that food, it was time for a rainy day nap.