Meals From The Market

I have this delusional fantasy of making trips to the farmer's market on a daily (or several-times-weekly) basis...

Of walking leisurely through the aisles with my basket brimming full of the seasonal bounty...
Of tasting homemade breads and smelling all the fresh herbs...
Of spontaneously planning my meal for that evening based solely on whatever ingredients strike my fancy...

Of selecting some beautiful, fresh flowers for the table and around the house...

And then making my way home to a perfectly relaxed environment complete with a Martha Stewart outdoor table setting, easy-listening music and a glass of wine (a dry red) while I cook to my hearts content...

In this fantasy, my husband either cooks with me and we enjoy preparing the meal together (ha! ya right!) or he breezes in and out of the kitchen from time to time to kiss me over my shoulder and tell me how wonderful everything smells. :) Meanwhile, I'm daydreaming about who we should invite to dinner and how I will set everything out on the table.

(Marinated zucchini & summer squash)

Grilled until crisp tender with the flavor of lemon, thyme, garlic and white wine vinegar.

This fantasy pretty much never happens in my current phase of life. LOL It's more of a non-working, non-mothering, carefree, delusional thought that I let my mind wander over to every now and again. :) But I AM able to tweak my fantasy as needed to include my 3 year old at the farmer's market with me (and wanting to be held - he's 3!! - what was that about?), a 14 month old hanging on my legs and whining to be held throughout the entire meal prep, a husband who enjoys eating but not always the same things I do... and definitely makes it clear he does not appreciate my beloved summer squash, a table top fit for a young family complete with sippy cups, wet rags, and no pretty, cloth napkins, and inhaling my own meal just in time to clean food out of said 14-month-old's hair and get her directly into the tub.

Oh, well. One day.

One day I'll have a large, beautiful kitchen with plenty of counter space as well as the time and funds needed to whip up lots of delicious meals that I can serve to all of our family and friends. I'll open my dining room and maybe even an outdoor patio to entertain over a perfectly set table and we'll all have great conversation (free of whining and tiny, upturned noses - haha) and lots of laughter. And we'll all leave the table with full bellies and great memories.

It will happen. I promise.

And in the meantime, the Baked Penne with Corn, Zucchini & Basil that I made for my sometimes-difficult-but-ever-so-loved little family tasted really divine.

Oh, and the small glass of wine from our trip up to Leelanau peninsula two years ago was a nice compliment to the meal. Haha - I haven't had much time for drinking wine with back-to-back babies and breastfeeding.