The Weekend

After 2 days of trying to channel my Great Grandma Balangero, I served my home made pasta with heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and a bit of olive oil. I am quite proud of the accomplishment. I am also more understanding of why grandma Dorothy was more inclined to the modern convenience of pasta from a box or Genova Delicatessen. My goal is to work a little faster and a little better. Not much of either at first. Maybe next weekend it will only take me two and a half hours instead of three and my noodles will have a nicer cut. Or maybe it will all go dreadfully wrong, my Italian ancestors betraying me, and it will take 5 hours to get 5 noodles. That's okay, though. I am determined. It is really worth the effort once you taste the noodles.
Sunday evening I remembered who I am and I baked a cake.

Fresh Ginger Chocolate Gingerbread from Dorie Greenspan's "Baking: From My Home to Yours". I cant decide if I did something wrong or if it is simply not the cake for me. Everyone else loves it so I think it might just be me. In the picture you can see the tiny bits of ginger and chunks of chocolate. Why don't I love the is cake?
I think I need to bake something I know I love. A little comfort baking. Banana Cake Cockaigne, perhaps. Or just a good chocolate chip cookie.
Now, check out my mise en place.

I do love my pretty plastic prep bowls. I can't help it. I also love looking at all the ingredients laid out. The flour and spices before I whisk them together are especially pretty.