A hearty winter dish in June - why not.

Tonight I made Mediterranean Lamb Shanks (from the Oct 2003 Bon Appetit recipe).  Served it with roasted garlic mashed cauliflower and roasted asparagus.

I wouldn't normally make this in summer, but it certainly doesn't feel like summer in Seattle yet.  So somehow it felt perfectly appropriate - warm, rich, comforting.

Dinner w/ friends.  The feelings (and tastes) of the south of France are still lingering, so grilled lamb chops (gorgeous chops from A&J Meats) generously coated in Olive Oil & Herbs de Provence, accompanied with aubergine au four (eggplant baked in a tomato-onion-garlic sauce topped w/ goats cheese) seem like just the ticket.

Accompanied with a nice green salad (red oak leaf from the QA Farmers Market) and a respectable amount of very good la Pive rose brought back from Languedoc, this helped offset the disappointing baguette (after France, the bar is high - we'll do better next time - maybe Boulangerie Nantaise or Essential).

Eating outside on the deck made everything feels that much more relaxing, more reminiscent of our time in France, more enjoyable. This may also have something to do with the fact that our four children were huddled up inside the house while we dined leisurely and quietly, outside.

Dinner was finished with a simple, but stellar Tarte aux Abricots.

Another wonderful Friday night on QA, and a gentle reminder that sometimes all it takes are fresh ingredients, good bread, good wine and family and friends.