weekend

over the weekend i made:

a pie from scratch--blackberry, strawberry, nectarine and plum--using shortening for the first time in my crust--next time i'll use more butter,

a kind of fresh corn pancake, which involved heating a skillet in the oven, and four hands to flip it onto the plate.

and a casserole of farmers' market tomatoes, squash, (ridiculously expensive) ocra, peppers and basil.

i also deveined some shrimp for something my dad made, courtbouillon; it was fantastic. he's retiring this week, so i was visiting. we both love cooking and cook well together and tend to cook up a storm whenever i visit. he never visits me; i don't have a kitchen.

we talked about his future as a writer--never having written anything after college--his travels, of which he's had much, why he married my mom and my not ever having children. i am finally used to the idea that he is proud of me and admires me. and i really don't blame him.