Snow Days and Slow Days

                                           FIRST YOU PREHEAT THE OVEN

Don't know about you, but when I'm not sure what to make for dinner, I absentmindedly preheat the oven, set some water to boiling, or heft a sauté pan to the stove.  Taking meal prep to the next step is an adventure.  My family can be assured, though, that nary a bowl of cereal will be placed in front of them.

When a snow day like today comes up, the tables turn - the kids get to do the cooking.  My daughter's choice was lasagna.  Since her vegetarian cousin was visiting, she substituted some shiitake and dried porcini for the meat. Try this NY Times recipe for Wild Mushroom Lasagna.

 

François' daughter spent her snow day baking a crusty pain de campagne.  Its tantalizing,   yeasty aromas had us all gnawing at our fingernails.  The wait was worth it: crunchy, airy, slightly sour.  It was adapted from a Food & Wine recipe.