Today was sort of busy in the way that you fill time up. I went to Stamp cards this morning (thank you, Heather) and used a bunch of stamp sets I had never used before. New things=fun. I had planned on going shopping at Trader Joe's and then coming home to rake leaves, because it is SUNNY.

I had also made a list of meals I could make with what's in the fridge...which last night meant I went to QFC and bought a bunch of groceries. Trader Joe was for more difficult things to find, like pearl onions (TJ's had a mixed plastic container of red, gold and white pearl onions), cheap macadamia nuts (comparatively), and sausage.

I ended up with a horrid headache by the time I got home, so I nixed raking in favor of trying to banish it. After awhile, Aleve still hadn't pushed it away, so I opted to start my cooking spree.

I started with cassoulet--beans, sausage, carrots, onions. Lovely comfort food. I have never made it before, and I love it every time I have it, so I it's time to give it a try. Oh, and bacon :)

And then I have leftover chicken thighs from earlier in the week, so I put together coq au vin (hence the pearl onions). More comfort food. Currently the kitchen smells like garlic, onions, and bacon. Mmmmmmmmmm. There was pinot noir left over from the cassoulet and the coq au vin; I can't possibly make full portions, since they serve 10-12, hence leftover wine. So I've had wine now, and brillat savarin, crackers, and marcona almonds. I marinated some pork earlier today, in lemon juice, cayenne, and some other ingredients, and grilled it in my tiny Le Creuset pan. It's supposed to be served with an herbed mayo as a sandwich.

I plan on continuing my cooking spree tomorrow; I want to make some butternut squash soup, and possibly potato leek soup, and then possibly some spicy peanut noodles and chicken satay.

I had mushy bananas and wanted to give a different banana bread a try, so I found a recipe for "Hana" Banana bread, with coconut and macadamia nuts, and that is currently baking in the oven. I should have a lovely assortment of foods for the coming week!