Hiya, hiya – Happy Almost April! To quote Han Solo, “We’re all fine here, now, thank you. How are you?”

I’m listening to Joe Cocker, singing about friends, which is never a bad thing, the sun is shining, and my spirits are high. A dog walk is imminent. Life is also a bit weird, honestly. We are full on spring after the least wintery winter of my Colorado memory. It snowed three times, two of which were quite substantial, and the other, a lovely sugar coating that melted in an instant. Life in the wild weather west, my friends.

As our usual good luck would have it, we continue to eat delicious, home cooked meals, love each other the best way we possibly can, and exercise our bodies strong.

The highlights:

Pizza! We are loving our oven and the perfect crustiness of it.

Do you know about the trick where you whip instant coffee crystals, sugar, and water into the most delectable foam? I don’t understand the chemistry behind it requiring instant, but I am on board, especially when, on an unseasonably warm afternoon, we are craving something a little bitter, a little sweet, and cold, cold, cold.

When we lived in Portland, and well before my intestines rejected wholesale any minimally processed garbanzo bean in a wail of agonizing pain, I LOVED the Caravan Platter at Dot’s Diner. It very closely resembled our homemade version above, but with the addition of pita, and damn, was it good. This was equally so, maybe even better with the addition of cilantro, and made my heart positively soar. And the garbanzos? Absolutely impotent after much soaking, instant potting, and peeling.

Finally, a roasted grape salad with chicken and feta, because what better use for the wrinkly ones at the bottom of the bowl?