[TanithT]

I'm actually a good cook, and so's the boyfriend, but we both do the high protein low carb diet thing so food is usually a little on the plain side here. We had okra and green beans steam-fried together (lots of water and spices, not much oil), garlic pickled asparagus and lean pork tenderloin. Dessert was a small indulgence. I made a no-bake Guinness gingerbread cake with thickly reduced syrup of Guinness beer and Splenda, spices, almond and walnut meal, dates, shredded ginger and carrots.

Home roasted coffee and good cigars do quite a lot to quell the pain of a limited diet. I wish I had time to grab a smoke today, but business has kept me inside glued to the computer, and is likely to continue doing so until it's really too late to light one. I did just get my shipment in from Sweet Maria's, and I'm drinking some excellent decaf Sumatra in the New Orleans style, mixed with freshly roasted chicory. Very tasty.