Tomato Pie (thank you heather solos and paula deen!)

here is the original recipe with a few mods from my kitchen…
1 recipe pie crust (9″ pie) – feel free to cheat and use refrigerated if you’re in a hurry
4 very ripe tomatoes ~peeled, cored, and sliced (i do not peel or core my tomatoes. skin on is gewd!!)
1/2 medium onion (i use vidalia if in season)
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
3 slices bacon crumbled (sometimes i use bacon, sometimes not)
3 TBSP mayonnaise (i use 2 tbsp blue cheese dressing and 1 tbsp mayo)
1 tsp dried basil divided (i use fresh basil and lots of it!)
salt/pepper to taste

Place the sliced tomatoes in a colander over a large bowl or the sink, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Allow to sit while preparing the other ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 425F. Slice the onion very thinly.
In a bowl combine the cheese, bacon, and blue cheese/mayo. Mix thoroughly.
Carefully lay the bottom pie crust in a 9″ pie plate. Arrange a layer of tomatoes, sprinkle with half the sliced onion and 1/2 tsp dried basil.
Repeat the first layer with the remaining tomatoes, onion, and basil.
Top with cheese mixture.
Add second crust, seal the edges, and cut slits in the top.
Bake for 45 minutes, checking after 30. Cover with foil if the crust browns early.
If you can wait to slice the pie, it will cool and the cheese won’t be as runny.
We couldn’t wait either.

maggie and milly and molly and may
by e.e. cummings

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles, and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles; and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it’s always ourselves we find in the sea

There Once Was a Puffin

Oh, there once was a Puffin
Just the shape of a muffin,
And he lived on an island
In the bright blue sea!

He ate little fishes,
That were most delicious,
And he had them for supper
And he had them for tea.

But this poor little Puffin,
He couldn’t play nothin’,
For he hadn’t anybody
To play with at all.

So he sat on his island,
And he cried for awhile, and
He felt very lonely,
And he felt very small.

Then along came the fishes,
And they said, “If you wishes,
You can have us for playmates,
Instead of for tea!”

So they now play together,
In all sorts of weather,
And the Puffin eats pancakes,
Like you and like me.

by Florence Page Jaques

audrey, hazel and mackenzie having fun on a friday night

Ingredients
1/2 large sweet onion, chopped or 2 scallions, thinly sliced
1-2 teaspoon canola oil
2 tablespoons curry powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon cinnamon
10 ounces fresh spinach, washed, stemmed and coarsely chopped
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 2 lbs)
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup water
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes, can substitute fresh if available
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
basmati rice or brown rice, for serving

Directions
1 You may choose to cook the sweet potatoes however you prefer.
2 I like to peel, chop and steam mine in a veggie steamer for about 15 minutes.
3 Baking or boiling work well too.
4 While sweet potatoes cook, heat 1-2 tsp of canola or vegetable oil over medium heat.
5 Add onions and sauté 2-3 minutes, or until they begin to soften.
6 Next, add the curry powder, cumin, and cinnamon, and stir to coat the onions evenly with spices.
7 Add tomatoes with their juices, and the chickpeas, stir to combine.
8 Add ½ cup water and raise heat up to a strong simmer for about a minute or two.
9 Next, add the fresh spinach, a couple handfuls at a time, stirring to coat with cooking liquid.
10 When all the spinach is added to the pan, cover and simmer until just wilted, about 3 minutes.
11 Add the cooked sweet potatoes to the liquid, and stir to coat.
12 Simmer for another 3-5 minutes, or until flavors are well combined.
13 Transfer to serving dish, toss with fresh cilantro, and serve hot.
14 This dish is nice served over basmati or brown rice.

My neighbor Odetta
Came over to see if I was feeling better
Every morning at 8 through the backyard gate
And of all the pretty things she would bring
There was nothing like that song she sang
That could ease my sorry state
She’d sing to me:

Take this bread, if you need a friend
‘Cause I’m alright, if you’re alright
I ain’t got a lot, but all I got
You’re welcome to it
‘Cause I’m alright if you’re alright

~the felice brothers