Fish Tacos - made with excellent mahi mahi from Costco, marinated in lime juice and spicy salt, served with refried black beans, guacamole, and cheese. Topped with slaw made from the last of our cabbages, harvested this weekend, and spicy creamy dressing. Que bonita!

At my work, we tend to talk about food a lot: what we grilled, what recipe we tried, where to get a good deal. Usually these culinary discussions happen over a surgery or a disgusting dental, but it doesn't deter us.

Recently, someone was telling us about a rich etouffe recipe, "You wouldn't believe it! It calls for lots of butter - REAL butter!"

I had to interrupt. "Real butter is the ONLY butter worth putting in your mouth! You can't eat that margarine crap. You know it turns straight into plaques in your arteries!"

Unfortunately, every time I say this at work, most people look at me puzzled, with only slight recognition of trans fats.

That's when I told them: there are only 3 fats in my house. Butter. Olive Oil. Canola oil. You don't need and shouldn't mess with anything else.

However, I did buy some peanut oil last week, to fry the gorditas in. I used it tonight to make Crescenza in Carrozza - little fried egg-battered cheese sandwiches.

What fats enjoy residence in your Cucina?

The leftover lamb tasted SO GOOD minced finely, tossed with organic gemelli (twisted "twin" pasta) from Italy, plenty of E.V.O., shredded mozzarella di bufalo, parmegiano reggiano, chopped fresh spinaci, sale e pepe. I had the last of it today for lunch. It looked as good as it tasted.

The Green Chile Stew was great (but everything I make with that Berkshire pork tastes so good). I added cumin powder, and it really helped. I also served it with Gorditas, which I found at our HEB, parcooked, and delicious once briefly fried at home. Anthony worked outside all day, was very hungry, and LOOOOOOVED it.

We are hosting Anthony's uncle Volker from Germany this weekend. He is a chef, so we are eating well. Last night Anthony fixed our old stand-by, Peasant Pasta - basically, really good pasta, asiago cheese, white beans, and chopped fresh spinach in a garlicky vinaigrette. MMMmmmm...

Tonight we had a leg o'lamb that they brought with them. "How are we going to fix the lamb?" I asked at breakfast. "You're the lamb expert! You fix it!" they told me. Okey-dokey -- so we went to the farmer's market and purchased asparagus, sweet potatoes, lettuce, and radishes for sides (Volker wisely picked up some bread, too). I butterflied the boneless leg, rubbed it all over with chopped rosemary, garlic, a leedle bit of balsamico and a lotto olive oil. While I prepared the veggies, Volker put the meat on the grill for me. It all turned out fantastico! We opened one of our special bottles of wine from Oregon for that feast.

At the farmer's market, I also bought some free range Berkshire pork to make into some sort of green chile stew. Wish me luck....

Ever since I got that food poisoning/stomach bug/bad juju, my heart has not been in food writing. So that's my lousy excuse for the lack of posting lately.

Usually I have a robust appetite I wish I could curb. Sometimes I exercise just to keep up with my calories. But lately I've had a lackluster appetite, eating small portions, not interested in much of anything.

At least I'm well enough to drink wine again....