Sauteed Baby Spinach

This simple side dish requires slightly more effort than tying a shoe lace but tastes better than even the most meticulously tied double knot.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp chopped onion (or you can cut from top to bottom and then slice to get crescent shapes)
• 1 pinch chili flakes
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt to taste
  
• 3 dry oz (or about 2 large handfuls) baby spinach
• A few drops of fresh squeezed lemon juice
  

Instructions

In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and chili flakes. Lightly sautee, taking care not to let the onions turn soft. When onions are heated, add garlic and sautee until garlic turns golden. Do not let the garlic brown. Add salt (if in doubt err on the side of too little) and stir in. Add spinach and stir to distribute olive oil. Let the spinach reduce, stirring frequently. When spinach is reduced and evenly coated, turn off heat and squeeze a bit of lemon juice on the spinach and stir in. Serve hot. Enjoy frequently during the bar study period.

My Little Pretties

I discerned my first seedlings (probably basil) at 06:00 today. They were ever so pale--nearly white, in fact . . .


Here they are just twelve hours later, open and somewhere between lime and Kelly green . . .


Alright, back to the books!

kitchen garden (literally)

So I finally gave in and treated myself to one of those herb growing starter kits that I've been eying for the past week or so. I like to think of it as my graduation present to myself. At the risk of sounding like a pre-schooler, I AM SO EXCITED! I can't wait for the first sprout! On the left I've got rosemary and flat-leaf parsley, and on the right I've got oregano and basil. I tried growing basil indoors when I lived in Cambridge and didn't have much luck, but hopefully things will go better this time. Anyway, I will transfer each surviving plant (I sure hope I have at least one success) into its own pot. The little pots are biodegradable, so they can go into larger clay pots when it's time to make the move.

Oh, I also sprinkled a mixture of dry, used tea leaves on the surface of the soil. I figure they look nicer than damp dirt and should decompose with little help. Well, back to my bar study. As much as I'd love to stay up and see if reindeer really know how to fly, I need to go to bed at a decent hour tonight.

P.S. Yes, I realize that technically I am no longer a law student, but I'm not a lawyer yet, either, so I'm going to leave the blog subtitle as it is for now.