Honey Toast and Warm Apple Cider

This morning I woke up slightly uneasy. I'm not really sure why as this weekend was very relaxing. Yesterday I made watercress soup while crocheting and listening to jazz. When the soup was ready I curled up on my couch with a bowl of the good stuff and watched You've Got Mail with a few glasses of chardonnay. Hardly a stressful way to spend a Sunday evening.

In order to regain some of that peaceful charm from the day before I placed two hardy slices of bread under the broiler while I warmed apple cider on the stove top. I do not have a toaster, nor do I have a microwave. It's really nice, actually, only using my oven. I've never used one piece of equipment so much. Sometimes it can be a bit to wait for, but in the end it makes me slow down and anticipate the deliciousness before me!

So I drizzled honey over the toast and poured the cider into a mug my mother bought for me. As I licked the honey spoon clean I couldn't help but to think of my grandmother and how she would give us a teaspoon of honey before bed when we were little.

I miss her so very much and I don't doubt that is where some of this loneliness is coming from. I guess I'm still grieving and the only way to connect to her again is through the food she used to make. So here is the short list of dishes to make:

1. Homemade Pasta - I have her pasta roller. In the box there is a Christmas Card from my Great Grandmother, Gammy.

2. Italian Love Cake - We are throwing a birthday party for my mom and aunt (they are twins) and I'll be making this!

3. Roasted Chicken

4. String Bean Casserole - I kind of created my own version of this.