Sometimes it's ok to be a quitter

Well, good news, folks: yesterday, I quit my job.

I'm serious, it is good news--you see, I have a plan. Without getting into details, the place I've been working for the last two years is a disaster. On the one hand, it's sad, because I care about the mission of the place. On the other hand, every woman for herself. So, over the last few months, I've been building up a little side business. And now, I'm ready to break free and make it my full-time work.

It's doing the same thing that I've been doing for 10 years, but now I'll be doing it on my own. I am my own boss! This idea is incredible to me. The idea that I answer to no one except my clients sends ripples of excitement up my spine.

Of course, some of those ripples are fear. What if I can't make this work? What if my current buzz of business fades away and no one wants to hire me anymore? These concerns have kept me up a bit these last few nights.

But in the mornings, things have seemed clear. Something about that broad sweeping sunlight you get this time of year makes you feel like the world is embracing you. And somehow, I mustered the courage to take the leap. Kind of a big deal for a play-it-safe hungry dog like me.

Thanks to the husband, my mom, my sister, and the good friends I'm so lucky to have, all of whom have been so supportive about my new venture. And thanks to all of you who have encouraged me! It's a great thing to be buoyed by people you have never met, who truly seem to want the best for you. No, not just great: amazing.

I should wrap this around to talk about food, right? Here's a pasta I made the other night amidst all this change. It's tagliatelle with smashed peas, ricotta, basil, and sausage. It's bright, creamy, and delicious. It will make your mouth happy and your stomach purr. Make it. (Note: I used sweet instead of hot sausage: your choice.)

Happy weekend to you all!

Fried chicken and cole slaw, Derby-style

The husband's cousin, John, who also is from Kentucky and has lived out here forever, throws a Kentucky Derby party every year. When John and his wife lived in the city, the party would take over the multi-unit building they lived in in the Mission, with hundreds of revelers congregating on the back staircases and in the garden below. Televisions were set up throughout the flats so everyone could watch the race. Bluegrass bands played all day and into the evening and bartenders were hired for the sole purpose of muddling mint juleps. There was grilling on the front sidewalk, elaborate betting schemes, an auction, and even a hat box from which you could borrow if you arrived unadorned.

The food at the Derby party is always potluck, and in the past we've been a little lazy, showing up with beer and stuff to grill. But this time around, the husband got it in his mind that he wanted to bring fried chicken (oven-fried, to save on the mess) and cole slaw. He scoped out recipes and decided on this one and this one, but with some additions. He spiced up the chicken with some cajun seasoning; to the cole slaw, he added sliced almonds and dried cranberries.

Here's the chicken. Doesn't it look crunchy and delicious?

And the colorful, confetti-like slaw:

When the food was packed up and ready to go, I put on a dress and cowboy boots, the husband donned his driving cap, and we headed out. This year was a little different than others, because John and his wife now live in Marin. While this party was scaled down by past standards, there were still probably at least 80 people there.

There was a mint julep station...

and live music from The Crooked Jades...

and I have to admit there were some cute kids there, like this tiny Wildcat fan...

or the little one that stole the show, strumming his ukelele in the garden.

As for the fried chicken and the cole slaw, believe me when I say both turned out fabulously and were devoured rapidly at the party. How quickly something disappears on a buffet is certainly one measure of a dish's success.

It was a lovely afternoon in a lovely place. But no matter how nice Marin is, I'm a city girl at heart. I always like coming home over the Golden Gate Bridge...

and watching the ocean fly by.

Happy belated Derby Day!

Pork tenderloin with rhubarb chutney

Sorry to break it to you, but I'm still on a rhubarb kick. Why not? It's only in season for a little while. Go big or go home, I say.

I had some rhubarb left over from the snack cake, and then I went and bought some more. I'm addicted, I tell you. What goes with rhubarb? I pondered during a slow moment at work today. Duck would be delicious. Lamb, too. But what I decided on was pork tenderloin with a rhubarb chutney.

I had a funny experience making this recipe. I had conceived of the combination in my head, and then I went and found a recipe for it. As I was putting the chutney together, it occurred to me that I'm pretty sure I made this exact recipe once before, a long time ago. But then I guess I forgot about it. And here I was about to take credit for making it up, i.e. remembering it.  Jeez.

I followed the recipe pretty faithfully, except that I used dried cranberries instead of raisins, as that's what I had on hand. It came together very rapidly, always a plus for a weeknight dinner. The result? A brightly-hued, sweet-tart accent to a cumin-spiced pork tenderloin. We all enjoyed it, even Frances, who got a bit of the meat minus the chutney. Feeding a dog chutney just seems like a bad idea.

I won't forget this recipe again: it's definitely going into my annual rhubarb repertoire.