A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, RANA WAS WASHING DISHES AND QUINN WAS PULLING HER PATENTED MOVE OF TRYING TO SQEEZE BETWEEN RANA'S LEGS AND THE CABINET BELOW THE SINK; ALL THE WHILE WHINING IN AN ATTEMPT TO CHISEL RANA INTO PROVIDING HER UNDIVIDED ATTENTION. SO RANA SAID SOMETHING TO QUINN ALONG THE LINES OF, "NOW THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT WHINE......LET MOMMY FINISH THE DISHES"........ACCORDING TO RANA, THE INSTANT QUINN HEARD THE WORD "WHINE" SHE SHUFFLED OFF TO THE DOORWAY BETWEEN OUR KITCHEN AND LIVING ROOM AND POINTED INTENTLY AT MY WINERACK.

THAT'S MY GIRL.

SHOWN AT LEFT IS THE TERMINAL RACHIS OF THE PLANT CALLED TEOSINTE (OF THE GENUS ZEA), OR "MOTHER OF CORN", BY THE NAHUATL INDIANS.

TEOSINTE IS SUSPECTED TO BE THE ANCESTOR OF MODERN CORN AND THEORETICALLY CAME UPON ITS ALTERED FORM SOME THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO THROUGH SUDDEN AND DRASTIC MUTATIONS IN THE WILD, WHICH HAD THE FORTUNATE EFFECT OF CATCHING THE HUMAN EYE. CORN IN THIS MUTATED/DOMESTICATED STATE HAS LITTLE OF THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR SUSTAINED FERAL EXISTENCE WHICH MAKES ITS FOOD-BASED RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMANS ESSENTIAL TO ITS SURVIVAL. OVER ONE FOURTH OF THE APPROXIMATE FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND FOOD ITEMS IN THE AVERAGE GROCERY STORE CONTAIN CORN OR CORN DERIVATIVES, AS DO MANY OF THE NON FOOD ITEMS AS WELL. EVIDENTLY THE LIVES OF CORN AND HUMANS INTERTWINE THROUGH MULTIPLE CHANNELS OF OUR DAY TO DAY.

SOURCE: "OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA", BY MICHAEL POLLAN (THANKS JUSTIN)

YEAH................THE RAMPS KEEP COMIN.

THIS IS A SIMPLE DISH WE MAKE SEMI REGULARLY BUT TONIGHT IT INCLUDED THE ADDITION OF SOME WILTED RAMP GREENS.

TOSSED WITH A POUND OF PASTA IS A VINAIGRETTE CONSISTING OF THE FOLLOWING:

1/4 CUP QUALITY BALSAMIC VINEGAR

1/3 CUP EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

2 TABLESPOONS DIJON MUSTARD

2 TO 3 GENEROUS TABLESPOONS PESTO

1 TO 2 TABLESPOONS HONEY

1 1/2 TEASPOONS SEA SALT

1 TEASPOON GROUND PEPPER

1 SMALL TO MEDIUM GARLIC CLOVE FINELY MINCED

1/4 TEASPOON CAYENNE PEPPER

THIS CONCOCTION ALONE IS A FINE DRESSING FOR THE PASTA BUT THE OPTIONS ARE MANY FOR ADDING ADDITIONAL ITEMS IN VARIOUS COMBINATIONS: i.e. SLICED STEAK, CHOPPED FRESH TOMATOES, CHOPPED SCALLIONS, RAMP GREENS, ARUGULA, CHICKEN, SHRIMP, ETC.

1. OLD PAL -- NICKY H
2. PAN CON TOMATE AND FRESH RAMP, BELL PEPPER AND LEMON GREMOLATA
3. SEARED SUSHI GRADE GARGANTUAN SCALLOPS WITH RAMP GREENS WILTED IN WHITE WINE AND A TOUCH OF THAI CHILI SAUCE
4. ROASTED WEST COAST KUMAMATO OYSTERS -- COOKED RARE
5. EDAMAME
6. WINE VESSEL -- COTE DU VENTOUX
7. CORNMEAL DUSTED SOFT SHELL CRAB WITH THAI CHILI SPICED MAYONAISE
8. COLOSSAL GULF SHRIMP SEARED IN THE SHELL -- SALT, PEPPER, LEMON, CAPERS
9. FRESH SEARED SARDINES -- SALT, PEPPER, PAPRIKA, LEMON
10. SASHIMI OF KAMPACHI (HAWAIIAN YELLOWTAIL) -- SEA SALT, LEMON