Dave's Not Here

Hit the wrong switch on the radio and there were those same people, my dearly beloved would be-friends, happy as ever to tell me exactly how the world should be (with half my favorite people left out). Said the version of "No, thank you" suited to the occasion, hit a different switch, and whaddya know, the magic station* with not just Cheech and Chong (Welcome back, boys!) but "Hey, hey, hey, it's Fat Albert," courtesy of one Bill Cosby. Was lucky enough to see him with my friend Larry at a benefit for Back on Track a year or two ago. And a lot more years ago, I saw Cos at the Felt Forum in Madison Square Garden. You could learn more just from watching how Bill Cosby uses his face, how he moves, than you would in half a dozen classes.

I could tell the Rockin' Green Bean Salad (a cousin of the Rockin' Romano, ask me about that later) would take too long, so I decided to make that new black bean I've been thinking about, especially given that both cilantros in the fridge were looking so tired.

Red and Green and Yes, Black Bean Salad:

For the salad:

1 can organic black beans**
1 green bell pepper
2 roma tomatoes
1 cippoline onion

For the dressing:

4T extra virgin olive oil with zip (I used Spanish oil and also broke out the LA "Intenso" for the occasion)
Juice and zest of one lemon
Handful of fresh Italian parsley
1 clove garlic
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
Smidgen stone-ground mustard
Pinch salt
Pinch freshly-ground black pepper

Rinse and drain black beans. Seed the tomatoes, then chop the vegetables and mince the parsley and garlic. Whisk the oil and lemon juice together with the rest of the dressing ingredients. Add the vegetables and toss. Then add the black beans, toss again, add a splash of cider vinegar, and serve.

Had a chance to catch up with some folks and meet some new ones over at Mary and Ray's, and just about everybody had a great story to tell. Good thing we had plenty of time to talk before we sat down to dinner--and what a meal it was: Slow-cooked, silky leeks, red pepper marmalade, olive salad, two kinds of stuffing, pecans on the yams, and potatoes au gratin, along with the turkey and green beans one might expect. Oh, and homemade pumpkin pudding. Yes, indeed. And I had small bites of everything, for once, so I didn't have to lay on the bed face down when I got home, and could also skip the online first aid for the usual.

As those radio people are always saying (the rest of us save it for when people actually sneeze), God bless you. Everyone.

*This time, the magic station was KUSF.

**Yes, yes, I know I should make my own black beans. I have lentils on the stove this very minute. But remember, I was supposed to be there at 3.

©2010 Laynie Tzena.