I've had no time over the past couple months to seriously blog. There was Miami, Portugal, family and friend visits, my brother's spectacular wedding... But now I'm back in effect with several things to report and also news of exciting this to come.

First, I roasted yams in the oven a while back, scooped out the flesh, and stirred it with butter, turmeric, and fenugreek.  I call them India-Inspired Yummy Yams.

Yes, we went to Portugal again. We missed it tremendously since 2008 so we decided to return for a spontaneous long weekend. We ate amazing seafood every day but one when we had the traditional frango assado (Portuguese roast chicken with fiery piri piri sauce). Photos will come eventually. If anyone wants trip tips, let me know. I can talk endlessly about Lisbon and the southwest coast.

I had the best raw oysters - hands down - this past weekend in Rehoboth Beach, DE: Bagaduce oysters from Maine.

Tonight is Whitlow's all-you-can-eat snow crab legs as soon as the hubby gets home. I'm going to eat my weight in crab.

Coming up this weekend: road trip to NYC with my best friend and her beautiful baby to bid adieu to our college friend who's moving to Singapore. Sadness! But I see a big trip in our future...

Finally, next weekend is going to be a culinary extravaganza. We're driving up to Hyde Park on Friday for a campus tour and dinner in one of the CIA's student restaurants. Saturday's my class followed by dinner down in NYC at - wait for it, wait for it - Le Bernardin. Oh, Eric Ripert, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: caviar, tuna, lobster, turbot, hiramasa, black bass, etc.