My romance doesn't need a thing but food

"You never take pictures of my good side." Chelsea-by-the-Sea February 14, 1973.

Our hearts were young and gay thirty-five years ago to the day when Sissy (above left, ain't she sweet?) poured her heart into heart-shaped mini sandwiches for the guests who would stand witness at City Hall -- Mummy, Daddy, Norman and Catherine -- while Tuck (right) asked himself, even as he spit and polished, "Is it really appropriate to be cleaning your car on your wedding day?" Answer: You can never clean your car too often, 'specially if it's a 280 SL.

"It's absolutely perfect. You don't have to get dressed up, get into the car, face traffic . . ." Chelsea-by-the-Sea February 14, 2008.

St. Barts? Hong Kong? La Belle France? Singapore? Nairobi? Bangkok? Machu Picchu? Rio? Vatican City? We did it all in our salad days with style. Now'days homeside by the 'lectronic hearth with candles, JuJu's heirloom silver and Waterford crystal is where it's at.

Clue for 27 across: "They're full of dates." We love that red-herring kind of clue. In this case it sent us wild-goose chasing after tortes and palm trees before we realized the "era" of our ways.

It may have been Valentine's Day and our 35th anniversary, but the Wall Street Journal's weekly online crossword puzzle was still 24 hours away. The solution: Delve back into the archives to those weeks surrounding 9/11/01, when the puzzle was the last thing on our minds. Above, our solution this evening to the September 7, 2001 puzzle.

"I'll have some of that, please."

Baby Cakes loves our cooking . . .

Tuck: "Thanks for a nice time . . . Perfect guest list . . . Everything is absolutely perfect!" Baby: "Must have meat!"

So does Tuck, who was treated to a gourmet delight of filet mignon wrapped with bacon and grilled on the Jenn-Air, together with noodles mixed with a totally awesome new sauce (see below), pureed yams with coconut (similar to sweet potatoes but a bit earthier in taste), boiled asparagus with lemon juice and Pillsbury's bake-it-yourself "Crusty French Loaf."

Our totally adorable new Le Creuset Garlic Roaster from Williams-Sonoma poses with the inspiration for its design, garlic bulbs ready to roll. You remove loose parchment, cut off clove tops, pour a little olive oil over all and bake in the covered dish 40 minutes at 400°. Let 'em cool and then -- the best part! -- squeeze out the roasted goodness.

Our sauce for the noodles started with poaching a breast of chicken 20 minutes to be used for sandwiches later on. We reserved the poaching sauce -- white vermouth, low-fat chicken broth, water, sliced leeks and roasted garlic with chopped fresh rosemary and thyme and freshly ground pepper -- and added it to a roux of butter and flour, mixing in some half & half and grated parmesan before tossing with noodles. Mighty tasty.

Comments

[pam]

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Anniversary! :)

[Teresa]

Drat I'm about an hour late!!! A slightly belated Happy Anniversary to you and Tuck - you two win the Cutest Couple award then and now. *grin*

[Sissy Willis]

Thanks, Pam and Teresa. It really was a perfect celebration for a couple of old coots. :-)

[goomp]

The marriage, the participants and the 280SL all look great after 35 years. The cuisine has done nothing but improve.

[Elisson]

How did I manage to miss this one?

Congratulations on 35 years together - an impressive milestone achieved by only a select few couples these days, alas.

We hit #30 late last spring, so we know whereof we speak...

...and was that a paisley tuxedo on Tuck, or just my eyes (and mind) playing tricks?

[Carol Ward]

(Belated) Hearty congratulations - and thanks for the new sauce recipe. Must try it.

[sippican cottage]

Happy Anniversary!