Pumpkin & Pomegranate

The anniversary of our second date, which was really our first “real” date, was last Saturday. Being the understanding girlfriend that I am I wouldn’t think of letting Matt miss his beloved college football games for dinner, when we could just as easily go out on Sunday evening. Saturday evening Matt surprised me with a beautiful book that he knew I wanted:

Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book

He wrapped it himself too. I am embarrassed to say that I didn’t have anything to wrap his DVDs in other than Christmas wrapping, and so they were presented to him unwrapped. His wrapping was so cute that I think I have to hang it somewhere.

Sunday afternoon we went to my friend’s new condo for chai. My friend Purva had set up a lovely spread which included an Indian spiced bruschetta. She told me that often she has to “Indianize” recipes, and honestly I think I am quite fine with that. I have been adding Indian spices to a lot of random things recently too! I am in love with this one particular curry powder from Market spice, and I haven’t ever tasted anything quite like it. FYI “curry powder” is a British invention and isn’t used in India at all. “Curry” actually refers to any dish that has a gravy. Garam masala is different though, and is a mixture of different spices and is Indian. The thing is that pretty much every cook/mother/household has their own recipe for garam masala, and so they can be vastly different from each other. I want to tinker around to see if I can come up with my own recipe. But I digress. Purva’s bruschetta was divine, and not just because I was actually eating the toast (and loving every second) but because the spices were wonderful. The blend she used this time was brought to her by her mother who visited in August. We also had chai, and Purva was lovely enough to leave out the crucial element (milk) so Matt and I could enjoy it as well. Sadly I ran out of time and didn’t bring any coconut milk with me, but it was still really nice.

Matt and I then made our way over to one of the most fabulous vegetarian restaurants I have ever been to. A year ago this wonderful man invited me to Carmelita on our second date, but really this was more of a “first date” because our first “meeting” was just over tea, and I had a bad cold. He was sweet enough to still want to meet me, and then accompanied me to the grocery store so I could buy soup (I would not let him bring me hot soup as he sweetly offered). He carried my bag for me, and I knew I wanted to see him again. SO, the second date. I had wanted to try Carmelita for a couple of years and was SO excited when he asked if he could take me there. I got all gussied up, and I was really nervous (he used to make me SO nervous!). We had a wonderfully romantic dinner that has proved to be one of the best dates I have ever had. He was sweet enough to ask me if I wanted to go back to Carmelita for our anniversary dinner this year, and while the food was very very good I do believe it was better the first time. I do have to say that this date was much more romantic though! We split 3 starters and one entree. We picked out a lovely poached pear salad with sage walnuts (I MUST try to make these myself), a hearty minestrone, Antipasti complete with roasted garlic, red pepper spread, and white bean spread…oh and picked quince and carrots, Delicious! We also had the sweet potato gnocchi with broccolini, caramelized onions, and a maple sauce. The sauce on the broccolini was drool worthy, but I wasn’t impressed with the gnocchi. Yes I had grains and potatoes and they were delicious. No guilt either. That’s the new plan. I was too full and couldn’t even finish my portion, so Matt exclaimed that apparently my stomach had shrunk! I am fine with that. I ate until I could feel myself getting full, and then I let him finish the rest. Bliss. I am sorry I don’t have photos to share. I thought about it. I had my camera, but I just wanted to experience the evening without having to be all food bloggery ;-) I am sure you all understand.