The other day I received a wonderful delivery from Amazon.com…. a box full of cookbooks! I am really excited about my four new cookbooks, and I have made one recipe so far.

The new cookbooks are Barefoot in Paris, Bittman’s Kitchen Express, and Jacques Pepin’s Fast Food My Way and More Fast Food My Way. Fun stuff! For the first recipe I made, I had to get only one special ingredient – Wondra Flour. I used this flour to make Pepin’s chicken breast with garlic and parsley. I made this dish over the weekend, and it was a big hit. Along with this chicken, I made rice and sauteed haricot vert (french green beans) with garlic.

Over the weekend my mom, sister and I had a mini-vacation of sorts. We stayed in one of my favorite places, The Haraseeket Inn. If you are ever looking for a place to stay in the Freeport, Maine area – the Haraseeket should be on your short list. It is amazing – the staff is so nice, the food is fantastic (there is a tavern and a fancier main dining room – we ate at both!) and I love their indoor, salt water pool. We enjoyed incredible food (I love the high tea from 3:30 – 4:30 every afternoon with fresh fruit, cheese, cookies, and endless amounts of tea), exercise and shopping.

Today I am putting together a meal plan for my upcoming week and a grocery list. I have been running errands most of the day, but made time for a three mile run and a great lunch time salad from Whole Foods.

I will be back tonight to recap my grocery shopping and dinner.

Hope you are all having a good start to your week – and where ever you are, I hope you are enjoying the same spring time weather we are having in Providence!