So, the past two nights have been DH-assisted meals. He does not know how to cook at all, but is willing to help in my moment of need (ha ha). The worst part is his knife skills--I'm convinced he is going to end up in the slice and dice bucket with me if he does not learn how to properly manage a knife.
Tonight we had pesto stuffed gnocchi (no, I did not make them, they were from Trader Joes!), with Marcella Hazan's tomato-butter sauce that he made (yum!), and some nice olive oil ciabatta (that he heated up in the oven! Hey, every bit counts!) .
Last night DH made us pressed paninis with tomato, emmenthaler, turkey, onion, and mayonnaise. Not too bad for a first "stab" (ack!) at cooking in about 10 years.
Hopefully I'll be back in cooking mode soon, but I think I am looking at at least five more days of thumbless-ness, so I will continue to keep you posted on what DH comes up with.
MinnieM21, hello fellow Ina Garten lover!! She is my favorite. I'm with you on the buttermilk mashed potatoes. Even my Mom loved them, and she gets really cranky when anyone deviates from the tried and true family recipe (Worst potato offense on my part at a family meal: mashed potatoes with smoked mozzarella cheese. Yes, it was as bad as it sounds. It was even worse than the time I made eggplant mashed potatoes

).