How much does the visual matter?

I worked from home today; so prepared both lunch and dinner.  Both were very tasty - but, dinner did not have much visual appeal.

Lunch was a tasty lettuce, tuna salad, avocado wrap.

It was a pretty plate and very tasty.

For dinner I was trying to figure out how to use a cucumber.  I am going away for the weekend and it would not last until Tuesday.  My trusty friend google suggested sauteing in butter.  I also roasted some cauliflower (which is now in serious contention with my until now current favorite of roasted brussel sprouts) and a chicken breast cut into tenders and sauteed in olive oil.

It really was delicious, but lacked visual appeal.  Working with what comes in the veggie bag each week does limit me visually.  But, I think the visual is important and will need to start supplementing  some more colorful elements.

Back to the cucumbers.  I sliced them, seeded them and sauteed them in butter.  Sprinkled with salt and pepper.  They really were very tasty.  I am rethinking my notions of what can and cannot be cooked.

Until now, I have focused on what the taste of each ingredient is, learning what it tastes like on its own.  Now I am ready to start thinking about how to enhance that flavor with herbs, spices and complementary ingredients.

I hope you will join me on this journey.

And i promised that tomorrow I will post about immersion blenders and lovely soups!