A sweetness writ in remembrance

Before leaving for "the Island," I was on a mission to cook every vegetable that was ripe in my garden. I was a sauteing, frying, mincing, chopping, roasting, grilling machine. I returned to the Quinoa Cake from Chocolate and Zucchini but instead of the mushroom-bacon filling, I went with a tomato-basil-fontina cheese combination. I used half-and-half instead of cream and reduced the eggs. Even the non-tomato eater in my house ate this cake.

Tomato-Basil Quinoa Cake Ingredients (Change amounts according to taste)

1 box quinoa cooked according to package instructions (2 cups)

2-3 cups cherry/grape/pear tomatoes. Some cut in half and others left whole

1/4-1/2 cup slivered basil

1/2-3/4 shredded fontina cheese (Pecorino or Parmesan also works - I added some Parm)

1/4 cup half-and-half

2 eggs

salt and pepper to taste

Tomato-Basil Quinoa Cake Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- inch springform pan.
2. Combine cooked quinoa, tomatoes, basil and cheese.

3. Whisk eggs, cream and salt and pepper. Add quinoa mxiture into cream mixture. Stir well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 35 minutes. The top should be browned and if you insert a toothpick, it should come out clean.

4. Let stand for five minutes. Run a knife around the pan and remove the clamps. Slice into wedges and serve.

It's grand for any meal - on the side or even as an entree. Add a salad and call it a day. Which is what I finally did. Called it a day. Packed and headed northeast to the Wisconsin side of Lake Superior.

Madeleine Island in the distance - as seen from Bayfield, WI. It's a big lake.

A very big lake. We waited for the ferry. We read the brochure and in it they gave times for the sunset. Sunset time on the brochure! How sweet. How quaint.

How lovely - watercolor, music and poetry created by nature. From the island that is both a wild and tame wonder, we walked the beach.

- The setting sun and music at the close

- As the last taste of sweets

- is sweet at last.

- Writ in remembrance

- more than things long past. - Shakespeare

And so it is now. Writ in remembrance. But a rembrance shared with my family. All four of us. A wonder. A last taste of sweets. A sunset on Madeleine Island.