Anniversary Dinner

Billy and I celebrated our anniversary last week with a homemade dinner and a great bottle of wine. I have to say, it was exactly what I wanted—simple, delicious, loving—and I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend the evening.

On the menu? Mussels in white wine, shallots, and garlic over linguine. I made a frisée salad with warmed cherry tomatoes and a simple vinaigrette. Only now will I admit that I used Vegenaise in the dressing. Had I mentioned this the other night Billy would have vetoed the salad on mere principal. Hey, I've learned to be cunning in the kitchen over the years.

Give the mussels a good cleaning. If you find any open mussels, give them a good tap on your kitchen counter; any that don't close on their own need to be thrown away.

While you're boiling the linguine, finely chop 2 shallots, 5 cloves of garlic, and a 1/2 cup of parsley. Heat 1/2 cup of olive oil on medium-high heat. Add the shallots and sauté for a few minutes until soft. Then add the garlic, stirring constantly, careful not to burn.

Now for the moment of truth! Dump the mussels into the pot along with 1/2 cup white wine, half the the parsley you chopped, and a generous amount of salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 6 minutes. Discard any shells that haven't opened.

Plate the linguine and pour the mussels on top. You can thicken the sauce with a tablespoon or so of butter. Sprinkle with parsley.

This meal couldn't be any simpler. You will love it. Bon appetite!