Simple pleasure 2. - pasta e parmigiano

No doubt...I was an Italian in my former life. Whatever the snobby French say about the "peasant Italian food", it tops liver pate and rabbit stew...Anyway, this is as simple as it gets...cook a cup of Trader Joe's pasta penne with flax according to directions, when done, add grated Parmesan cheese according to taste, and freshly ground pepper. A glass of Chianti - and you have a basic simple dinner.

Simple pleasure - brownies

1 stick butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unbleached flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt butter in a large bowl in microwave. Add 1/2 c. cocoa, stir until smooth. Add sugar. Add eggs one at a time, stirring well after each adition. Add 1 tsp. vanilla, 1/4 tsp salt and flour, stir well. Pour into buttered 8x8 inch square pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes.