I don't cook much -- I often get a lot of microwave-and-serve kinds of things. But once in a while, I do something slightly more complicated. During the game the Packers blew last Monday, they showed a Green Bay sauerkraut factory, which inspired me to get brats and kraut the next time I went shopping. I also got some beef and fresh veggies.

This evening, I'd run out of everything perishable except some of the veggies. So I made a salad of tomatoes and green peppers and -- the more interesting part -- a dressing of oil, vinegar, garlic, onions, half of a hot pepper, and salt. Somewhat to my surprise, it worked out. I suspect it might have been better if I'd let the flavorings marinate for a while -- I didn't really give them much longer than it took to chop the 'matoes and the bell pepper.