Yummy Malaysiana: linguine with pea pesto

Even though I have a lot of book left to write (unless youre my editor, in which case, just kidding, almost done!) and deadlines both before and after that one requiring my attention, endless paperwork, emails and all sorts of unsavory things on my real-life agenda, Ive decided to focus my daydreaming on something more aspirational: what to cook on a lazy summer night.

We rented a beach house for a week last year but were surprised to find that 11-month olds dont always sleep in foreign locations. At all. We staggered through the week and ate out a lot. Id like us all to do better this year. In an area full of farm stands and wineries, with a kitchen bigger than a shoebox, with a grill and a deck, its a shame not to be cooking at home as much as we can. But leisurely, with as few ingredients as possible and at least one of them straight off the farm.