Tabbouleh Rasa

I've been working really hard lately to keep Brady from eating takeout.

Ranger School was a cruel starvation camp to a stud who eats Wendy's hamburgers (ahem, of the clandestinely-purchased sort) as afternoon snacks. The training severely restricted, among other things, his caloric intake, and over the grueling course of three months he endured incessant starvation, sleep deprivation, and demanding physical challenges to simulate special operations combat.

But last week - his first week home from training - he became reunited with his favourite foods - all at once. After bringing home the third dozen box of donuts, I began to worry.

I'm not sure how much of it was a revolt against his wife's newfound veganism, and how much was the impulsive post-deprivation hyperphagia, but either way I knew I needed to do something to take better care of my husband.

We needed to meet somewhere in the middle of my raw-vegan-organic-only-thank-you, and his surreptitious relationship with Dave Thomas' red-headed daughter. We needed a fresh, new start.

And I realised that I needed to change as much as he did.

And yes, last year's Rifle calendar is so pretty I still have it up in our kitchen

We had recently picked up a new cookbook at Williams-Sonoma anyway, and over the next few days I found myself cooking my way through its pages. And keeping the book in-tow at the Commissary paid off: Brady hasn't wanted to eat out since last Saturday - not because I'm ruling him with an iron hand whisk but because he genuinely enjoys how dinners taste and how he feels. I've always enjoyed cooking, but these recipes have been especially popular at home. Monday: Tabbouleh. Tuesday: Baked Tomatoes with Tuna, White Beans, and Bread Crumbs. Both meals Brady happily took as leftovers for lunch the following day. Tonight (Wednesday) is Tofu Peanut Stir Fry.

I think I might be pushing my luck with tofu. But, as Brady learned so many times in Ranger training, if we happen to fall short one day we can always take another shot tomorrow.