the produce of summer.
August 12, 2007I intended to start a garden as soon as I moved into my new house, about a month ago. Amidst all the havoc, rampant consumerism in other areas, and of course some well deserved relaxation and laziness … it didn’t happen. The time has come and gone. I’ll look into further opportunities come fall. But is all this stopping me from enjoying delicious summertime fruits and vegetables? I think not!
When I got home yesterday, my neighbor was watering his plants and his dog. The dog was cute, but I was more interested in talking tomatoes. His plants are a couple years old, and are on the verge of an overwhelming crop of ripe romas and big boys. He gave me a sneak preview. I had it today, sliced and dressed with nothing but a pinch of sea salt.
Speaking of neighbors, the ones on the other side supply me with wonderful lemons. They just don’t know it. It’s thanks to them my tuna and provolone melt last week had bite not just from the capers I tossed in, but from fresh picked and fresh squeezed citrus.
Does the mercado across the street count as a neighbor? Because they have some lovely mangoes. This is actually an older photo, from a month ago or so. I was waiting for a friend to be ready so we could head out to dinner, but my stomach was having a hunger fit. So I diced up this mango and had it with an ice-cold glass of pinot grigio. It was pungent and fragrant, and so ripe. A little stringy due to the aforementioned ripeness, but who cares? Not me.
And finally, peas. Sweet peas and sugar snap peas, with ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil. Complemented my fish nicely. The fish which turned out tasty, but not pretty. Therefore, the peas and only the peas are pictured. Pretty, those peas. Don’t you think? Actually, if anyone knows why the shelled ones puckered, I’d appreciate the feedback. I don’t think I overcooked them, it was a quick blanch.
And so I leave you with the words of the great Paul McCartney: what’s so funny about peas, love and understanding?
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