Ah, the Summer Solstice— worst day of the year!
Who wouldn’t enjoy sunny, warm days that last well into the evening, you ask? VAMPIRES LIKE ME. Hello again from the deep, dark depths of my basement, where I am confined until the sun stops being so friggin’ relentless or until my dinner party guests arrive, whichever comes first.
I was up with the dawn to prep a very simple menu: red onion from the yard, thinly sliced and marinated in pepperoncini vinegar, a pinch of sugar and salt, pickling at the bottom of a mixing bowl. Layered on top: roasted red pepper, kalamata olives, and a can of chopped artichoke hearts. Later I’ll toss it all with olive oil, baby romaine, herbs, tomatoes and feta. A big, cold salad for a long, hot day.
On the side, more sourdough garlic focaccia. One guest is bringing a rotisserie chicken. The other, a pint of mango sorbet. Yes that’s right, I’m making gingersnap cookie sandwiches with the dough I put away in my freezer two weeks ago. Easy breezey, as long as the sun doesn’t touch my skin and turn me into ash.