Remember that June where it rained every day for the entire month? Yeah, I am pretty sure those dreary “summer” days are hard to forget, and it looks like this May is trying to one up June 2009. Don’t get me wrong. I love rainy days and actually appreciate a cloudy day or two every week. I find them more serene than sunny days, and in this allergy season, I can finally breathe more easily. It’s not so much the rain that is getting me down, it’s the cold! I am back to working in multiple layers of fleece with my down slippers on, sipping on various Yogi teas all day to stay warm. We even put the heat on a few times this week. It’s obviously not as cold as it was all winter, but my body is just longing to feel comfortable, no chattering teeth or blue fingers, just that ahhhhhh when you can sit back, relax and not feel too hot or too cold.
I am ready to feel like that.
To bring the taste of summer into my life this week, I decided I needed a bright caprese salad.
It provided a bright contrast to what I was looking at out of my skylight.
Caprese salad is such a simple and colorful dish, perfect for a light summer dinner with a baguette and a glass of wine.
This time, I used Shaw’s brand, Culinary Circle fresh mozzarella. Once again, the store brand is just as good as the fancier brands but about a dollar cheaper.
These tomatoes looked gorgeous, but they ended up being a little too hard. It was a little disappointing, but I know I will appreciate local summer tomatoes that much more.
My Shaw’s had one box of basil left, and it looked awful, so I bought these Gourmet Garden herbs in a tube.
Tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, olive oil, salt, and pepper. It couldn’t be easier or more delicious.
Served, of course, with a side of Tostitos hint of jalapeno because I am a tortilla chip addict. These beat out the hint of lime chips, in my opinion!
This was actually my mid day lunch, one of the perks of working from home!
What summer foods are you most looking forward to?
