Sometimes you just need something quick. Maybe you’re busy getting chores done around the house. Maybe you’re running low on energy or culinary get-up-and-go. Or maybe, the weather outside is so nice and you’re seriously whooping your hubby’s butt at a game of Bags and don’t want to lose your mojo by stopping to make dinner, so you slap together some bread, jam, cheese, and arugula for a super quick and easy baguette sandwich supper. Yep, that’s the one.
In July of 2005 my husband went to London for a few weeks. He was doing research for a college art class he would later be teaching. The first day he was there the 7/7 bombings occurred. The bombings targeted public transportation. He was scared. I was wigging out! He spent the rest of the trip going everywhere on foot. He walked and walked and walked. He wore his shoes out, got many blisters, but he was safe. And he saw much more of London that way; the nooks and crannies of the city that you only experience by chance while walking down an alley or stopping to look at graffiti art or noticing the curiosities of passers by.
Winter is over (’bout dang time!). Spring produce isn’t quite ready (asparagus, I’ve got plans for you). But I’m already craving the familiar flavors of summer…tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and dill to name a few. Lately, I’ve really needed a hot-weather food fix. So I decided to seek solace in the comfort of my pantry and freezer. Last summer my dad taught me how to can tomatoes and pickles. This is a life skill no Bloody Mary-loving, spicy pickle-obsessed gal (or dude) should be without. It ranks right up there with knowing how to change a car tire (which I don’t) and knowing when to pull the pot off the heat before the sugar burns when making kettle corn (which I do!). Priorities, amiright?
I am usually very skilled at killing plants. Though my intentions are good and I try my best to keep them alive, they’d much prefer to croak than endure my underwatering/overwatering/too much sun/not enough sun/is this the right kind of soil efforts. If having a green thumb is necessary to sustain the lovely gifts of nature, then I’m all fingers. Until now. About a month ago I was given a gorgeous peppermint plant and somehow have been able to prevent the thing from succumbing to it’s Jaime-induced demise. In fact, it’s growing like crazy! So what’s a girl to do with all this beautiful mint? I decided to have a nice, little tea party. Mint-themed, and with gin. Heck yeah!
Sloppy Joe’s…you either love ’em or hate ’em. I love them; my husband hates them. He thinks they’re annoying and unnecessary. They’re messy; they drip all over your hands. As you eat them, you’re increasingly left with less between the bun and more on the plate…but that’s one of the things I love about them! When you’re finished noshing the sauce-soaked bun, you get to scoop up all the sloppy-laced fixins that lay strewn about on your plate. Maybe you politely scrape them up with a spoon…maybe you dig in with your fingers and shove the fallen goodies in your face. I’m just sayin.
the Seasonal Veg Head 