to 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/Sg1YYyUrqDI/AAAAAAAADCk/YyXSSoMrgt4/s320/076.JPG” border=”0″ />Guest Blogger – The Contessa writes:
top:2px;padding-right:5px;font-family:times;”>Spring has sprung in New York and all the flowers are in bloom. But we’ve already had some 90 degree plus days and that’s not spring, that’s summer. I HATE SUMMER! There – I said it and I’m not going to apologize for it. Let me explain….As a child, I never got sick during the school year. All my childhood diseases…mumps, chicken pox and whopping cough I managed to get right in the middle of Summer. As an adult, my one major surgery and my heart attack both happened…you guessed it…in the summer. I hate bugs, humidity and sweaty people. I HATE SUMMER.
However, there are a few things I love about summer…fresh veggies, my central air conditioning, a crystal clear swimming pool, Saratoga Springs and cold plates.
to 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/Sg1YY_iFxXI/AAAAAAAADCs/i1mAwtk6SZ0/s320/173.JPG” border=”0″ />Cold plates I’m sure are not my invention but I sort of perfected what I consider to be the perfect summer meal without turning on any heat at all. Basically they are a mixture of whatever I have handy that goes together to make an interesting meal…. I usually start with a meat or fish. Meats can be any nice cold sliced meat such as roast beef, ham, turkey or chicken. If I’m in a particularly Mediterranean mood, I add salami, prosciutto or pepperoni. If I’m not in a meat mood, I use fish…cold, iced shrimp or cold salmon (my favorite). You can also use crab, sardines, smoked salmon or trout and if you really want, raw oysters or clams. I also like to use tinned smoked oysters.
to 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/Sg1YYqnQ8XI/AAAAAAAADCc/pj9DVFkTrME/s320/029.JPG” border=”0″ />Now the rest of the plate can be whatever you have available….grapes, strawberries, pate, pickles, cornichons, avocado, artichoke hearts, olives, coleslaw, corn relish, 3 bean salad, macaroni salad, grilled veggies, hard boiled eggs, chow-chow, and of course almost any kind of cheese….cottage, swiss, brie, cheddar, feta, etc. To finish it off, I always add some fresh veggies…tomatoes, radish, green onions, cucumber, mushrooms and carrots.
to 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/Sg1YYhXe9iI/AAAAAAAADCU/vNJlgrrqK0I/s320/003.JPG” border=”0″ />A nice cold plate on a hot day is one reason why I LOVE SUMMER!
The Contessa,
Guest Blogger – Diva of the Day
Good Point Atti!
Nice thoughts. but, As you hate summer and in the summer you also like something which you could not get in any other season.
Karachi Hotel
I absolutely agree with you. I hate Summer, well, I dislike Summer. It's my least favorite season. I usually save my vacation for the Fall because I hate doing anything in the heat of Summer and Fall is so beautiful here in New England.
I only like Summer when I am sitting on a deck or porch with a cool drink in my hand and I am staring at the ocean. The ocean always makes it better.
Phivos,
You & me both! I dont like heat, but I LIVE for SUMMERTIME!
Sanity Fair,
I ENVY YOU the light fresh foods year round!!!! After returning from Italy I've been dishing up veggies, veggies, veggies and loving it now that my favorites are in season again!
Alicia,
I love that you said "no amount of nakedness" … that cracks me up!!!!
Contessa,
So true… people do get touchy about these things!!! HA… Funnily enough, I was looking at booking a hotel in Croatia later this summer and as I was showing it to my husband I discovered that it was a NATURALIST HOTEL! Needless to say that was NOT INTENDED! I was so glad to discover the fact BEFORE booking the hotel and NOT after showing up!!!
Cheers,
The Diva
Wonderful ideas. I love how fresh and light summer food is – which is great since I'm so deep South I can eat it most of the year!
I don't like heat, but I LOVE summer time!!
How true ALicia…..They tend to get a little touchy around here if you walk around outside naked. TEE HEE
Heat & humidity, yes Im not a fan either. I always say you can bundle up in winter for warmth but now amount of nakedness can squelch the 99 degrees & who wants to live indoors.
Must go you may me hungry….