taste of summer

photo by hal990

Happy June and hello summer!

Now, I know it’s barely started, and won’t be "official" until June 21st, but I’ve already entered the free and easy, lazy-hazy-do-nothing-wild-and-wooly summer mindset. I’ve been feasting on bing cherries, soy ice cream sandwiches, tall glasses of sun tea, and swirling little ice cubes around in my mouth. My wardrobe of choice is white linen; if you’re looking for me, I’m the rumpled one dozing in a mental hammock dreaming of Federico Garcia Lorca. Either him, or Gilles Marini. Let’s samba and sizzle!

photo mosaic from Veri’s kleiner Winkel’s photostream

June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month. Bring it on, I say! I’ve already gorged myself on strawberries and cherries, and look forward to sweet juicy melons, blackberries, mangoes, nectarines and peaches.

*salivates at the thought of homemade peach pie or cobbler*

photo by mycozycreations

This summer, I want to be more adventurous and try some new veggies. Truth be told, I love eating fresh salads, but I don’t really like making them. There’s something about washing lettuce that spoils the joy. I don’t mind chopping up other stuff, but even a salad spinner won’t enamour me to bathing iceberg or romaine. Now, if I could have an easy-on-the-eyes sous chef to do my lettuce, I’d be all set. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll ask Paul McCartney how he feels about arugula when he comes over for his birthday on the 18th.

photo by RV Diana

What about the resident teddy bear kitchen helpers? They tend to be a little scarce during the summer months — prefering to picnic, mess around with boats, and read A.A. Milne aloud with British accents. They’ll pop in now and again, to replenish their stores.

Since we won’t be leaving town this summer, I’ll have to do some armchair traveling. And, I want to reread some of my favorite childhood classics. I miss being carefree. Do you remember it? When you’re a kid, summer seems so long and luxurious, and adventures, large or little, can be found around every corner. Those were the days of creamsicles and dilly bars and Kahuku watermelon. Camping at the beach and my mom’s famous Korean barbecue sizzling on the hibachi, and lemon shave ice with azuki beans. Yum. I’m there.

Summer at alphabet soup will be relaxed, laid back and fun. Stay tuned for some very special guests, cool reviews, alphabetica, June tunes, forays into foreign lands, recipes, poetry, lots of fruits and veggies, sandwiches and salsa. Will you join me for a cup?

photo by Blondieyooper