In order to distract myself from the glaring fact that being back at work means working, I'm going to think about food.
I'm roasting a chicken and the house smells like home. Last night we had the first soup of fall: white beans, kale, potatoes, turkey sausage, onions, carrots and garlic simmered in chicken stock and served with gratings of Parmesan. Add in lashings of rain and high winds and a warm baguette.....oh what a night.
But what did we eat on vacation you ask?
Food, glorious food, grilled, smoked and toasted. Cape Cod with Susan and Gerry: pasta with shrimp, flank steak and my absolute favorite smoked chicken. It was marinated overnight in a dry rub then smoked over apple wood. Must get recipe.
Connecticut: Ga-huge lobsters served with melted garlic butter and a salad and eaten by candlelight.
Fire island? Ribs and biscuits baked on the grill the first night. Next day lunch was our annual Ricotta al Forna, recipe from Rogers and Gray's Italian Country Cook Book.
Fortunately we had no power so I was able to stand on the deck in the sunshine under a tangerine umbrella chopping herbs and grating cheese.
GG propped the pan up on a couple of bricks, pulled down the cover of the grill and it baked perfectly.
There was grilled rack of lamb for lunch on Friday and a blackberry crumble for dessert on Saturday.
Many delicious reasons why you should only vacation with very close friends who love you regardless. And why you should remember to pack a long shirt and a few sarongs as beach " coverups".
To cover up from the sun and that small helping of salted caramel ice cream.
