Red: The Color of Summer

It's not to say I've always wanted to be in Spain during "La Tomatina", but if the day ever presents itself I don't know that I would say no. To that end, I would feel a little guilty about throwing around tomatoes, and essentially wasting them. Sad because I am sure most of the tomatoes being throw aren't the flavorless, often mealy tomatoes that crowd our produce aisles stateside. These are most likely the tomatoes that make such a sweet, rich gazpacho -- my favorite summer treat from Spain aside from Cruzcampo.

Tomatoes always remind me of summer. I look forward to when the day finally comes that we actually have a yard and can have a small garden. Until then, our herb and flower garden on the balcony will suffice, as will weekly trip to the Farmer's Market to buy fresh, ripe heirlooms.

This past week our kitchen has been overrun with tomatoes. Last weekend we made a huge batch of salmorejo (the Sevillano version of gazpacho, which includes bread). We are still eating it, and it makes for a very filling and nutritious meal. During the week we've been preparing to make some homemade tomato sauce. This way we can have a jar of summer in the cold days of winter. Once it's complete, I will be sure to post some photos and if it turns out, we'll include the recipe as well.

I don't often associate periods of time with colors (or with vegetables, okay technically fruits), but this week has been nothing short of red, red and red.

Hiatus

The hiatus is officially over, that is until the next one begins. I've been extremely busy in my time off; mainly being pregnant and having a baby. A beautiful baby girl who will be one in nearly a month. Time sure does fly.

I've been absent mostly because I've had a hard time carving out free time for myself. I've had ideas, don't get me wrong. I've even implemented some of them -- painting the nursery, making prints for the baby room, painting the foyer, sewing some blankets, etc. Despite these small victories, my creative brain has been on hold.

Well, hold no more.

Given that my time is limited, I've decided to plunge back into things while also crossing items off the "to-do" list. We need to eat. Our weekdays are nearly impossible when it comes to preparing meals. Despite the fact little one is now eating all solid foods, pm and I just don't dedicate our time on meal prep.

For my last big (ahem, ahem) birthday, pm got me a great gift. A gift that in theory should keep on giving. A cookbook -- and not just any cookbook -- Julia Child's cookbook. I highly doubt I will Master the Art of French Cooking, but I am going to try one recipe at a time. I am also not just going to do it from this book. We have lots of cookbooks and recipe cards that just never get used. I tend to earmark and collect the ones that have beautiful pictures; but I think what attracts me most about Child's cookbook is that the art is very limited.

I want to try to make recipes and then photo document them. On the menu tonight--since baking is my therapy, I needed a little break and we have 6# of blueberries in the house--I have decided to make Clafouti aux Myrtilles (aka Blueberry flan). We'll see how it turns out. Both the flan and my little plan.

Bon Appétit!