31 Jul
2011
Illlustration by E.A. Séguy” via BibliOdyssey

Was awakened by the discordant song of cicadas yesterday morning and from their chatter was foretold the heat of the day.  On weekends like this is it wise to lock oneself in a dim-lit room with the shades drawn and a stack of books, and a pitcher of something well-iced within reach, and the AC at the lowest setting possible.

I find that I cannot eat hot foods…or even lukewarm foods in the summer months.  It is often salads or here-and-there nibbles for dinner.  Bread and cheese and olives. Vegetables and hummus. Or maybe just a bowl of cereal if the heat has made me too lethargic to care, yet my stomach is grumbling and grumping at me.  What are some of your favourite warm-weather meals for when turning on the oven  is an exercise in torture and you cannot bear the thought of a hot meal?

This isn’t even a recipe, just something I saw over at The Pioneer Woman last summer and tried once and found it to be quite lovely.  Mix a bit of plain, greek yogurt with milk (she uses heavy cream), stir until smooth, and top with brown sugar.  I serve it over blueberries, but I am sure it is just as nice over other summer berries or whatever fruits may be in season and pair well with creamy, lightly sweetened toppings.  Served alongside a special postcard for pretend afternoons at the lake house when one is actually stuck inside an overheated apartment with no central air.

My upstairs neighbor’s tomatoes. My attempts are never this successful.

 

Saturday evening, chez Mlle Ghoul
Portrait of a Sunday Morning in late July

Thanks goes to my sister for informing me that one can make cold-brewed iced coffee with a french press!  I had been utilizing a messy method which involved multiple containers, coffee filters and drips and dregs all over the floor.  This is infinitely easier and it makes me happy that I can finally put to use the french press I overpaid for 3 years ago.  There are some useful instructions for this method here.

The cicadas are at it again, the rise and fall of their droning din a constant background to mornings and well into the afternoon this time of year.  I find it rather comforting in a way though; I know that in the colder months I will miss their buzzing symphonies and the simple entomancy of their hot weather insectile hum.


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