Thinking out loud…
Ok, I admit it seems odd to want to talk about tomatoes in the midst of all the chaos swirling around us these days. But then I remind myself that paying attention to the simple beauty of what is right in front of me can be the best way to foil that chaos for a time, and bring some comfort to my day. So, I figure you might need to think about tomatoes too.
This is the season. This is the time to taste what a vine ripened tomato is supposed to taste like. Get ‘em while you can. Enjoy the heck out of them.
My very favorite this season is a Tomato Gratin, recipe supplied by a cracking good cooking show on PBS—America’s Test Kitchen. (I’d link it if I knew how to do such techy things in this blog format…) But, anyway, a simple chop ‘em up and mix and bake recipe that says summertime and bounty to me. And tastes darn good too.
I have yet to get a picture of the finished gratin. But I will keep trying!
You can probably tell that I have rediscovered my pleasure of being in the kitchen. In short bursts, with simple tasks, I can lose myself in contemplating zucchini pancakes, or the mysteries and history of sourdough. In my kitchen it is alright.
I figure we all need to find our place where it is alright, even if it is just for a moment or two. This is my strategy—to hold onto good will, decency and fairness as I navigate the times ahead. And I hold on to hope.
We’ll make it. We will.