First, let's clear the air: if you notice at the end of my thirty-day workout extravaganza that I am not, in fact,
totally shredded, it will be because I skipped Day 15. And also...what's today? Also Day 19. I have some pretty medium hopes for the 20s, though!
I decided to revisit BA#15,
watermelon and grapefruit agua fresca, and discovered that it is vastly improved with a generous supplement of vodka,
not that I'm suggesting that is a metaphor for this whole stupid delightful season or anything. It's just that I'm supposed to be EMBRACING SUMMER, and everyone knows I get huggy-er when I drink.
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| Summer still life in yellow, pink, and booze. |
I was starting to stall out on my Bon Appetit project a little, having been hit pretty hard by the realization that I was only 25% through the recipes at the end of last week. Luckily, I have Anna to shine her own enthusiastic light on things and help me through my times of doubt. "This is not at all a stupid idea, Mother!" she is clearly thinking. "I'm so impressed and inspired by you!"
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| "I'm not sure why MORE PEOPLE don't tackle entire magazines sight-unseen!" |
So, very well. Forward ho! BA#16 and #17:
Pico de gallo and
Yucatan-style habanero salsa. Whoa, hey, wait a minute! Didn't I say
I wasn't going to make the insane fire-sauce? I did. And I meant it. But then a friend talked me into giving it a shot by pointing out that I could fifth the recipe and only make a little dollop, which is exactly what I did. I am also being leaned on to abandon my other caveat (no live lobsters) by people who have obviously never witnessed what I go through just to deal with a dead chicken, let alone a LIVE SEA MONSTER. But the pressure is there. To the extent that in my head I have already purchased two of them, had a change of heart, adopted them as pets, named them, and solicited recommendations for appropriate pet-carriers on Twitter. All of this is true.
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| Oh, the salsa? Yeah, too hot. |
BA#18:
Cumin and ancho chicken tacos. Very simple, very easy, really delicious. I have yet to be disappointed by a taco recipe.
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| Possibly in my entire life. |
BA#19:
Tony's steak. This was good, but more importantly, it gave me a chance to achieve one of my major Goals of Summer Embracement: learning to use the grill.
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| By which I mean, my father grilled his own Father's Day dinner while I watched and drank watermelon cocktails. |
In other news, Anna's still working out some kinks in her supervillan persona.
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| I think by next summer we should all pretty vigilant, though. |
Hey, everyone who suddenly grew two teeth last week look over here!
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| Good thing too, teeth will make it much easier to scrape those puffs off her skin. |
