Seasonal Plates & Dates

When timing allows---maybe once a work week---Garland and I have been eating breakfast on the porch outside together. I wish we had enough discipline to get up early to do this every morning. There's something so peaceful and lovely about spending a few minutes together in the quiet of morning. Scrambled eggs with sauteed tomatoes, grilled corn, cheddar and fresh basil = definitely a seasonal breakfast favorite. Also: I've been cold brewing my own iced coffee. OMG.

I then roasted some zucchini and eggplant for a dinner side last week. The leftovers were tossed in with some farro, fresh basil, parmesan, black olives and sweet cherry tomatoes for a leafless salad lunch. So light, so filling!

We've been grilling non-stop and splurging at the farmer's market. We bought huge mahi mahi filets AND New York strips last week (AND a Mrs. Yoder's donut! Yes!). As a result, I've felt like royalty---fresh, local food and minimal cooking/cleaning for me. I'm so impressed with Garland's grilling skills lately. He can even tell when the vegetables are done cooking without asking me!

Saturday and Sunday, I was free to do what I pleased because Garland was away sailing in a regatta. So I had a very blueberry-filled Saturday. My mom and I went blueberry picking at Mount Olympus. You know, each year I forget about how sweaty and unglamorous activity this is. I guess the fat, sweet berries always negate that detail. I arrived back in Richmond with 4 1/2 pounds of berries.

A few hours and a shower later, I proceeded to order a Violet Beauregard from The Blue Goat during my girly drink outing with my friend Kristin. Alas, a truly delicious cocktail = no time for snapping pics.

Speaking of sweat: Yesterday, I went for a run at 9:30AM and was determined to get to a full one hour. The thermostat said 90 degrees when I walked back into my apartment and I didn't stop dripping sweat for HOURS later. Laying on my living room floor under the ceiling fan and sipping on my coconut water concoction did little, if anything. So then I made myself some equally steamy scrambled eggs (tomatoes, a purple potato in leui of corn), plus a side of bacon and a mini biscuit. Yes, I've started making some minis when I make Garland biscuits so I can have just a taste.

Except my summertime moderation is a joke. Sunday ended with a (1/4th a pizza) slice from my long-lost neighbor pizza place, Belmont Pizzeria. Even between the squashes and steaks, I've missed it dearly <3