To me, summer is all about food. I know that many people eat more during the long, cold winters but for some reason I am the opposite. Perhaps it is because of the food and wine fests that seem to abound during summer that I become so interested in food and cooking. It could also be because my garden is loaded with fresh vegetables, which I feel compelled to cook and eat while they are still fresh.
Whatever the reason, most of my summer activities revolve around food in some way. I love to go out for ice-cream, to linger over a nice sundae and watch the waves roll onto a pristine beach. I recently discovered an Asian dish which is fast becoming my favorite. I refer to it as Chinese Ice. It consists of a bowl of crushed ice that has been made with evaporated or condensed milk, topped with dried fruit, nuts and a wonderful fruit syrup.
Some nights I stay home and watch directv pay per view movies with a bowl of home-made popcorn. Other nights I take off for a long stroll outside. Sometimes I will walk down to the river-front, other times I will head off to the beach. There is something magical about walking on a beach at night, feeling the cool sand under your feet and hearing the waves lap up onto the shore in the distance. Invariably I will stop off for a decaf and dessert before heading home.