A barbecue is the only way to celebrate..

Even I have trouble believing it: A picture taken outdoors with not a drop of rain in sight.

The only proper way to celebrate the arrival of this strange thing called 'sun' was to barbecue some meat and wash it down with some wine. (Actually it's kind of the proper way to celebrate any occassion, isn't it?)

Granted, I was concerned by the barbecue's close proximity to that rickety wooden fence. But G said not to worry and so I sat back and kept that glass of wine from feeling ignored.
What else is a girl to do? The man lives dangerously and I just have to take it in stride. He did point out that if the fence did catch on fire there was a glass of water on hand to douse the flames.

Right.

So while the flames settled and he took charge of all things meaty, I nibbled on some potato salad based on a recipe from the 2nd Moro cookbook.



Made with fresh oregano from my window box.

Woot! I can grow green stuff!

It was an embarrasingly simple recipe--start with a dressing made of garlic pounded to a paste with salt, then add olive oil and some lemon juice. Toss the dressing on some boiled potatoes, chopped red onion and top it off with some salt and pepper to taste and some fresh oregano.
Simple, yes, but perfectly tasty.

There was also more of Ina Garten's homemade barbecue sauce, and a nectarine chutney* which proved to be a great way to use up the nectarines that had gone a bit too soft for my taste.

And the wine was good too.
That sun thing? I kind of like it.


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*the nectarine chutney was from Annie Somerville's Everyday Greens. A mix of chopped nectarines, sugar, red onion, cinnamon, cayenne, mace and fresh ginger cooked over a low heat until the fruit is softened. It was great with our barbecued steaks.