A potpourri of culinary notes

So again, the blog has gone stagnant. Not for want of delicious meals I hope, but rather because, like me, you’ve all beeen too busy cooking, eating and making merriment to find the time to blog about it! It’s Sunday evening and I'm working a slow cops shift, so I’m taking the time for a rundown.

Miso mayo: If you haven't, I suggest you try this! A friend recently turned me on to it. It's essentially the taste of miso soup with the consistency of mustard, and it's amazing on veggies, in potato salad, or just smeared on bread (plus a thousand other uses).

Porchside livin': It's true what they say. Despite nine months of hellish gray skies and rain (hellish by some people's opinion. I think Portland is lovely year-round), this city has the greatest summers. I've been caught up in a love affair with PDX summertime and, by association, my front porch. Countless lazy evenings have been spent skipping "dinner" alltogether and instead walking to the grocer's for a chunk of cheese, a tub of hummus, a fresh loaf of crusty bread and a pack of beer as dark as the coming night itself. Add a generous bowl of almonds and rice crackers, raid the fridge for some dipping veggies, and you're golden. Take up residence in an Adirondack chair with a westerly view, include a couple of friends to share the sunset, and you've got my heaven. When we get sick of the porch, this scenario is carried out on Mt. Tabor, a quarter-mile down the street and the best sunset-gazing spot in this city (imho).

Viva la BBQ: These have also become a regular occurrence around here, and each one is better than the last. Moreso since Erin sent me a rockin' Motown CD, adding a dance party element to the food-making. Last week, while Jess (my college roommate and member of my all-time-favorite-people list)  was in town, we had the most successful one yet. I made a chili-lime slaw and caprese pasta salad, roomie Micah and his brother made fingerling potato salad and roasted corn with homemade habanero sauce. They grilled a chicken and some burgers, and I made portabello mushroom patties. A few friends brought the obligatory watermelon, chips and beer, and our new neighbors wandered over too! We lingered on the porch well past midnight, then headed to our favorite watering hole only to find it was closed on this particular Sunday. Hilarity ensued as we continued our search, not wanting the night to end quite yet. The only bar open was Toms, a crusty place that fits the definition of watering hole to a T. We had one drink, took the long way home, dug into the leftovers and talked 'til we couldn't keep our eyes open any longer. Long live summer, long live barbecues.

Lastly, I've been on a pickling spree. Sparked by a trip to the u-pick berry stand where they were also selling teeny-tiny cucumbers, I decided to give it a whirl. And it's surprisingly simple! There's a refrigerator recipe that requires no brining or sealing of the jar, so all you have to do is combine vinegar, salt, sugar, and your spice of choice (garlic and red chilies, anyone?), then pack the jar with pickles and let it sit for a few days. Vlasic ain't got nothin' on this.

It's also berry season, and I've been itching to make some blackberry jam infused with local lavender when I find the time. I'll keep y'all posted on how it goes!

PS: I brought some Sanders hot fudge home from Michigan to share with friends and coworkers. All agreed it's the best there is. Miss you all! Much love from my front porch.