Summer Reading

This summer I decided it was high time that I finally finished Anne of Green Gables. Have any of you read it before? I was IN LOVE with the movie series. Like, checked it and re-checked it out of the library pretty much every summer that I spent at my Grandma Cueto's house. I can still remember how much my heart ached with every interaction between Anne and Gilbert. My grandmother was actually the one who gave me a copy of the book with a lovely inscription for my 9th Christmas, and I'm embarrassed to say that I never picked it up. UNTIL NOW. I've resolved to read it instead of watch TV or mindlessly surf the internet while Graham's asleep here at the beach, and already I'm thoroughly enjoying it. The first sentence alone brought a wistful chuckle to my countenance. (Just the sort of thing LM Montgomery might say, perhaps?) 


- Cathleen 

Holding on to Summer

Although the temperature in DC is not supposed to break 80 degrees for the next four days, I’m trying to convince myself that summer is not over. I just got home from the Jersey shore this week and I’m not ready to let it go.

Fortunately for me, my vegetable box came stocked with the gold standard of summer produce: heirloom tomatoes. With all the gorgeous colors and interesting shapes, I was a little nervous about not doing them justice. None of the recipes seemed worthy and I’d almost decided to eat them raw until I came across this puppy in the latest House Beautiful:

Heirloom Tomato Pie!

Heirloom Tomato Pie

I grew up eating my mom’s tomato pie and it was delicious even though I did get some funny looks when I’d tell my friends about it. This tomato pie promises to be just as incredible (if not more so) with an herb spiked mayo, gruyere, and most importantly, amazingly fresh tomatoes. It’s on the menu for tonight, the pâte brisée is resting in the fridge, and I might burst with impatience. If you live in the area you need to swing by and taste it... if there’s any left.

Happy Weekend, Friends!

-Alissa