Kloncke

Oh, summer.  You complete me.  Know what I mean?

Late Saturday morning, after a heady visit to the weekly mercado, I walked into town and settled down in Nuria’s kitchen to riff on a Heidi Swanson recipe for one of my favorite salads.  Lime, olive oil and salt make a simple dressing for a spunky mix of peanuts, cilantro, chili, perfect baby tomatoes, and frisée (I swapped it in for the cabbage that’s called for — and smiled to think that I may not have curls on my head but I sure do have them in my greens).  Chopping up the chili — the first one I’ve diced since arriving in Spain — I think I almost passed out with happiness.

Why do I always forget how wonderful salads can be?  Earlier this week I conjured a great one up out of next to nothing: arugula, a nectarine, and some roasted hazlenuts that were hanging out in the pantry.  It’s like, as long as you’ve got some good olive oil and a lemon, you can create these magical odes to summertime…the simpler, the better.

Any ensaladas in particular got you celebrating the changing of the seasons?