Again, I’m usually not a noontime drinker, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The familiar pile of squash in the kitchen is now gone, and I’m finally able to open my crisper drawers without gouging the flesh out of the unfortunate turnips or beets that happen to be crammed in there at the top. I should be happy.
For lunch yesterday, I made my usual winter salad with greenhouse greens, roasted beets, Vermont goat cheese, toasted walnuts, and balsamic vinaigrette. But, I needed something to wash it down, so I asked the barkeep to mix me up something strong. She said she knew just the thing.
I had made a batch of pickled carrots the night before. The kind of pickles that you can eat within 24 hours (in other words, the best kind). I often scavenge brine from olives or pickles when making vinaigrettes for salads, so it should have come as no surprise that she siphoned off a few tablespoons of brine from said pickles into a cocktail shaker. Then, she splashed in some vodka and a dash of vermouth, and shook me up a very interesting dirty martini, garnished with a few pickled carrot spears. It was maybe not the best dirty martini I’ve ever had in my life, but it suited me just fine. And, oh, the fascinating writing that ensued.
I tipped the barkeep well.
Wow, that's a good lookin' salad you've got there. Mmmmm....
Posted by: Whatacard | March 06, 2008 at 07:17 PM
*chuckle* I think it needs a name, possibly one with a Bugs Bunny reference.
Posted by: Adele | March 06, 2008 at 10:35 PM
OK, I had to re-read the birthday party entry again. Still very funny. I tend to stress under "party" situations anyway, so I could kind of relate...Thanksgiving is a prime example. I'm glad you're crawling out from under the squash. I just signed up for my spring/summer CSA. I can't wait.
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda | March 06, 2008 at 11:36 PM
There, there... it'll be CSA season again soon... and in the meantime alcohol is always in season! :-)
Posted by: Ann | March 07, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Ann: You always know just what to say!
Brenda: Me, neither. Those were some happy times last summer.
Adele: Wascally Wabbit?
Whatacard: It was good. Don't know where all the goat cheese went, though. I must have eaten it all off the top over the course of the 45 pictures I took.
Posted by: Tammy | March 07, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Wascally Wabbit.
I like it.
Posted by: Adele | March 07, 2008 at 10:46 AM
When I finish a jar of pickles I reuse the brine by stuffing the jar with baby carrots, a few dried chilis and some garlic cloves. I love the carrot in the martini. It's practically a health drink now.
Posted by: Heather | March 09, 2008 at 03:42 PM
Heather: I like the way you think. Healthy garnish equals health drink. And I'm totally stealing your brine-recycling idea!
Posted by: Tammy | March 09, 2008 at 05:08 PM