Popsicles: It's What's For Dinner

My butt is getting bigger and bigger, and pretty soon it is going to explode.
Boom!
There, that’s over with. Now what’s for dinner?

*

Yesterday Teresa made quesadillas, and I cut up red bell pepper and pitted some fabulous cherries. When we sat down to eat Enzo took one look at all this and pointed to the freezer, crying out, “Vegetables! Vegetables!” So I got him what he likes, frozen mixed vegetables. Not heated up, not even thawed. They’re like little crunchy vegetable popsicles. He likes the mushrooms and corn the best. Afterward he had an actual popsicle. And then he had another.

*

Our garden. It exists. That’s something.

Enzo loves arugula. He knows how to say it, and he knows the difference between arugula and baby romaine and oak leaf. I will make him gay yet, by god. Pass the goat cheese!

The tomatoes are coming on strong now, and at first it was like hunting Easter eggs to find a red one among all the green. Now there are so many red ones that the thrill isn’t there anymore. But they’re still good to eat. Enzo insists on setting the bowl of tomatoes on the back of his flatbed truck. “I farmer,” he says and then makes revving noises.

We also have basil and mint and parsley and baby leaks (sort of like chives). We are mocked by our cucumbers which are plentiful and terrible. They’re bitter though and through.

I made a gaspacho-like thing with store bought cucumbers, yellow peppers, sweet onion (soaked in salt water and then rinsed), olive oil, lime juice, salt, mint and Thai basil. I think there was Greek yogurt in there too. If there wasn’t there should have been. I made croutons and put them on top along with halved cherry tomatoes.

Enzo ran the food processor with great natural authority and helped me toss things down the feed tube. It ended up a puree, which wasn’t my plan, but it was good that way.

Enzo didn’t like it. Maybe I should try freezing it into popsicles next time.