I'm a hard worker, but not in summer. In summer I'm
lazy.
Even in the kitchen.
Plus it's hot, and working by the stove–or even worse, the oven–in this weather, is torture.
Like today, for example. I wasn't feeling too good, I had no appetite (a bad sign for me), and I didn't have the desire to even swim once. What I did do was take a nice walk in the property's orto (vegetable garden) with a large basket, and returned home with inspiration.
And lunch.
The good thing about spending time in the country is that you don't have to bother going grocery shopping. The produce is all home-grown, and every family has a ridiculously well-stocked
pantry. Olive oil, wine, jams and preserves, canned vegetables, honey, bottled sauces, eggs, sausages, herbs, bread... everything is sourced or made right here, on the premises.
When I rinsed the field dust off these tomatoes, they were still warm from the sun.
I whipped this dish up in 10 minutes, and it managed to restore a smile on my face.
And a grumble to my tummy.
6 small
Vesuvio tomatoes, halved
200 g (1 cup)
oil-packed tuna, drained and flaked
2 ribs of baby white celery, diced
3-4 tablespoons of light mayonnaise
Pinch of salt
Scoop out the pulp from the tomatoes, removing seeds and watery parts, and set aside.
Chop the tomato pulp, toss in a mixing bowl with remaining ingredients, and stir to mix well.
Divide the mixture and scoop it into the halved tomatoes. Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.
Uncork the chilled Sauvignon and put your feet up, it's summer and you deserve a break after all this hard work.
Buon appetito.
