Cucumbers & Tomatoes

We have a tradition around here. Or at least, I do, and I've falsely projected it onto that continuously-evolving construct known as 'my childhood.' But in MY childhood, and in my adulthood, we have a tradition. This is that the first garden tomato of the season to present itself for eating is merely sliced thin, sprinkled with pinches of salt, pepper and oregano freshly crushed inbetween the fingers. Oh, and then eaten. With fingers or fork, it doesn't matter. If your first tomato comes on a really hot day skip the salt and pepper and drink what's left in the bowl.

The unsaid assumption in the above paragraph is that you are eating this tomato on your own, surreptitiously or not. After all, it's your damn garden. You should get the best shit, right? However, it is possible that someone else helped you. In which case you can share. If the idea of sharing the relative tininess of one fresh tomato or slurping of a bowl filled with fresh tomato runoff with the person who helped you causes any kind of grief I suggest the following, which it should be said, is what I do with the second fresh tomato (or more usually small batch of fresh tomatoes) of the season:

Cucumbers & Tomatoes

1 or more fresh cucumbers from your garden or someplace you could walk to
1 or more fresh tomatoes from ditto

Slice the above as thinly as talent or mandolin can muster and put them in a bowl. If the cucumbers are big'uns, you should employ the Fancy-Ass Cucumber Preparation Technique.

Sprinkle over the top :

some sea salt, freshly ground or crushed with the fingers
some black peppercorns, ditto
some dried oregano, ditto

Stir around a bit and let sit for about 15 minutes or so. If you are a complete idiot and had fresh tomatoes or fresh cucumbers in the fridge, let it sit for at least a half-hour.

Realistically speaking, however, this should be made when you still have dirt on your fingers or feet from being out in the garden. And after the whole, wonderful, shared experience is over, you should be able to say in all honesty:

"Damn, but that was summer in a bowl."

Next up : Summer in a bowl on ACIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIID: