Monday Evening Cooldown

Monday was another scorcher with high humidity. The hazy day topped out at 95 degrees to make our Northeast heat wave official. However, by early evening a cooling sea breeze had broken the heat, and by the time we got home around 7:30 pm it was perfect weather for cooking and eating out on the patio.




We had grilled pork tenderloin with asparagus spears and a light, citrusy summer bruschetta. The pork was briefly marinated in soy sauce and coarse-ground pepper, and the asparagus were blanched and tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper before grilling. This is the way we always do asparagus spears -- it's quick and easy, and I have yet to encounter a better way to enjoy the vegetable. The bruschetta was made from grilled sourdough bread topped with olive oil, fresh tomato and onion salsa and Melissa's cilantro, lemon, olive oil and Greek yogurt sauce (also used in Sunday's grilled steak pitas). A glass of 2006 Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, NZ) for Melissa and a cold Smuttynose Summer Weizen Ale (Portsmouth, NH) for me topped off a relaxing dinner outside. I love summer.