Today was a wonderful day.
I deposited Boyfriend at the bus station so he could journey to NY to achieve job hunt joy. And so I says to myself, on a sunny, 83 degree day I really cannot rot in front of the television (we spend many Sundays with Mike Rowe, Adam and Jamie, and Tony Bourdain… or the Red Sox). I made a decision about how I’ll spend the next two days in the apartment all by myself: BEACH VACATION. I won’t put on makeup if I don’t feel like it, I’ll lounge in my swimsuit all day if I so choose, and if I want to have a beer with my lunch, goddamnit, I will have one. So, today, I started by taking a bicycle ride to the beach!
Beverly beaches are different from other Cape Ann beaches. There aren’t many tourists because the beaches are flat water, so it’s mostly the locals you see laying out. It makes for a much nicer, less crowded beach day. Also, Dane Street Beach has a grassy area (see below), which means you aren’t forced to get sand in uncomfortable places when you do go!
After the beach, I relaxed and reclined (bikini-clad), in the apartment. I followed that with a grocery store run… actually, it was more like a produce department run. All of the things I needed could be found in that section alone. PERFECT for vacation if you ask me.
A friend and her friend who was in town to visit came by for dinner. They had also been at the beach, so we were all a little sun-weary and ready for a refreshing summer meal. Oh, it was good. We had some fresh spinach fettucine I had made a few weeks ago and had frozen, and I mixed that up with some steamed asparagus, tomatoes, basil, avocado, goat cheese, and prosciutto.
The real showstopper, however, was the cocktail. I noticed it in Real Simple magazine, and I had to go for it. They call it a Cucumber and Lime Spritzer but I would call it something a little different (classier!). I also adjusted it a little bit, and made it in individual portions. My version is as follows:
Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz
1 part Gin (I used New Amsterdam)
2 parts Limeade
2 parts Club Soda
3 slices Cucumber
Stir, and serve on the rocks.
It was crisp and summery and refreshing. Mmmmmm. Make it. Soon. I don’t even like gin much and I LOVED it.
