Jeremy Conway

My Favorite Summer Food

Summer. One of the most anticipated seasons within our year. Depending on where you are, you’ll most likely find it common to witness a wave of warmer weather, enriching activity, and let’s not forget: new season, new taste. Generally, it’s quite normal to switch the menu up a bit due to the temperatures, with most opting for foods that will keep them feeling rather cool and refreshed, opposed to keeping warm during the winter. Hi, my name is Jeremy, and today I’ll be sharing with you, my favorite summer food. Note that I’ve been a diligent vegetarian for the past five years, and within the last two I successfully bridged over into veganism. [Entering story mode] I awaken during the wee hours of the morning to the local weather report and heads up, it's just before day’s peak and the temps have both skyrocketed and surpassed the previous year’s index. Moreover, it is officially a hot day in the bay. So, I begin my most humanly obligations, afterwards, I relinquish my laze of being inside and I head out to my then neighborhood’s Safeway deli for a quick bite to eat. I settle for a longtime favorite that I’ve loved since childhood, Marinated Cucumber, Onion, and Tomato Salad. First, if you’ve never chanced to try it, allow me to explain why it’s one of the most perfect summer delicacies. It is technically a salad. Its’ contents go through a simple marinating process. Usually in vinegar, and vinaigrette. After a couple of hours being in the fridge, a salad loaded with summer veggies is served. That is, without lettuce or romaine. Now, on a balmy day with heightened activity, you’re aiming for something light on the stomach, healthy, and tasty. Starting with the cool and crisp bite of the cucumber, will leave your taste-buds satisfyingly hydrated. Which is why it’s got to make the list for ideal summer meals. Before the cucumber is added: it’s usually sliced, or diced, skinned, or left with some skin. Personally, it’s not much of a difference because it always seems to result in the same great taste. If this is ever self-prepared, I’ll know to find fresh cucumber from my local neighborhood market. [Adding cucumber to the queue]. Next, you’ll find detached from the vine and showing a bright red display, the juicy tomato. Before it’s added, it is either sliced, wedged, or served in any way you can possibly create. A bite into the tomato and it gives a both sweet, and tangy sense of flavor, with the added twang originating from its’ main component, the marinade. So, after the final ingredient is added, the onion, you’d just allow all of these ingredients to marinate in the vinegar mixture. Now, on the onion, if preparing myself, I would go with a sweeter type due to the acidity levels in the vinegar. By opting for a sweeter onion, would only help by giving the salad’s overall taste more balance. Some sweetness, some twang. I can also find the perfect onions at my local neighborhood market. This salad goes great by itself, but if ever I were to spruce things up, there are a few delicious ideas that create fantastic combos. I will not force you to be showered, or rained on with every single delicious idea, although, one favorite it pairs well with are black-eyed peas, or also called, cowpeas. It makes a tasty summer special that hits the spot, without overheating the spot. A tip to top it off is adding ground sea salt & pepper. This salad is always served cool. If you haven’t already gone to find it near you, I highly recommend you add it to your foods’ list, I can only hope it works as a great treat for you as it does for me. It’s not quite summer yet but sharing this with you has somehow enlightened today’s meal plan. Hopefully, you find this a great read, and thanks for inviting me to share with you, the Vocal team and family, my favorite summer food.