Rose-Scented.

How did Egg Creams get named, as they contain neither eggs, nor cream? Always liked these, the Southerners' (all things being relative) fizzy version of a Boston milkshake. (Milk and flavored syrup, shook. No ice cream; that'd be a frappe.) 

Instead of the traditional chocolate or vanilla syrup, I used rose flavored, with a bit of spice thrown into the shaker. Housemate, my guinea pig, asked me where the lamb vindaloo was that we should have been having for dinner tonight.

Sweeter than the other drinks so far, but perfumey. Could see making this one again, but going lighter on the syrup.

For two:

- 11/2 c. milk
- flavored syrup of your choosing to taste (I used rose, approx. 1/4 c, as the label said roughly 2T per serving; that was a bit intense.  Thinking that maybe half that would be ideal.)
- seltzer (I used orange)
- ice

Pour milk, ice, syrup and any other flavors you might like into shaker.  Shake until frothy.  Pour into two highball glasses, top with seltzer.  Garnish, if desired.  I used a cardamom pod, some rose petals and ginger with this. 

When Life Gives You Melons

... you just might be dyslexic.  (Là, je rigole.  Take it easy.)

This Summer, Life dropped a Persian melon the size of a baby, along with copious amounts of coppa into my lap.  What to do?  Turns out that no one I know likes cured ham with melon, and I had enough for a crowd.

Froze it all to make time to think about how best to use.

Last night, was looking in the freezer somewhat resentfully, as the melon takes up an awful lot of real estate.  Decided to take a container out to thaw.  Since we're going through some serious cold weather, and the year didn't exactly start out with a bang, decided to make something tropical, fruity, exotic:

- 1 1/4 c. pureed, thawed melon
- 1/4-1/3 c. canned coconut milk
- 3/4 - 1 t. powdered ginger
- juice and zest from 1/2 a lime
- Polar Ginger Lime Mule seltzer
- crushed ice

Blend together the melon puree, the coconut milk, the ginger and the lime.  Pour this mixture over crushed ice in your highball / orange juice / milk glass, then add seltzer.  Garnish with more lime and ginger if you'd like.

Serves 2.

I forgot how unctuous the coconut milk was.  Was surprised at how perfumey and perfectly sweet for my needs the melon was.

This is my melon ade, I guess.

Well, I'll be darned.

Woke up this morning to a smoky, sweet scent that reminded me of burning incense. Now, I have been reading a lot about the Byzantine Empire but am not generally subject to olfactory hallucinations (crazier than a bedbug though I might be), so was a bit curious. Wandered around the house, then went outdoors to sniff around. Yes, the smell was everywhere.

A short time later, Pavel came downstairs. First thing he mentioned was the pretty but strange smell in the air. Wondered aloud on what was causing it. Nobody does leaf fires in the neighborhood - too dangerous with all the wood houses stacked on each other. Certainly wasn't a house (or more likely a series of houses - when one goes up here, the neighbors get hurt as well), as we didn't hear any fire engines overnight.

Found out later that we were smelling (and still are smelling, though a bit less now) is ash from forest fires in Quebec brought down on the wind. Apparently, too, here in Southeast Middlesex, there's an air quality alert in effect until tonight.

***

Update - early afternoon (about 13:15 ish) - smell's gotten stronger and one can really see the haze. Any outdoor work that needs to get done will be done out back under the trees, I think.

(18:30) - air quality has improved slightly, but is still pretty hazy out. Took a walk around the neighborhood for a couple hours and didn't have any trouble breathing. Eyes are kind of bothering me, though.

Par-tay.

Oh yeah: first coat of polyurethane. Woo. (Think the cat and I are going to be sleeping on the first floor tonight, actually.)

I love passing by the Italian bakery on Somerville Avenue just across from the Dollar Store. Hot white bread just from the oven always smells good (though I'm not nuts about how it tastes); it smells especially good on cooler days like today.