But let's face the reality, we live in a place that is basically a sauna 24/7, so I've taken on a new hobby - swimming! I found a swimming pool and it's the perfect escape in this southern heat. The first day I showed up with my Target bikini and swim goggles and I think I only swam 4 laps of breast stroke. I was exhausted and totally enamored with the other swimmers who had sporty swimsuits, goggles, swim caps, pull buoys and flippers. In addition to cool accessories, they all seemed at ease in the water. I left with a new appreciation and also a mission for my summer - learn how to swim a mile in this pool. First things first, I bought a good swimsuit, so that I didn't risk accidentally exposing myself to my lap neighbor, and since then I've been building up stamina with each trip to the pool.
Swimming is hard, and each time I leave the pool, I feel very proud of what I accomplished. Do you want to know what else is hard in my world? Finding the right job in this new crazy place. The other night over dinner, D and I talked about my job search and how many ups and downs I've experienced over the past few months. I've had a combination of great, ok and terrible interviews and learned a lot about myself throughout the process. Each day I still chug along by applying to jobs, meeting a new contact for lunch/coffee (whatever is easiest for them!), or having an interview. I've learned there are a lot of jobs out there, but finding the right one for me and then convincing them I'm the best candidate - is a lot harder than it looks. See, it really is JUST like swimming :)
Today, I'm happy to report, I swam a mile in an OLYMPIC SIZE SWIMMING POOL. It felt incredible. Small victories over here but it felt really good. I should preface, this recipe has nothing to do with swimming or job searches. Whenever I'm having a day that involves endless job board scrolling, I find that cooking something great makes me feel a whole lot better. This recipe for a Burst Tomato Galette just screams summer. You can choose any vegetable you want, really. Also, if you're not keen on making your own dough, a store-bought puff pastry is a yummy alternative. The word 'galette' sounds so fancy but really, it is very simple. You'll notice it has a few ingredients and takes an hour or so of time to pull together and I promise it's worth it.
Burst Tomato Galette from Smitten Kitchen
The Pastry
1 1/4 cups All-Purpose Flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes and chilled afterwards
1/4 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup ice water
The Filling
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon table salt
3 cups of cherry tomatoes
1 ear of corn, cut from the cob
1 small zucchini, diced
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
The Glaze
1 egg yolk with 1 teaspoon of water
I'll default to Smitten Kitchen since she does a great job of laying out the steps. Follow this link for her instructions. The galette will keep for a day or two in an air-tight container in the fridge. I think it's even better the next day!
