Cooking 101

I have this idyllic vision of al fresco dining during that brief interlude that passes as summertime in Maine:

Patios with soft lantern light and colorful dinnerware and a shiny gas grill; or a quilted blanket spread on the shore, a charcoal fire smoldering in the sand; or chairs-in-bags streamside with a cracking wood fire.

The sun is setting brilliantly or the stars are shining brightly. The smells of food cooking are stimulating stomachs hungry after a day of outdoor fun. A cooling breeze is blowing lightly.

Perfect.

And very rare.

As we seasoned Mainers know, storm clouds mysteriously blow in from nowhere just as soon as the last of the tablecloths and glassware and condiments are hauled out. Raindrops splash on fresh loaves of bread, the wind scatters the napkins around the yard, the temperatures drop.

Or, maybe the weather holds. But the bugs come out, dive-bombing the drinks, buzzing the sticky sweet ribs, gnawing on exposed skin. The smell of DEET replaces the sweet smell of roses.

You know it happens more often than not.

But do we give up? No.

Mainers are a hearty bunch. We will not be thwarted or stymied by random acts of nature. We WILL get out of our kitchens.

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Cooking 101