The Grill-Meister and I usually enjoy something we call Happy Cocktail at the Tree House, or Happy Cocktail for short, in the late afternoon. It signifies the end of the workday and the beginning of that time together when you discuss the highs and lows of your day, plans for the next day and anything else that needs reflection. If you’ve been following along here at Glover Gardens for a while, you’ll be familiar with the Tree House and our Happy Cocktail tradition. If not, come on in!
Adding an Appetizer Makes It Happy Snacktail
Sometimes, I put together a snack for our relaxing outdoor time. I call this Happy Snacktail in my head and giggle silently.
Saturday afternoon’s Happy Snacktail was a simple charcuterie platter of prosciutto and smoked salmon, with pickled onions, crackers and an assortment of condiments: chopped hard-boiled egg, capers, pesto, Tabasco and stone-ground mustard. I also added a pepper grinder so we could bestow every delicious bite with the welcome pop of freshly-ground pepper.
It Turned Out to Be Dinner
It didn’t seem like that much when I was putting it together, but about halfway through, we started muttering that I might not need to make dinner if we kept eating.
Keep eating, we did. We finished off all the prosciutto and salmon and then realized we were beyond full.
I guess I should choose a smaller platter next time!
A Lovely No-Cook Summer Meal
On the other hand, I can highly recommend this combination for an al fresco summer snack, or dinner. I paired mine with Chardonnay, and The Grill-Meister was happy with an Old Fashioned cocktail.
My only regret is that there weren’t any vegetables, unless you count the pickled onions. Next time, this platter will get some grape tomatoes or shishito peppers. Or both.
Summer Saturdays Bring Flexibility
Summer Saturdays bring relaxation, an “anything goes” vibe and the flexibility to call Happy Snacktail dinner.
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