Endless Summer

I grew up in Miami, Florida where it is always Summer. Funny thing is that people in Miami pretty much stop going to the beach and close down their pools when "winter" starts which is when the tourists come in to go to the beach and frolic in the pools. Every once in a while during the winter months there is a cold snap, usually in either January or February, which lasts a couple of days. That's when everybody pulls out all of their winter wear and wear it all at once since that's all you get. I pretty much hated this endless Summer weather, it was boring. I remember looking at fashion magazines as a teenager and envying all those fall back to school clothes, the hats, the scarves, the gloves, the tweeds. On Christmas day I would put on a sweater and scarf (yes, I had one) so it could feel like the ones in the movies where there was always beautiful snow on the ground, then I'd go outside and had to run back in and change lest I melt away. When Frank and I got married and moved up north I was ecstatic. We moved in December and two days later it snowed, not much but enough to cover the ground completely so I ran out to play in it and ignorant novice that I was I ruined my brand new tan high heeled boots and almost killed myself in the process. Live and learn. Having had spent all of my life in constantly summery climate I didn't want this to end, I didn't care if I never saw Summer again. Well after a couple of years that changed. First we bought a house which meant I had a garden to play with and that means I needed Summer. Also after schlepping back and forth to New York City everyday in freezing temperatures, snow, slush, and ice I started to look forward to a respite from the beloved winter. As the years have progressed I look forward to Summer more and more when Frank and I pretty much move outside. Except for this Summer. This has been the crappiest most uncomfortable and disgusting Summer that I can remember. I guess that after a very hot Spring we should have seen it coming. It started out well enough, for about a week, then came the heat and the humidity and the drought and the bugs, and the bugs, and did I say bugs? I can't step foot out in the back yard without getting bitten from head to toe, deep woods off on or not, they are relentless. So needless to say we have barely spent an evening outside, the garden is a mess, overrun by big giant weeds that I can't pull out because I'll come back a bleeding itchy mess, Max is miserable

because no matter how much he asks

begs

and pleads

we can't go out and play too often for fear of being eaten alive. So on this last, unofficial, day of Summer as I watch the rain come down and don't dare to go out and snip basil because the mosquitoes are patiently waiting in droves; I'll say goodbye and good riddance to this icky Summer with the world's easiest blueberry tart.

Blueberry tart
Serves 8 to 10

2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup of sugar
3 eggs
1 pint of blueberries
1/4 brown sugar, or Cinnamon sugar

In a food processor, mix butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, blending well. Mix in flour. Pat dough into a buttered tart pan.

(this is a very cakey, soft dough, I use a spatula to spread it on, and depending on the size of the pan you may not need to use it all)

Arrange the blueberries over the dough, patting them in a little bit

Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until the batter puffs and the edges are golden.

Sprinkle sugar on top and broil until sugar caramelizes and edges brown

Not so bad after all.