When most people say they’re going to treat themself for dinner, the immediate thought is likely eating out somewhere. But, to be honest, we eat out a lot anyway. There are even times where it feels less a treat than simply just time and energy management.
But that isn’t what I’m talking about for today. When I was growing up, we had several treats throughout the year. January, February and March were pretty much a wash. In April, the local DQ would open up for the season (it was a simple building with walk-up windows, no in-store seating). I remember going to B.C. and being surprised they had actual “walk-in” stores that were open year-round and had full Brazier offerings. My local B.C. friend mocked me for the fact that I asked, “Is it open yet?”. 🙂
May was the month for setting up at the lake, and that would usually mean the start of BBQ season too. Maybe a bit earlier at home once we had full propane systems, but not before that. Hamburgers were common, but a decent steak was “special”.
June was the start of strawberry season, and we would often stop at the farmer’s field en route to camp as soon as they were open. We did u-pick sometimes, but not that often when I was young (the siblings did it more frequently when they were younger, I think). That season would stretch into July too.
I’ll jump ahead a bit, with September being generally nothing special. October was Thanksgiving, which meant pumpkin pie, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and my mom’s version of Yorkshire pudding. November was a yawner, and December was a bit of a repeat of October.
But August? That was the stuff of legends. My dad liked hosting parties, although not parties at home or anything. No, he wanted people to come out to the lake, sit around, have a beer, stay for supper, and the options were pre-set. Hamburgers and hot dogs were staples, although I skipped those tonight.
Instead, I went with a really nice steak. Andrea bought me a big “box of meat” for my birthday in June, and it came with some chicken breasts, pork chops, steaks, bacon, and shrimp. Plus some sausages, I think. I forget. It was a LOT of meat. 🙂 So since Jacob doesn’t like beef as much (harder to chew for him), Andrea and I each enjoyed a nice steak tonight.
But the main draw?
Corn on the cob for a corn roast. We had some corn about two weeks ago, early corn as my mother would say, and I never expect much with the early corn. But honestly, it was the best “early” corn I’ve ever had. Really good. Again, we had some at the cottage a week later, and it was still in the top 5 for early corn. A really good year, it seemed.
But now we are into “real corn” time, as my mother would have said. And I have to say, tonight’s corn was damn near perfect. Yellow from end to end, perfect uniformity, moist, absolutely awesome. No word of a lie, I think it may be the best corn I’ve ever had in my life. Definitely in the top 5. And we only bought two ears this week. I want to rush out and buy a bunch more.
And just for fun? We had strawberries in chocolate pudding for dessert with a cranberry beverage to wash it all down, while eating on the deck under our gazebo with the screen around it to keep the bugs out.
Today I choose to treat myself for dinner.
What choices are you making?
