Sunday Feast № 26 | Goat Cheese Cucumber Radish Avocado Sandwich and Pimm's Cup, anyone for tennis?

So for the longest time, at least it seemed like a long time, I have been preoccupied with cucumber sandwiches, that dainty staple of Victorian upper classes in Queenly Kingdom. I would mention them often enough, and mentioning does not necessary mean doing, to anyone that would listen, that I felt like the Kid from "Bad Santa" and probably deserved Willie's response, but everyone was polite and just nodded and hmm-d. Kid: Want me to fix you some sandwiches? Willie: What the fuck is it with you and fixin' fuckin' sandwiches?    By the time I got to it, Pimm's № 1 came into the picture, which may not be typical pairing for cucumber sandwiches, but what a great London offering! And it was all in the Queenly family! As far as coincidences go, Pinterest offered a tasty looking alternative to the Victorian fare - OK, maybe not so coincidental considering I did search cucumber sandwich recipes and the algorithm is watching.   So it was set: The Green Thumb Sandwich courtesy of Broma Bakery - adapted to what I had - and a Pimm's № 1 cocktail. Next choice was to rather than go with Victorian afternoon tea to find some tennis. Made sense with Pimm's № 1 in the picture. Instead of waiting for next tennis Open, I went with a movie about upwardly mobile former professional tennis player and his twisted pathway. Anyone for tennis?

Fun on the side Pimm's Cup 2 parts Pimm's № 1 4 parts lemon-lime soda 1-2 mint sprigs A few slices of cucumber Add ice to a chilled highball glass, then pour Pimm's, lemon-lime soda, and stir. Garnish with slices of cucumber and mint. Movie Match Point (2005)

Sunday Feast № 25 | Pea Cashew Soup

The inspiration was a scene from "Best in Show", a mockumentary about a prestigious dog show: Sherri Ann Cabot: [Discussing her 80 year old husband who's 44 years her senior] Leslie and I have an amazing relationship and it's very physical, he still pushes all my buttons. People say 'oh but he's so much older than you' and you know what, I'm the one having to push him away. We have so much in common, we both love soup and snow peas, we love the outdoors, and talking and not talking. We could not talk or talk forever and still find things to not talk about. Soup. Snow peas. Peas. How about a pea soup? Luck had it that Bon Appétit July 2016 issue arrived earlier and it had a recipe for a more mealy pea soup, thanks to the cashews, that I adapted and dressed up with olive oil and pepper.

Sunday Feast № 24 | Vietnamese Chicken and Mint Salad

Have mint. Crave a salad with more than vegetables and dressing. A salad that can stand on its own, yet feels light. I looked to the trusty "The Cook's Companion" by Stephanie Alexander for answers and found a super easy recipe to play with. Thai chilies may make more sense regionally, but Serrano chilies are a good substitute, if that is all you can get your hands, and in a pinch if you are in possession of sambal oelek, that ground chili paste goodness, you are good. Three teaspoon, about.    I like the way my small herb garden is pushing me around, first with Thai basil - a beef dish repeated many times since, also with substituting Thai chilies with sambal oelek - then with mint - mixed with radishes and pumpkin seeds. Thai basil shoots up and out vigorously, while mint - well, mint really just hangs around draping as it sees fit, gently twisting on itself, surprisingly laissez-faire for such a refreshing herb. Cocktails with it will be in order soon. Meanwhile, poach chicken breasts yourself with lemongrass, ginger, salt, initially covered with cool water by an inch or so. Bring to boil then simmer for 10-15 min. Skim the foam as you go along if you plan to hold on to the light broth. Might come in handy.

Sunday Feast № 23 | Pizza Margherita with 212 Cocktail

Thank you The Daily Meal for pointing out that savory cocktails CAN go with dinner - see 11 Cocktails That Go Perfectly With Dinner slideshow - and since I am still on the gem looking cocktail trip since the Negrosky aperitivo session, 212 cocktail recommended by Ryan Fitzgerald, bartender at New York City’s ABV, looks good to me. I lightened it up by switching reposado tequila parts with grapefruit part, going for 1:2 instead or Ryan's 2:1. Take your pick there. The Daily Meal suggests pizza Margherita to go with. Not a problem at all. Not a problem whatsoever.    The recipes for the dough, sauce and the final product are abridged from “The Food of Italy: A Journey for Food Lovers”.	Fun on the side 212 Cocktail Lite 1 part reposado tequila 1 part Aperol 2 parts grapefruit juice And useful to know How to Defrost Frozen Pizza Dough