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Betsy Block

SUMMER

Brunch

Brunch

BD ate these right after he took this picture -- a good sign.

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I was invited to a potluck birthday brunch at a friend's house this past Sunday; I told BD and the kids I'd be back in a couple.

Four hours later, drunk with laughter and joy (not to mention Champagne cocktails), I finally forced myself to gather up my leftovers and head home. After all, we had company coming in less than an hour.

Needless to say, I was first one to leave the party because, as one who doesn't get out much, I thought such events lasted two hours, three at the max, whereas it turns out that incredibly fun birthday brunches can last for up to five hours. Duly noted. (How did these women wrangle this much time from their partners? Some people, who shall remain initial-less, are staying home with their children all summer long and therefore have major negotiating chits, but I have no such luck - thank God.) I got in the car for the lengthy quarter-mile drive home, took a sharp left turn and presto! Salmon and egg salad all over the car. It was the perfect re-entry to my real life.

When I got home, I discovered that while I was out eating fabulous food and laughing harder than I had in weeks, BD had fed the kids lunch, taken them bowling, prepped dinner and he had five-year-old P in the tub. I was stunned. I looked around at my orderly home, then went upstairs to see my man lovingly caring for our beautiful girl, and I thought to myself: I should go out more often.




Egg and smoked salmon salad

This was one of those desperation recipes I devised when my brother's family was here for brunch once and we didn't have enough to eat. But then I liked it enough to make it on purpose:

12 hard-boiled eggs, cut up fine

8 oz. wild, cold-smoked salmon, pulled into small pieces

2 tbsp. capers

2 tsp. dried dill

2 tbsp. Dijon mustard

cup good extra virgin olive oil

pepper to taste (no salt needed because of the salmon)


Mix it all together. Makes a ton. Try not to spill it in your car.