Panzanella Salad

Call me strange but this was my favorite dish on the Thanksgiving table. Major food holidays tend to make me crave salads. It's simple to make and requires fresh mozarella cheese, tomatoes, basil, olive oil, green olives, and Italian bread and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Did I mention it was 80 degrees here in Tampa? Who needs an oven when you can go play outside in the surf.

First, cut the bread into bite size pieces and baked in the oven with garlic and olive oil for 10 minutes on low. The bread crumbs come out soft and chewy and soak up the delicious juices in the bowl. I keep fresh herbs on my front porch and the the scent is inviting enough to nudge into making a home cooked meal. The trick is to keep them where I see them daily, otherwise I forget.

The holiday was gorgeous here with blue skies and gentle breezes. I am blessed in my life with many good things. We walked for long walks by the shore and drank many cocktails to get through a rough patch or two. It was Thanksgiving that I first brought my Coda home to live with me.

Without her, it was odd in a way I had not felt in a very long time. After my parents died, the holidays and going home was a very different experience. I became attached to the places and the memories made there. A drive by the old homestead where I grew up and I swear I could smell mom baking one of her breads in the oven even from a block away. Suddenly, all of my firsts came back to mind. My first swingset, my first pet, my first best friend, my first boyfriend, my first car, and my first heartbreak.

Mom would not approve of this salad, nor did she approve of everything I did. "You grow up and you make your own decisions in life," she'd say to me. Maybe one of them is to move away from home. Trust me. It wasn't an easy choice. She became my best friend over time... and distance. It's funny how that happens. As you can tell from my writing I'm a little down. This being the holidays I'm also sure I'm not alone. They can be raw. So grab a cocktail or someone you love and hang on. And remember, January is not far off.