Things I didn't buy on Market Day:

  • fruit
  • vegetables
  • eggs
  • beans

Things I did buy:

  • A gorgeous silk dress for "wedding season"
  • 1 pr of uber-tight, slinky, "going out" jeans for "bachelorette party season," to be worn with both wedding ring and "Off The Market" body language, of course
  • 1 pr of shorts (gauchos? culottes?) that are much too stylish for me (just look at the website, for gosh darned sake!)
  • 1 silk hot pink lace trimmed chamise-like tank, also too stylish for me, also for "bachelorette party season"
  • Countless tees and tanks (okay, not countless. More like 8) for beach and work
  • 1 gorgeous gold necklace with smoky topaz and turquoise
  • $100 worth of beads and gemstones once I realized I could've easily made the above mentioned necklace

Things I Need to Buy:

  • A bicycle seat especially made for a woman. Ahem. 

Now, just to set the record straight on a few things…

  1. Not sure I've EVER spent that much money in one day, except maybe on plane tickets or school tuition.
  2. I did NOT forego the market in favor of yesterday's foolish shopping spree. I forewent the market in favor of a 30 mile road ride with a group of much more experienced riders (read semi-professional cyclists – gasp).
  3. Said ride inspired the need for the ladies' bicycle seat (with a hole in the middle, if you catch my drift) and for the endless shopping to sooth my aching ego after one of the cyclists practically had to push me up a climb. 

After a long, blistering hot day of shopping with girlfriends,  two things came to mind…

One… it's hard to pull on pair after pair of uber-tight jeans in a small dressing room while sweating profusely. 

Two… I needed a snow cone. But snow cones are messy and really not that satisfying once you've sucked all the syrup out of the bottom and you're just left with watery slush. What else is cool and refreshing? MOJITOS.

We pooled our resources, Al brought the bacardi and Y brought the limes, mint and soda water.  I provided the sugar, pitcher, ice and the know-how (although it wasn't A or Y's first rodeo either).

We called a few friends over and got to mixin'. A perfect way to spend a lazy evening.

 Having spent a few years behind the bar, I know my way around a fairly good mojito. However, I've always made single glasses… never a pitcher. So it took a few tweaks to get the pitcher right, but I think the end recipe looks something like this:

Mojitos Cubanos

(serves 4)

  • 12 fresh mint sprigs
  • 8 tsp raw sugar
  • 12 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 6 oz light rum (it's also great with dark rum!)
  • club soda

Tear the mint leaves into the bottom of a bowl. Add the sugar and lime juice and "muddle" with a pestle, a mudder, or you could use the top of a meat tenderizer like I did.

Pour in the rum, add ice, and stir. Pour into glasses until just over half full and top glasses with club soda. Stir once more. Garnish with a fresh lime wedge. 

And after the mojitos? Thai Coconut Ice Cream topped with fresh mango. The next best thing to real ice cream for the lactarded like me. 

Thai Coconut Ice Cream 

(serves 4) 

  • 2 cans (14 oz each) unsweetened coconut milk (about 3 1/2 cups)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

In a heavy saucepan, combine all ingredients. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring often to dissolve the sugar and salt. Remove from the heat and pour into a bowl.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate until very cold, about 2 hours. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to your maker's directions. Serve at once, or transfer to an airtight container and place in the freezer for up to 3 weeks.