Hump Day: Beat the Heat!

People, it's hot here in SF.  Like, Africa hot.  It's been over 90 degrees and like I always say, 90 degrees in San Francisco is like 4 inches of snow in the South.  We're just not equipped for it.  Because we only get a handful of these days per year, no one has air conditioning (not even window units) and we don't have screens on our windows or doors.   I've been spending my days with all the shades drawn, the fan blowing in my face, swatting away bugs.  It's not that fun.  Poor Fig has been seeking refuge on the cool tiles in the bathroom.

Last night, our dear friends Al and Erin were in town.  They are a pretty amazing couple on an unbelievable adventure.  They started in the Northwest Territories, the very northern tip of North America, and are biking down to the very southern tip of South America...on a tandem bike.  I told you they were amazing.  They began their journey in June of this year and expect their travels to conclude around the spring of 2012.  You can follow along with them here.  Anyway, last night we took advantage of the warm evening and had a fantastic summer dinner outside on our deck:  Grilled kebabs, pasta salad, and coleslaw.  And to keep us cool, Al made some refreshing Tom Collins.  I am often intimidated by cocktails that require shakers, but these were surprisingly easy to make! To make a pitcher of Al's Tom Collins, you'll need:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 cups gin or vodka
• 4 lemons, 4 limes, sliced
• club soda
• Ice

Directions (makes about 6):

1. In a small saucepan, bring 2 tablespoons water to a boil over medium heat. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Let cool.
2. In a pitcher, stir together the liquor, lemons & limes, and cooled sugar syrup.
3. To make each drink, pour mixture from the pitcher into a cocktail shaker.  Add ice and shake.
4. Pour into a tall glass filled with ice, stir in desired amount of club soda. Garnish with some of the lemons and limes