As another school year ends, I’ve been mildly surprised by my lack of panic. Usually on the eve of the last day of school, I’m running around like my dog with a ball trying to do all the things I’ve been meaning to do since spring break.

I don’t think this relative stress-free me is solely because my kids are old enough to stay home by themselves. That can definitely be helpful in case I want to go to the grocery store, exercise, or play a tennis match during the summer months, but it can also cause a whole new kind of mom guilt — the kind where you’re worried because your kids are home alone and probably staring at a screen the entire time you’re improving yourself (or shopping for necessities to keep your family alive). I experienced that stress last summer. And I did not like it one bit.

This summer we’ve moved on to a new era — the era of having a kid who drives. And, of all crazy things, my kids have become “homies” all of a sudden. So I am actually envisioning them going and doing things this summer. Yes I realize my visions of my two kids hitting golf balls or going to the pool together could be a fantasy. More likely, the younger may just use her brother for rides to the mall.

The other great thing that goes along with having a kid who drives: having a kid with a job. And I’m happy to say my son has two, plus several large school- and other-related projects and trips that should keep him off the evil that is Fortnite for at least most of the daylight hours. And my daughter, when she’s not merrily zipping around town doing wholesome outdoor activities with her brother, is busy with sports camps, sports lessons, and sports workouts (yes, she’s the jock in the family), so I feel pretty good about her level of non-screen activity.

All of which is why I’m pretty excited for summer. Also, my peonies are blooming. Yay!

And since my kids will be off having picnics and hotdogs at the pool most evenings, I can get away with making tuna Poké for dinner. If you read a lot of food blogs or magazines, you’ll notice a familiar refrain this time of year: Crank up the grill! Which you should totally do of course. But another thing you should do is make a dinner that requires no cooking, no heat, at all.

Sometimes I’m just sitting around in the afternoon and I get a serious craving for Poké. And I have to admit I usually act on that craving; I head to the store and buy a fat piece of sushi-grade (i.e. fresh) ahi or yellowfin. Most of the other ingredients I tend to have on hand. If you don’t keep sesame oil in your pantry, you’ll only need to buy it once, unless you’re me and then you’ll be trying to find bigger bottles of the stuff because you use it so much.

If a bowl of raw tuna doesn’t sound like enough for dinner, you can serve this with rice. Or you can do what I did last weekend and make this delicious broccoli salad to go with it. Yum. Plus I had leftover salad, which was even better for lunch the next day. I realize tuna steaks are pricey (about $20), but isn’t a relaxing meal with your spouse to celebrate surviving another round of finals and school lunches worth it? And it’s way cheaper than going out for sushi.

Simple Tuna Poké (serves 2 adults as a meal, 4-6 as an appetizer)
Ingredients
1 lb. raw sushi-grade ahi tuna (yellowfin works too; if you ever see bluefin tuna, do not buy it. It’s an endangered species), cut into bite-sized pieces
3 tbs. soy sauce (I use reduced sodium tamari)
1 tbs. toasted sesame oil (I use Eden Foods)
1/2 English cucumber, sliced into thin half moons
Small handful cilantro leaves, finely chopped
A few drops Asian chili oil or Asian chili paste to taste (I love, love, love Sambal Oelek)
1 tsp. toasted sesame seeds (or if you’re lazy and heat-averse like me these days, you can use my new favorite thing from Trader Joe’s: Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning)
1/2 lime

Okay are you ready for these really complicated instructions? Get a medium bowl and place all the ingredients in the bowl except the lime. Stir gently to combine. Taste. Add more chili paste if needed. Add a few drops of lime juice.

Enjoy your summer.

 

 

 

 

 

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