She Cooks Macro

Early summer. The sun is bright and hot, but the breeze is still pleasantly cool. It’s perfect patio weather.

And Hubs and I now have the perfect little patio. And this little tempeh lettuce roll is the perfect patio meal.

But before we get to the tempeh, first- the patio.

I mentioned in my last post that my mom was here visiting for 5 nights. Let me tell you, It. Was. Epic.

We ate, drank, shopped, saw Stomp, ate, ate some more and shopped, shopped, shopped. We clocked a lot of miles.

And after all the excitement we still found time to design, shop for, and plant an urban patio oasis for hubs and I to enjoy this summer. Have I told you that my parents are totally insanely amazing gardeners? Well- they are. And my mom shared her skills, knowledge, love and time with hubs and I to help us build our own petite outdoor getaway.

Imagine.

Sleek black planters overflowing with flowers and vines encircle the space. An array of cheerful pots cluster together- full to the brim with fresh summer herbs. Two stunning hibiscus trees stand guard at the entrance to our stairway, along with a giant pot of provencal lavender which stops me in my tracks at each and every arrival and departure.

The move goes something like this. Make sure I’m behind Hubs so he doesn’t crash into me on our way down the stairs. Stop. Lean in. As close as possible. Deeper yet. Lavender brushes my cheeks. Inhale. Giant smile. Exhale and relax. Continue on.

If we’re in a hurry, both hubs and I like to give the lavender a little pat. The fragrance hitchhikes along on our fingertips and at some point in the day I’ll catch the scent of lavender and think of our patio. As the flowers grow and blossom, as I water and tend to them, as lavender lingers in the air, I’ll think of my mom and the time we shared together building, creating and, of course, eating outside, on the little patio. It’s going to be a lovely summer, and hubs and I are celebrating our new outdoor space with these tempeh lettuce rolls. So easy, you’ll be savouring them outside on your own patio in no time.

{note}

I included a few leaves of finely chopped mint in this batch. Parsley or cilantro would also be delicious. If you’re eating wide, this would be sooo amazing with avocado added into the salsa, just before serving, with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. For easier portability, feel free to chop the lettuce and wrap the whole lot in a corn or flour tortilla, or even a rice paper wrap.