Happy Labor Day weekend! As the end of summer nears, here are a few things that have me happy!
1. Cannot wait to try this salmon
2. These from Tina look refreshingly delicious
3. These shoes have me totally smitten and ready for cooler temps
4. Have been wanting to try this raw tart from Joy for the longest
5. This chicken would be a perfect Labor Day lunch menu item
A couple of weeks ago, I got to go pick these beauties. If you know me, you know that I love figs and get excited each summer when they are in season. We ate a bunch of these plain, as they were sweet as honey. I also gave some away to family and friends. I did a little cooking with them; threw them on salads, in yogurt, and the like. But, the best thing I did this year was make fig pizza. The recipe will be up next week, so stay tuned!
I don’t know about where you are, but it’s pretty sweltering here today! I’ve been in and out of my house everyday this summer trying to get this kitchen renovation finished. Looks like we’re getting close! On days like this, I find myself needing a really cool lunch. Salads are perfect for this. Who am I kidding though? I eat some variation of a salad almost everyday of the year for lunch. I need my greens on a regular basis!
Into this salad, I threw about 2C of lettuce, 2tbs. golden raisins, 1/2 apple, 1tbs. garden fresh green onions, 1tbs. shredded smoked gouda.
My “go to” salad dressing usually consists of:
horseradish mustard
pepper jelly (homemade, from a friend)
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
I really don’t measure much, but the mix of sweet and salty in this salad with the dressing was outstanding.
I don’t know if it’s hot where you are, but it’s HOT here! It seems that in the last few weeks a heat wave has been moving across the country. July is always rough for those of us in the South. I’ll (hopefully) be escaping the heat in a few short weeks for some cooler temps. In the meantime, this watermelon, lime, berry granita is sure to keep us (and YOU) cool and refreshed!
First, make a simple syrup by boiling 1/4C water. Add 1/2C sugar to the boiling water and stir until sugar is dissolved. Take off heat and let cool about 30 minutes.
Once simple syrup is cool, add it to a blender along with 2C watermelon, 1tbs. lime juice, 3/4C mixed berries, and 2C ice. Blend until ice is crushed, but not liquefied.
Enjoy this as a fabulous afternoon refresher!
On Friday, we started a friend’s bachelorette evening with “cocktail hour on the porch” at my house. It was really nice and casual, and very easy to prep for. We had mojitos and water (for hydration!) with fresh mint, lemon, and lime. We had dinner reservations, so I kept the food really light, only serving tortilla chips and salsa. All in all, it was a great start to the evening and everyone enjoyed themselves!
