Summer Fresh

When we arrived back home from our trip, the first thing I did was march straight out to my garden.  I held my breath as I neared the little patch of green hoping that it was all still alive.  Would my plants hate me after 4 days of not watering?  Imagine my relief when I not only found them alive but blossoming with produce.


Radishes1


Radishes.  These babies are my kind of veggie.  I think I like the look of them better than their taste, but you can't help but be attracted to theinstant gratification factor!  Drop the seeds in the ground and wa lah- 20 or so days later you have a bouquet of luscious reds pinks and purples. 


Cucumbers first harvest1


I am picking about 8-10 cucumbers a day now.  Not sure what I was thinking when I planted 18 cucumber plants.  We love them though.  I made this salad the other night which was pretty tasty.  I am also working on procuring a "secret family recipe" from a close friend for the "world's greatest pickles ever".  If I am successful I plan to make up jars upon jars of them and give them away at Christmas.  Isn't that what everyone really wants for Christmas- pickles?


Dinners these days have been very light.  I love summer eating.  With the heat no one is really in the mood for things that are too heavy. Mostly, we find ourselves grazing all day long on little platters of fruit, brushetta, nuts, and cheese. 


Somehow, and I am not sure how, I wound up with a subscription to Good Housekeeping.  Thank you mother-in-law?  Anyways, it comes month after month and I usually just flip through the pages once and then it goes to the recycle box.  But this month's issue turned had some really tasty-looking recipes.  The best part- every single one that I have gone to the trouble of trying has been so good!


Shrimp salad1


This is a lovely shrimp salad with mango and peaches.  I don't like chiptole peppers, so I just used a sprinkle or two of carne asada seasoning instead. 


I have also tried and loved:


Southwest Chicken Wraps


Curried Chicken Salad


Jerk Seasoned Pork Chops


Seared Scallops


There you go! Five dinners...make a list and off you go.  Happy shopping and eating!