Summer

When I make a dessert like this, one that is so simple, effortless really, I think back to all the desserts I've put together that take so much energy and time...and I laugh. Because this dessert has so much flavor and tastes so special and really requires nothing from me but a few swipes of my knife.

I have always loved roasting fruit, it brings out incredible flavor and sweetness and these strawberries are no exception. Over vanilla ice cream it is something that can't be beat.

You will laugh too over how little you need to fuss to achieve this flavor. It is also perfect for a large crowd!

Try this tonight, you won't be disappointed, especially if you believe in simplicity.

February and March make me dream of summer. I want “summer” to sweep over me, leaving behind a vibe incomparable to other seasonal mind-sets. I have so many happy memories of summers past, and when these recollections come over me, I feel almost giddy with anticipation of good times ahead.

While I have many good childhood reminiscences of long, lazy, warm days, there are some memories more outstanding than others; running through lawn sprinklers, endless games of hide ‘n seek (until our parents called us home), hot dogs on the grill with lots of pickle relish, double scoop-peppermint ice cream cones melting relentlessly down to my elbows, sitting in the stands at Dodger Stadium for a doubleheader on a Sunday afternoon and sweet, icy-cold snow cones.

As an adult, summertime remains synonymous with kicking-back, however, at my house, relaxing demands good food be part of the equation. One of my favorite tastes of summer happens to be ceviche. And right about now, I need a taste of summer. With seafood poached in citrus juices and paired with fresh ingredients, this ceviche explodes with vibrant flavor and color. It’s irresistible once you start eating; you might want to make a little extra just in case everyone wants a second nibble.

Memorial Day Weekend is quickly approaching, which means grilling season will officially commence. I say that with a smirk as the Pacific Northwest has been plagued with rain for the past week-and-a-half. Come back sunshine!!!

Old Bay seasoning is one of our favorites around here. Originally used to flavor crab and shrimp it is now widely used and popular in many dishes. The seasoning mix includes mustard, paprika, celery salt, bay leaf, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, mace, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger. In the United States it is found in every grocery store but I'm not sure what its availability is in other countries. 

I decided to make a cauliflower salad, something similar to a potato salad but sans the potatoes. This is low-carb and a perfect side to accompany any grilled food you might be serving this summer.

For one week, I had an apartment in south Minneapolis. It was listed on a site that offers vacation rentals by owner. Up to this point, I hadn't spent much time exploring south Minneapolis. It turned out I was in for a real treat. Although I had my bike along (my apartment was just 3 blocks from one of the wonderful Minneapolis trails), several dark, cloudy, soggy rainy days prevented me from spending any time on my pedal-powered two-wheeler. As it turned out, that wasn't such a bad thing. By car, I was available to explore neighborhoods I probably wouldn't have gotten to by bike.

My discovery highlights wound up taking on unexpected themes of bakeries and farmers markets. I had planned to take in the downtown St. Paul farmers market, the oldest in Minnesota. It never disappoints with all of the fresh flowers, herbs to take home to plant, fresh vegetables, honey, meats and this time, even fresh-picked strawberries. The next morning, a Sunday, I paid a visit to the Kingfield farmers market, a relatively new but charming small neighborhood market. I'd read that a person could find plenty for breakfast at this market and it was definitely true. A strawberry-rhubarb turnover from Sun Street Breads was devoured before I could even snap a picture.