Summer

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.

It was kind of cold yesterday, clearly not a day for lemonade. But I was thirsty.  You know, that kind of thirst where you want something sweet, but not too sweet.  And something sour, but not too sour.  I felt like I could have drank a whole pitcher of this.  Must have been those Dill Pickle chips the night before. Whoops!

This was such a great recipe because the beautiful peaches I had bought the day before tasted like...well they tasted like nothing and they certainly weren't sweet.  So, you don't even need sweet peaches to make this awesome drink.  Sour tasting ones work just fine!

The biggest problem was having to share this with everyone at home. I wanted it all to myself but that didn't really happen.  Every time I make something like this, especially using fresh fruit, I wonder why I don't do it all the time!! It was that good. It will be a summer staple around here and a must try for you. 

This could easily become an adult beverage with a bit of white rum or bourbon. Yep it could.

This is one of those desserts you make when you are in a pinch for time.  It's quick, it's easy...easy, as in...no baking skills required, since it's a no-bake dessert.  It's the dish you make when you get a call Saturday morning to come for a barbecue that evening and you are to bring dessert.  You'll have just enough time to get to the store and get this made.

Better yet, stock all the ingredients at home (with the exception of the kiwis) this summer, get it thrown together when the call comes in, and pick up the kiwis on the way.  You can easily add them at serving time.

The taste of this is really nice and refreshing...I guess I never put lemon and kiwi together as a flavor package but it works really well together.

Give it a try! It's a true time-saver!

Nothing beats fresh tomato sauce made with your own (or someone else’s) garden tomatoes. The few simple ingredients combine to make a truly delicious and authentic pasta sauce.

This recipe can easily be doubled if you have an abundance of tomatoes, and it freezes really well, so it’s worth making a big batch. Perfect with angel hair, but any favorite pasta can be used.