Happy Saturday!
What are you up to this weekend? We're ..
Harry and Sally – 9 Weeks Old
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celebrating Harry and Sally's birthday(!)
When I look back at their photos, it's hard to believe their first year has passed so quickly
We're planning a picnic trip to an out-of-the-way state park, although we may have to find a lake instead if the weatherman is right. The forecast for Iowa the next four or five days? 100+ degrees (yikes!)
If I'm not splashing in a lake with them, I'll be at the pool. Either catching up with the water-walking women or floating around the lazy river with all of the kids
Also on the radar? Some time in the garden we share with our neighbors. This week it was declared, “We're too busy to keep up with it right now. Plant to your heart's content” So I had a lot of fun to wandering around the greenhouse putting plants (and more plants) into my cart(s)
“Ma'am? You sure about all of this? I mean, you're going to need an awfully big space.”
(much more to come)
Whatever you're up to, I hope you have a good one!
Photo Credit: Instagram – @daily_harvest
As I was updating a few recipes this evening, it occurred to me that a round-up of favorite summer recipes might be a fun thing as well.
Some of the summer-friendly recipes I have a special fondness for and revisit regularly. Because before we know it, the best produce of the year will be upon us
all at the same time
Enjoy!
xoxo
Zucchini and Herb Pasta Salad – It tastes like a summer evening. A beautifully green pasta recipe filled with veggies, edamame, fresh herbs, capers, and mozzarella
Photo Credit – BonAppetit.com
Egg Salad – Out of all the pages in the church cookbook, my mom cooked from when I was little, the page with the egg salad recipe is one of the most stained (rivaling that of the chocolate cake). I can't help but marvel at how basic it is with onions, mayo, hard-boiled eggs, and a pinch of salt. I remember she got a wild hair once and added some chives, to which my grandmother frowned. Any deviation was far too fancy for egg salad.
The Most Incredible Salsa – Please give this a try; it's incredibly delicious. Particularly when tomato season has reached its peak, it's the recipe friends bring to dinner parties, and everyone simply passes my way. By the end of the evening, no matter what I've told myself about moderation, there'll be nary a drop left (ps: you'll never guess its secret ingredient) A+!
Heidi Swanson's Berry Crisp – A favorite summer crisp, especially when we've been berry picking in our favorite patch. Ripe berries cook into a thick, jammy, wine-spiked fruit sludge beneath a crispy, oat-flecked top. It's one of the desserts I bake most often (and realized I've yet to feature it here)
Caramelized Onions – As our gardens brim with onions this time of year, caramelizing is a great way to put them to use. Few things will amplify the flavor of your dish in quite the same way. They're tender, candy-sweet (yet savory), and can turn anything from a burger to a bowl of fresh pasta into something instantly gourmet.
Foggy Bottom Pasta Salad – A fresh take on a classic macaroni salad that reminds me of my growing-up years and pot-lucks in church basements. Any time there was a gathering, odds were good that someone(s) would show up with a pasta salad. I was inspired to find a version that was pretty close.
BLT with Roasted Tomatoes and Herbed Mayo – There's nothing fancy about a BLT, it's simplicity at its finest. Although it requires a slight bit of attention to detail for that magical combination of flavors to hit all the right spots. Add a bit of herbed mayo, and it's my favorite summer sandwich. One that can be eaten at any time or place, and that I'll happily turn the oven on in the summer to make
Banana Ice Cream (4 Easy and Delicious Ways) – And then there was banana ice cream. A rich, decadent, ultimately satisfying dessert. An outrageously easy “ice cream” is just the sort of dessert to please everyone in the house: the vegans, the lactose-intolerant, the paleo enthusiasts, the picky children. Just toss a few frozen bananas into a blender and give it a good whirl.
Winter Wealth Salad (but great for the summer) – An herb-packed salad recipe with dried fruit, radishes, pecans, arugula, grains, and fresh herbs. A simple yet flavorful dressing of oil and champagne vinegar added to its depth of flavor. A recipe to keep in your back pocket when wondering what to bring to a backyard BBQ
45 Comments
Happy Birthday Harry and Sally. These recipes look absolutely amazing. I’ve just got to try the ice cream recipe soon.
Aw! Happy Birthday Harry and Sally. I can spend hours in a greenhouse and working in my garden too. It sounds like a great weekend.
Happy happy birthday! They are adorable. I am looking forward to trying that BLT combinations. It sounds delicious.
Awww! Harry and Sally are so cute! What nice looking puppies!
Happy birthday guys. Harry and Sally are looking awesome 🙂 The BLT combo sounds awesome as well 🙂
That zuc and herb pasta salad is screaming my name. I will need to make that asap! Yum looks so good.
Wow! Happy Birthday to your fur babies. I can’t believe it gets up to 100 in Iowa. You’d think it’s Phoenix. We recently relocated to the southern slope of Colorado from 7,000 feet and aren’t used to the 90’s. It’s funny how you become used to a climate. Anyway all your food looks so delicious! YUM!
I am hoping to find time to picnic soon with my family and friends. Some of these recipes look great! The salsa is so vibrant and freshing. I just have to try it! 🙂
I am hoping to find time to picnic soon with my family and friends. Some of these recipes look great! The salsa is so vibrant and refreshing. I just have to try it! 🙂
Those doggies look so cute! I just want to snuggle them. There ares some great looking recipes here too. I will be trying some of them out.
That Berrie Crisp looks incredible! I will admit I was held up on the puppy photo a bit longer though. So adorable
Oh those two are so adorable! Happy birthday Harry and Sally! Hope you 2 enjoy your day. Your food are so delicious especially the banana ice cream.
These 2 dogs are so cutie! Wish i had someone like them. Happy birthday Harry and Sally! Have a blast!
Love the names of your dogs! They’re adorable – the names and the pups. The Berry Crisp looks delicious and is making my mouth water. Actually, all of the food looks good. Stay cool the next few days!
Happy belated birthday to harry and sally. I think those are the cutest names ever! I always did a little something for my dog’s b-day, Milo, when we still had him.
Your dogs are SO cute! The next time we get a dog I may have to get siblings! We got Toby at the humane society when he was 13 weeks old. The people who returned him said he was too much trouble…ummm he’s a puppy duh! Now he is 8 1/2! My kids and I went to Put-in-Bay which is on South Bass Island on Lake Erie for a music festival this weekend. It was fun but hot!
Happy Birthday to these two cuties. It sounds like you had a great weekend planned. This weekend we had a family bbq at my sister’s house because her and daughter is home visiting. Thanks for sharing your weekend plans and the recipes.
Your puppies are too cute! So many delicious recipes can’t decide which to try first!
Aww Happy Birthday Harry and Sally – I have a Sally dog as well -so awesome name choice 😉 I hope they have brought many hours of joy to your life.
My oh, Harry and Sally are just too adorable for words! My Loki is part Golden (he’s a Dachshund/Lab/Golden mix) and they just have the cutest little faces! I’m normally not a big fan of banana but I do have to admit that banana ice cream looks amazing.
You have such cute dogs. All these recipes look tasty. My favorites would be the pasta salad and the salsa–I so love salsa.
Thanks for all of the great summer recipe ideas! The husband and I have been struggling to spice up our dinners lately.
I’m not sure what’s cuter? The dogs or the fact they are named Harry and Sally?! ADORABLE!! I love the look of that pasta, I’ve been gluten free for 2 years now and pasta never fails to make me salivate!
Your puppies are so cute. I love the look of that berry crisp! It looks so yummy!
That pasta salad totally reminds me of summer too. It represents everything I love about this season. Your dogs are so adorable.
That pasta salad totally reminds me of summer too. It represents everything I love about this season. Your dogs are so adorable.
I have to say that your two dogs are adorable. It’s always hard when it gets to the summer and you are doing things and you cannot bring the dogs with you because of wherever you are going, be it waterpark or otherwise. The recipes looked awesome. I really was interested in the winter wealth salad. I am not a huge dried fruit fan when it comes to salads, but this looks marvelous.
Happy birthday pups! These recipes all look so yummy, great catering for the birthday celebrations, haha.
Harry and Sally are beautiful, I have always wanted doggies of my own :p Glad that you had fun in your garden and loved flicking through your summer recipes! Especially the berry crisp! x
The pasta salad and salsa recipes caught my attention. I can never say no to a salad! I clicked on the link to take me to the recipe for the salsa, saved it and will make it for our regular weekend family BBQ menu. I have lots of tomatoes in stock so that would mean more salsa for sides, for tacos, for anything! 🙂
Oh my goodness, I can’t even get over how cute Harry and Sally are! And those names – one of my favorite movies! I just love it. Your pasta salad looks delish!
These are great summertime options. I don’t like to cook a lot when it is hot. The zucchini and Herb Pasta Salad sounds mouth watering.
Oh my word, they are both gorgeous! I keep trying to convince my husband to get a dog. You just reminded me I haven’t had egg salad I ages.
Wow those recipes do look amazing, it’s making me hungry. I will for sure try the BLT 🙂
Happy birthday to those cutie pies! I think it would be awesome to celebrate outdoors if it’s not too warm of course. I really appreciate you sharing the summer recipes that you usually prepare. Pasta salads are always welcome in my book! I never thought about roasting tomatoes for a BLT! I should try that.
Ohhhh the puppia xx Happy Birthday to Harry and Sally! They’ve grown soo much and so beautiful!
That BLT is BOMB and I’m gonna make it as soon as I get the ingredients. I will only replace the herbed mayo lol.
Happy Birthday to your gorgeous pups! All of your recipe’s are looking amazing too. Egg salad isn’t something I’ve heard of before… I love curry egg sandwiches and deviled eggs though, so if it’s anything like that I think I would love it.
Loving the idea of a winter salad too (it’s winter here now) so I’ll have to get that one a go as soon as the winter meals get too much for me!
Your dogs are adorable, I can’t believe they’re only a year old, Great recipes too, making me hungry x
This is such a cool and creative idea! Your dogs absolutely melt my heart!
The names of your dogs is so awesome! Very creative. I love the pictures of cherries! very innovative.
Happy birthday to those gorgeous pups! All of these recipes look delicious and perfect for summer. I am looking forward to making a couple of these. I think I will start with that luscious banana ice cream!
Zucchini and Herb Pasta Salad looks like a delicious healthy choice. I always grow Zucchini in the summer. This Summer crisp is sure to be a hit.
Aww Happy Birthday to them! I can’t wait for summer time house parties to get great food like this.
These all sound great recipes. I can’t wait to give your ice cream recipe a try.
I wasn’t even hungry, but this made super hungry after the fact. I’m a huge fan of different kinds of pasta during the summer time, i am not sure why, but they’re always better than. I pinned this post, so i can come back when I have more time to check out these recipes.