Lacecap Hydrangea:
Today is the longest day of the year! I look forward to this for the other 364 days! I know, that’s kind of pathetic, but I do. For me, nothing is more sacred than a warm Summer day and long evening of light! I just live for this – Nice thick steaks or fish barbecued on the grill, fresh corn and tomatoes and a Blueberry-Peach Pie. Perfection.
But, seriously, hopefully tomorrow night at this time I will be watching the sunset at Rock Harbor in Orleans, MA. Things have gotten out of hand here in NJ and I am way behind schedule on getting packed and ready to go. I am so bad that today I took our beloved cat, Callie to the vet……yesterday, when I took Kit for her vaccines, they told me Callie had not had a visit since 2008, yes, 2008, and they had deleted her from the system!!!!!! (I shudder to think that they must have thought she had passed on!!!!!!! Ugh, I am such a bad mother!!!!!!!)
( Ok, I know, this is a food and garden blog.)
Well, since I’m off the subject anyway, seeing as today was a REAL Summer day, I am reminded of two of my favorite songs about Summer:
The Lovin Spoonful – Circa 1966: “Hot town, Summer in the City, back a my neck, gettin dirty and gritty, been down, isn’t it a pitty……….. This is one of my all-time favorite songs – love it!
Sly and the Family Stone – Circa 1969: “Hot Fun, in the Summertime”
Ok, so most of you missed out……..these are great, get them on your play list on itunes!!!!!!!! No one makes music like this anymore! ( Ok, that’s what my Dad said when speaking of Frank Sinatra when the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan.) I am sooooooooo OLD, I can’t stand it.
Anyway, I am really looking forward to getting into the real Summer cooking!
To inspire me, I have been going through my Summer Cookbooks. Check these out:
Summer Gatherings by Rick Rodgers
The Summer Shack Cookbook by Jasper White
Best Summer Weekends Cookbook by Jane Rodmell
The Summertime Anytime Cookbook by Dana Slatkin
I am really enjoying reading through recipes. Next job, make a list of new recipes to try. I am going to focus on stone fruits this Summer, incorporating fruit into entrees, and inventing some newfangled drinks, scones and desserts with fresh, local ingredients.
Star-Ledger today reported on great results for New Jersey Farms – highlighting the blueberry crop, and Farmers’s Markets. Take a look.
I’ll be “reporting” from the Orleans Farmer’s Market on Saturday. Hope to write about some great restaurant and bakery experiences in the coming weeks. Can’t wait. I think some nice cool mornings on the deck are in order. I am in need of fresh inspiration.
More pics from the yard today:
Love these “no dead-head” petunias. Wish I had gotten more.