Summer is in full swing here and we've had some really nice weather. We've spent a lot of time outside talking about our day over an ice cream cone or having lunch/dinner out on the patio table. There have been some really hot and humid days but that's expected, and we just roll with it.
I've started dehydrating and canning things for the winter. Strawberry season and blueberry season are over here, and we really enjoyed them. I was able to put about 3 or 4 pints of each in the freezer for later. This is one batch of garlic dill pickle spears that I water bathed. Today I made pesto for the freezer. It really livens up a dish in the winter.
We've been eating our share of summertime meals.
BBQ chicken thighs, potato salad and a small side salad.
BIG salads
Spach cocked chicken on the grill
Chicken, red onion and poblano pepper skewers with beans and rice with a delicious avocado crema.
BLT's with zucchini 'fries'
Pepperoni, green pepper, onion and mushroom pizza with a ton of fresh basil cooked on top. SO good.
This is before and after cooking. The basil really shrinks up, doesn't it?
I started watching Son of a Critch on Netflix. It has three seasons right now and I'm about halfway through and really enjoying it. It is set in Newfoundland during the 80's and follows the Critch family, particularly the youngest son. If you want a fun, feel good series, this is it.
I'm about halfway through the book The Finnish Way by Katja Pantzar. "Discover the simple, nature-inspired ways that Finns stay happy, healthy and strong, no matter what life has in store."
This post ended up being pretty photo heavy, but I have to share these two pictures of Binx. The first one is of him sitting on his perch watching rabbits running around the yard. The second one cracked me up. I hadn't seen him for a while, and I asked TBG if he was in his tunnel. Just when I looked at the back of it, his eyes popped open so I could see him.
Basil on pizza is so good! It’s crazy to me that your blueberry season is over already. Ours just started this past week and should last all month.
ReplyDeleteI really love basil. Yes, our strawberry season usually ends by the last week of May and blueberry ends the last week of June.
DeleteGlad you are already putting foods up for the winter. None done here yet.
ReplyDeleteYour meals all look so delish. My kind of eating.
Oh sweet Binx - what a cutey pie!!
I'm trying to stay ahead of it all and make use of what is coming in. Binx is such a cool cat. Enjoy your week Cheryl.
DeleteIt’s always so gratifying to can, freeze, and otherwise prepare things for the winter ahead. I grew a lot more basil than I was anticipating, so I’m going to be using it in a wide variety of ways. This is my first year for purple basil, and it’s doing better than the green basil.
ReplyDeleteIt really is nice to add a bit of summer goodness to fall/winter dishes. My basil is going crazy too. I've already dehydrated a pint jar full and made two large batches of pesto for the freezer. I'm not complaining though. I do love basil.
DeleteI would sell my own grandmother for those pickles - and the cat.
ReplyDeleteI could send you some pickles, but the cat stays with me.
DeleteI love all the photos of your wonderful meals. They inspire me! And I think I saw that Finnish book mentioned before - I'll have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm half way through and am enjoying it. She has a very calming writing style.
DeleteYour post made me hungry. Everything looks really good. That last picture of Binx cracked me up. He was hidden good in there until he opened his eye
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann. It was so funny when I was looking for him. Black cats can hide really well until they open their eyes.
DeleteI just finished breakfast, and now I'm hungry again! I always love seeing pictures of Binx doing cat things.
ReplyDeleteWe have been eating well. Binx is all about cat things.
DeleteLook at all those yummy meals. Here it has been boiling hot or wet and humid..
ReplyDeleteThank you. We have been eating well. We had some really hot/humid days but the last week the humidity hasn't been too bad. Stay cool.
DeleteYour food always looks like a restaurant. I need to learn to can pickles, something I have never mastered.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kim. I love making pickles.
DeleteI love making homemade pickles. I like fermented though vinegar is tasty too. During cranberry season I dry a BUNCH to use throughout the year. When we move though, my eyes are set on a home freeze dryer. Oh boy, cannot wait to play with that.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine has a freeze dryer and loves it.
Deletesuch an amazing photo of your cat. My brain can't quite work out what is happening :) Love all your salads!
ReplyDeleteHe has this round cat tunnel that he can play on or get in. It has that cut out on the back of it and when I looked down I saw his eyes and knew he was in there.
DeleteCats do things like that...you have searched for them ages and couldn't figure out where they were...bum..they just appeared from nowhere. You have some really great summer meals.
ReplyDeleteThey do and it's especially hard when it's an all black cat. Thank you, we are enjoying summer dinners.
DeleteI enjoyed seeing your summer meals in photos! As much as I like to cook, I never learned to cann.. I've always been afraid to trust myself with a safe product. Thanks for the Netflix recommendation- I'm always on the look out for a new series. Binx is always so cute and steals the show.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother taught me when I was young. I no longer pressure can anything but I do still do things that can be done in water bath like pickles, jams, etc.
ReplyDeleteBinx is such a fun cat and so stinking cute.
The food all looks and sounds so good! Love the Binx pictures!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeanette.
DeleteThe cat is so cute
ReplyDeleteOMG as a foodie I look all the food tasty
Thank you.
DeleteAwwww Binx! I love it when they sit still and watch what is going on outside. And Binx is so playful. Adorable kitty. All of your food looks so GOOD!!!! That pizza! You're a creative cook. I've never canned anything (I'm afraid it's because I'm too lazy) so I admire anyone with the wherewithal to accomplish that! Keep enjoying these lazy summer days. They are brief but so precious. My babies are coming over later to swim. We're having hot dogs, hahaha! xoxo
ReplyDeleteBinx is finally starting to slow down a bit but yes, still very playful and full of energy. Thank you. Cooking is my stress relief everyday and well, we do like to eat. I really don't can much, mainly jams and pickles. Everyday is special isn't it? Have fun with your family swimming and enjoy the hot dogs. That sounds so good.
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