Florida. Summertime. It’s 90 degrees out today…5 degrees cooler than yesterday. It’s pretty nice out in the mornings, early…at sunrise, which I enjoy very much. By 10 o’clock it’s hot, but there’s something special about summertime in the south. Our house is surrounded by trees and woods in the back. You never know what you might run into out there… There’s hawks and owls, and possums at night and yesterday there was a big black snake stretched across the back patio area. It’s truly magical. I’d be out there a lot more at night, listening to the owls, but I’m not a lover of mosquitoes.

What’s my favorite summertime fruit? I’d say, watermelon, peaches for sure, black plums, cantaloupe, nectarines, (the fuzzless peach) oh and cherries for sure. No way I could pick just one. Don’t even get me started on vegetables… Okra, tomatoes, green beans, squash, all those good and tasty (healthy) things. I’m having dinner guests on Saturday and just had to get into the kitchen today. I absolutely love cooking and baking. Taking humble ingredients, as fresh as you can get them and creating something hopefully delicious. It’s such a creative outlet. It’s a combination of science and art and love! There are just so many wonderful things to make with all the summer produce. So today, I made a fresh pesto which I’m going to use some on some grilled chicken tonight with a little sun-dried tomato. I baked a decadent chocolate tart (my favorite ), and since the store-bought ones are so crummy, I made a batch of biscotti to have with coffee or tea. I made bread dough that’s proofing in the fridge so I can make pesto rolls with the rest of the pesto, on Saturday. I’m not a bread baker but love practicing new baking skills. Tomorrow I’ll make the lemon torta with fresh lemon curd, and decide what other dishes I’m making for Saturday.

I’m thankful… Thankful for friends And family that I can cook and bake for and share meals with. Thankful for this beautiful place in the sunshine and heat where I can experience the wonders of nature. Thankful for blessings and God’s love and grace in my life.

Have a wonderful weekend