Eating: What to eat when it is hot

It's hot. 
Big surprise, as it is summer in the south. 

I love summer and I love summer food, but I hate to cook when it is hot. 

So, we are doing our "summer routine". That is, my husband is lucky enough to be home at lunch, so we eat our main meal at noon.

It is great! The cooking gets done when it is still coolish, we are all together and we are not miserable at night. Instead we can sit outside and
play backgammon or watch a movie, inside in the cool,

lying like dogs on the cool leather sofas.

Here are some ideas for a lovely summer meal that does not involve too much heat:

• kitchen sink  salad (ours this week included greens, onions, watermelon, tomatoes, almonds, avocado,bell peppers and mushrooms)
• seared scallops, cucumber and avocado salad and squash fritters
• tomato, basil, balsamic vinegar and turkey sandwiches
• grilled chicken legs, watermelon, mac and cheese and of course,kitchen sink salad

This is pretty much what we are eating this week. I made a pork tenderloin on sunday for dinner and the carnivores at that with their salad and mac and cheese for lunch.

I ate salad and key lime pie.

Lovely!

Here's the recipe for an excellent key lime pie. It is my new recipe for one of my favorite desserts, which I get my mouth all set for about the second it gets hot in our neck of the woods.

Green eyed, bug eyed and waiting for some pie

An Excellent Key Lime Pie

1 graham cracker crust (recipe to follow)

3 eggs (seperated)

1 can sweetened condensed milk (I use the fat free)

1/2 cup key lime juice (they sell it at the grocery store)

3 tbl. Tequila

zest of about half a lime (I hate measuring zest)

Oven to 350. Beat yolks and add milk, lime juice and tequila (do not over mix). Beat whites until very fluffy. Fold into yolk mixture. Fold in zest. Pour into crust and bake about 15 minutes, or until set. Cool completely (about 3 hours). Serve with or without whipped cream (I prefer without). Yum.

Graham cracker crust 

1/3 cup of butter

1/4 cup of sugar

18 graham crackers, crushed 

Melt butter, stir in sugar. Pour over crushed graham crackers. Toss to mix well. Press into pie pan, chill about 20 minutes (I use the freezer) and you are ready to rock. Makes two 9 in. pie crusts. Yum.

I must say, the crust is a recipe from my crusty and funky Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. The filling recipe is a mix of several recipes that I have made over the years. A lot of people do not bake their key lime pie, but, I am a fan of not getting sick. So...

Hope you love it like I do. Well, maybe not quite that much....

Summer Bum continued

Vacay is kicking! 

Thus (since Friday) I have read three books, run four times, ridden bikes, been on a date ( which my children crashed), learned to SUP, gotten sunburned, watched the sunset, ate outside,have been to a play AND to a concert,  haven't watched one second of television and not have driven my car farther than 2 miles. I love it!

As a devoted slacker and wannabe professional vacationer, I love a trip that allows me to lay around and read. My kids are pretty much old enough that I can keep one eye on the page and one eye on them. On this trip, I have read on the beach, in the pool, in the sun porch, in bed
and standing in the local bookstore. I am in heaven!

I am reading "summer" books for the most part and
so I am going to give a brief review of one I read that I really liked.
If you are like me and like a "lighter" book to read while sitting by the pool or beach,
this is one for you.

I have to preface with two things...
one- the book I read was an advance uncorrected copy, so somethings might be a little different
two-you can borrow it if you live in my area

A Vintage Affair
Isabel Wolff

The book has several of the important criteria that I have for books that I love. The story takes place in London, a place I absolutely love.The main character, Phoebe Swift, has worked at Sothebys as an expert in vintage clothing and has decided to go out on her own and open a high end vintage shop. She carries a large burden of guilt over the loss of her dear friend, Emma. Of course, in the vein of all the books about twenty/thirty something British women, there is a goofy, handsome man and a much wanted but unhealthy handsome man. In this subject, the book reads like Shopaholic, Bridget Jones and even the American version, The Nanny Diaries. However, this one has a hook and this is where it got my attention and caused me a very serious sunburn. Phoebe occasionally goes to pick up clothing from women who want to sell their treasures and in this instance, meets Mrs. Bell, who carries her own burden of guilt about a friend of her won. The book has enough history, both of the fashion world and of the world that it was an excellent, mindless read.

If  you are looking for something a little more substantial that your typical chicklit, this is a great book.

It's summer...enjoy!
PS...I have actually read five books (two since I started this post) while I have been on vacation here at the beach. Go figure I am staying in the home of the owners of a bookstore! Heaven!

Dirt: Summer bum

I have a confession to make. I love summer.

I know, EVERYONE loves summer. 

But, I  adore it like it is my favorite friend who brings me treats whenever she comes over and lets me wear her designer shoes. I love it for a whole other reason.

I like to be lazy. 

Don't mess with me while I am being lazy

Laziness is one of the seven deadly sins. 

Sloth is the other word for it. And, I my friends, am lazy. 

I am lazy in that I don't like to do the little detaily 

things that drive you nuts,

but make your life really nice.

When my kids were littler, I didn't really enforce the bathing issue if they had been in a pool.

 I mean chlorine is a form of soap, right? Never mind that they had crunchy hair and my baby has had a serious dreadlock every summer since she finally grew hair at age two.

My hygiene is lacking as well, but mostly it is the hair dryer that gets a big break in the summer. I don't usually stink or have crunchy hair.

Also, with kids and dogs running in and out all day long, my floors don't get mopped very often in the summer, because, really what is the point? 

Unless they are sticky or someone I don't know is coming over, 

they only get a pass over about once a month.

Eating is excellent in the summer and I do eat. A lot, usually straight out of my garden.

But do I cook? 

Not so much.

Again, laziness is easy because there are salads and grilled items. 

Fewer dishes to do and meals to plan.

Lazy Girl... I should write a book.

But this summer is different. I am looking for a job. I am working on my house.

I am getting up before 9:30. (YIKES)

I am trying to be a better wife and mother by actually making a plan of what we will eat and maybe enforcing a bath or two. 

What are you doing this summer? 

Here is my list in lieu of my monthly list...

• Mopping the floors once a week
• Eating less hamburgers and more fish
• Teaching my daughters the next steps of housekeeping (last year laundry, this year toilets!)
• Making sure that my youngest does not grow dreadlocks that require a haircut like last year due to inadequate bathing
• Cooking something other than boiled eggs, frozen pizza and salad 
• Making sure that my family has an excellent summer by not over scheduling them
• Going to the drive in at least twice
• Going to the beach
• Going on an adult only beach trip
• Finding the perfect job that requires me to wear fabulous sundresses and excellent hats (I think cruise director is the job for me!)