Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Summer Cooking


Due to Collin's long naps and Lydia's rest time, I have been able to spend nice quiet afternoons in the kitchen preparing dinner. Sometime I just enjoy the quiet house. But this week I've been catching up on 16 and Pregnant. That show should be required for high schoolers. Scary.

You can get one of these cool signs at Dream Custom Artwork


Was pleasantly surprised to find figs in my Bountiful Basket last week. Went out and bought some prosciutto and goat cheese to make...


(I added walnuts, but candied pecans would have been even better.)

It was perfect paired with grilled salmon and asparagus. 


I found this wrap and roll fresh mozzarella on sale at Fred Meyer and thought I would give it a try since I finally got around to planting some basil. So easy! Sprinkle with salt and pepper, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette and you have the perfect summer appetizer. Shane broiled a couple on french bread. Divine!


Made a "Summer's Bounty" cobbler. Basically I toss whatever good summer fruit I have together with lemon juice and sugar, then top with bisquick dumplings. This recipe is good, just add cinnamon.


During a road trip moment of desperation we stopped at Mcdonalds to eat dinner. The kids occasionally get a kids meal there but I hate Mcdonalds. In the last 10 years I've tried to eat a hamburger there three times and each time I spit the first (and only) bite into a napkin. I admit, the fries are pretty good. Anyway, the only thing that looked remotely appetizing was the Asian Chicken salad and it was delicious! I decided to make it a few days ago and the entire family liked it. Yay! Salad for dinner that the two year old eats! I changed it a bit to fit what I had.

Green leaf lettuce, spinach, edamame (we call them them miracle beans), carrots (didn't have snow peas, but I liked carrots more for color anyway), chow mein noodles, rotisserie chicken, mandarin oranges (which I don't really like, so mine had crasins), toasted almonds....and the most important ingredient....  Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing. This is a seriously good salad, great for company. Go easy on the dressing. It's potent. 


Just another reason to always have a package of puff pastry in the freezer. Fastest fruit tart ever. Even though the recipe is from the Pioneer Women, I have to admit, I don't read her blog. (It just fills up my reader so fast!) But I did read her book and it made me laugh. Great summer read.


I got a dozen limes in my Bountiful Basket so I made sugar cookies infused with lime juice and zest. Frosted them with buttercream frosting, using fresh lime juice and zest instead of milk. Just like the cookies we got in Key West years ago. Make me excited for another real vacation!


Oh, let's not forget Shane's contribution. I was running errands on Saturday and I got these little pics on my phone. Daddy was making our family in pancakes. My kids are cute, even when they're breakfast foods. :)

4 comments:

Crissybug said...

Makes me want to move to Idaho so I can come over for dinner! Yum! I will definitley be checking out some of these recipes.Thanx for sharing.

Cari said...

Yum! I've got to try the lime cookies!

Jenn said...

Yummmm!!! I so miss my foodie friend! :) I am going to have try some of those recipes they look divine--the figs--wow!

Melanie Anne said...

Hi Natalie!!
How are you?? We had a girls night out finally last week--and you were missed! Your food looks amazing! My cooking this summer has been subpar--I wish I was eating at your house! Yum:)
Hope you are doing well
xoxo

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