How To: Lemonade

Is there anything as refreshing as lemonade on a hot summer day? 

Bruschetta

We attempted a very small garden this year. Just a cherry tomato, a few pepper plants and some herbs. However, looking at my small plot of earth you don't even notice the little pepper plants and ground-hugging herbs. The tomato has completely taken over. It's almost comical. These minuscule tomatoes growing on this gargantuan plant. It has scrambled over the edges of the cage, reaching long with its branches. It has spilled over onto the sidewalk and is creeping up my back steps. The other plants are hidden in a kind of tomato bower, probably feeling smothered and wondering if the sun will ever shine again. 

Chicken and Basil Cream

Every home has a gathering place. For some it's the den or family room, all gathered around, watching sports or playing games. For some it's a spot on the porch or patio, sipping lemonade while kids splash in the pool or roasting marshmallows around an open fire. For our family, in the home I grew up in, it's the kitchen. 

Chocolate Sauce

It was one of those still summer evenings when the air hangs thickly, too heavy for movement, sticking closer than you'd like. It had been a hot day, and though the sun had set, the earth wasn't ready to give in to the coolness just yet. In the dusk, fireflies began to twinkle from their hidden hollows, gathering courage to take flight as the backdrop of night came on. A glistening frog leapt into the pond, sending ripples of consequence across the glassy surface, while peepers and cicadas gave voice in the evening air.

Skillet Pizza

When I was newly married, my mom bought me a cookbook that specialized in recipes for two people. I was getting tired of recipes that made so much that we'd have leftovers for a week (and so was my husband) and I eagerly began scanning the cookbook for recipes. 

One of my early successes was this pizza and it's since become a family favorite. Browning the pizza in a skillet before popping it in the oven gives it a super crispy crust that we love. And it's super fast, just 3 minutes on the stovetop and 7 in the oven.

We love it so much, I'm pretty sure we will have to invest in another skillet as our family expands!

How-To: Pizza Sauce

I love this no-cook pizza sauce. It's easy, garlicky and tastes so good on pizza or used as a dipping sauce for stromboli.

The recipe calls for canned diced tomatoes, but I'm sure you could use fresh too.

Jello Cake

Usually I try to stick with recipes that use real ingredients. I am not opposed to using butter and sugar and cream, but I try to avoid processed, convenience food.

Except for sometimes. Like when it's really hot in the summer and all I can think of is taking a bite of cool, refreshing jello cake. Jello cake is not real. Cake mix. Jello packets. And cool-whip. Fake, fake, fake. But yummy, and surely okay two or three times a summer.

How-To: Pizza Dough

Is it just me or is delivery pizza costing a lot these days? I think our last pizza pie cost something like $17. The convenience is so nice some nights, but I always feel guilty knowing that I can make my own for less than $4. 

And it tastes so yummy. Every time I make my own, I swear I won't buy delivery again.

Chocolate "Declare"

Summertime is the season of vacation. And vacation with family is always the best. Hellos and warm hugs that have waited all year to be given, piles of cousins getting to know one another again, warm sun and cool water, laughter in the kitchen and around the table. 

Baked Ziti

Ziti is one of my favorite company meals. It can be made ahead, it's satisfying and almost everyone likes it, especially children. And this recipe is so good. It's not a dump-everything-in-and-bake kinda dish, but the few extra steps reward you with tender noodles, punctuated by cheesy goodness and a bright, tomato sauce.