Recipe Roundup: The Living Is Easy

Summer is finally, officially here - and while the days will be hot and full of activity, you'll still need to eat eventually, right? Thankfully, produce will be at its best over the coming months. You will want to enjoy most of it as fresh as possible, but here are some alternatives in case your crops runneth over :-)

Heirloom Tomato Cobbler: Yes, that's correct. After all, tomatoes are still a fruit! This is a great savory side dish, and an excellent use for tomatoes that may be a tad past their prime.

Lemon-Rosemary Zucchini Bread: Instead of heavy spices, this zucchini bread uses flavors you might associate with lots of sun, gentle breezes, and breathtaking views of the ocean.

Summer Fruit Cobbler: the sweet version of cobbler you grew up with, and the simplest version of cobbler I know.

Homemade Ice Cream: sinfully easy, and no special equipment needed!

Ginger Beer Highball: Crisp and refreshing, perfect at the end of a long Summer day.

>o<

The Spirit of Things: Ginger Beer Highball

When I was growing up, my mother would make dozens of bourbon balls for the Holidays, starting well enough in advance so that they would have time to develop and mature before giving them away to friends and family. In the spirit of transparency, I confess she actually made these treats with rye whisky (and not bourbon), but after sampling a few, no one could be bothered to quibble over such pesky details :-)

To help pass the tedious time rolling ball after ball, my mother would mix herself a classic Highball of whisky and ginger ale on the rocks. It's an extremely pleasing combination, and one that reminds me of Winter - but when I came into a bottle of whisky recently, I saw no reason to wait that long! I added some peppery kick in the form of ginger beer, and the addition of mint for that Churchill Downs feeling:

Ginger Beer Highball

Ingredients:
4-5 fresh mint leaves
2 oz. whisky (or bourbon)
2-3 ice cubes
6 oz. ginger beer (naturally sweetened if you can find it)

Roughly tear mint leaves and place in the bottom of your glass. Add whisky and let steep for a few minutes (if you want to muddle the mint leaves in the whisky, that would be fabulous). Add ice, top with ginger beer, and serve. Easy - and refreshing!

Notes: The ginger beer may seem too sharp and fiery for warm weather, but it really is the perfect thing on a hot day. Make sure it's completely chilled before using. If you can't find or don't like ginger beer, of course use a good ginger ale in its place.

>o<

Pro Bono

As I've mentioned before, there are always a number of things that volunteer themselves in my yard, as I'm sure they do in yours. They can threaten to overwhelm other plants at times, but mostly they are beautiful and useful in their own way. But last year, I noticed several other volunteers - plants that would usually need to be started from seed or bought as seedlings and planted on purpose, that instead had wonderfully decided to grow without my knowledge or consent. The trick was recognizing them for what they were, and letting them continue to grow and mature as needed. They have returned this year even stronger and more prolific, and all I had to do was leave them alone!

The most spectacular has been this columbine that decided to grow next to the mailbox. It was just a scraggly plant with a handful of buds and a few flowers last year, but now it's a dizzying array of blooms supported by a sturdy foundation of stems and leaves:

These classic little johnny jump ups have spread themselves out in front of the house, adding fantastic punches of color long before the other perennials in that area have had a chance to flower:

Although it hasn't started to blossom yet, this wonderful bellflower has produced several times more stems and buds this year, and I'm excited (and impatient) to see what it has to offer:

It's been a delight to watch these friendly interlopers, and I'm grateful they've chosen to grow and flourish in my yard. And if more decide to come and stay, that would be perfectly fine with me :-)

>o<

Every few months, I help a friend by volunteering as part of her "kitchen crew" to prepare a meal for families who have unexpectedly found themselves between homes. It's just a few hours of my time, doing something I already love, that hopefully provides a bit of relief and respite for those that need it. I always look forward to the next time I'm invited to participate, and disappointed whenever I can't make it! What are some of your favorite ways to volunteer your time and energy in your community?