Basil Walnut Pesto

  

It wouldn't be summer without a batch of pesto! Fresh and green and so yummy. I made this particular batch with walnuts instead of pine nuts to try something new. The results were great! I did, however, add too much garlic, so I will be sure to cut it down to one clove instead of two next time. I adapted Martha Stewart's Every Day Food recipe found [here]and added lemon juice as well.

The Farmer's Market.

It is again that time of year when farm's produce begins to overflow. I was inspired by [this] post over at Design*Sponge. Guest blogger, Ashley English, wrote a beautiful article about farmer's markets. She writes her own blog, titled Small Measure, in which she muses about homemade living and getting back to a domestic lifestyle. [click her banner to visit her blog] So, feeling in the need to see some beautiful produce, I headed over to flickr and did a search.Monitorpop [here]

Amanda Koster [here]

Micronirav [here]

Summer Food.

Nothing says summer to me like a huge jar of homemade pickles. I have fond memories of my Grammy, picking her cucumbers from her own garden and placing them in a jar for future tart pickles. I saw this image on Marthastewart.com and just has to share.

This would be a lovely gift or special treat to make for my own cravings! Find the recipe [here]

I have also been making Mr. Jim's Louisiana Barbecued shrimp a lot this summer [abandoning my vegetarian lifestyle briefly] which is also from Marthastewart.com It is so dangerously simple and so delicious that I want to eat it almost every night! I serve it over cooked rice and with grilled corn on the cob. Find the recipe [here]

Mark, from the quickly growing famous Whimsy & Spice [which is a sweet shop based out of Brooklyn] recently posted on he and his wife's blog a super tempting photo and recipe of crab cakes. Find it [here]

Lastly, I finish it all off with tea, lots of tea. I keep reading about the health benefits of tea that it really feels good to drink it. Cold in the summer with a splash of juice or lemon and hot in the winter with soothing honey. I read this great article this morning titled: "You are What You Drink" I like knowing that I don't "drink my calories" by inhaling soda and nasty chemically enhanced drinks.

Le Sigh..

If summer sweetness can be captured in a blouse, this is the one. It reminds me of warm breezes, strawberry shortcake, ice tea and bare feet.

Find her [here]