Summer cold?

Does anyone else get this? I distinctly remember 2 years ago, this horrible summer illness overcoming me right before my birthday (I’m drinking enough OJ for 7 people to make sure this doesn’t happen). I will keep taking Claritin D until someone convinces me that just because it’s not working, it might not be an allergy problem…It’s sure making it difficult to exercise. Or stay conscious…

Until then, with pristinely clean hands, I made broccoli slaw for a department lunch

(because it's the best)

and also a long forgotten recipe that Jon and I both loved (and doesn’t involve standing over the stove), a crunchy chicken salad (but I’m a terrible food blogger again and will have to take a picture next time).

Tonight was a very simple caprese salad, thanks again to boundless fresh basil and some rudimentary knife skills I turned this

Yum

into this

+cheese=yummier

Almost enough to make me forget the congestion that’s threatening to explode my head.

Also, those of you who know me know my love for Harry Potter so you’ll have to believe me when I say I physically couldn’t it read it after finishing Jonathan Franzen’s new book, Freedom. I just can’t stop thinking about it. The man is a literary genius. Read immediately.

Back in Bean Town

I can’t think of a better way to ease a transition away from home better than a huge bag of fresh basil from a friend’s garden. Allow me to explain. This is what our Brookfield backyard looks like..

Zucchini flowers

Lettuce

Tomatoes

So being able to whip up an extremely fresh tasting dinner with this…

was a really nice treat. There is really no comparison between a jar of pesto and a basic, freshly made tablespoon on your fettucini. Fortunately, only a few days into official summer, I hope to have months of fresh basil and grape tomatoes ahead of me.

Don’t worry. The friend has a treat coming his way tomorrow. This will not go unrewarded.

Home

Wisconsin is so great in June. Temperatures in the 80s during the day, dropping into the 50s at night, rainstorms and sunshine, just gorgeous. And it’s really fun to cook for so many people in a FULL SIZED KITCHEN. On any given night we range from 4-7 people and they’re all super hungry. The fam loved the udon noodle salad and tonight’s taco salad shouldn’t disappoint. It’s all in the ingredients and tomatoes, lettuce, cilantro, everything looks beautiful right now. Also a batch of granola and a tub of Stonyfield Banilla makes a happy 10 days at home for Dana. And Jacquie.

Before I ventured home however…there was this.

Arugula pureed with toasted pine nuts, olive oil, and freshly grated Pecorino Romano makes….arugula pesto! Great on fettucini with a fresh tomato sauce.

And this…

This is what half of a $19 sandwich looks like. Pastrami, corned beef, coleslaw, Russian dressing. Oh, my, gosh. So wonderfully delicious, and only affordable by Groupon to Rubin’s Deli in Brookline.