A simple Saturday lunch

Saturdays are usually busy times in any household. It' s either house cleaning, grocery shopping or catching up on chores. There's no time for an elaborate mid day meal. There's nothing wrong with a simple lunch between the endless rounds of laundry and dusting. Sometimes just a good old fashioned sandwich and a glass of juice will tide you over until dinner,

What makes a simple lunch?For me it's a crunchy peanut butter slathered on two slice s of Arnold's sandwich bread.This and a glass of juice can carry me to dinner thanks to the protein s and sugar respectively in each one. Sometimes it's a simple turkey or roast beef sandwich, again with no mayo, just covered with a light sprinkle of salt and pepper .Now that it's summer another simple lunch time treat is a tomato and mayo sandwich. Nothing beats fresh picked fresh sliced tomatoes on may drenched white bread. of course there are salads. Sometimes just a simple mixed green with tuna and grape tomatoes is all you need on hot summer days. Also a salad make from all veggies is a good , simple lunch and one that can be enjoyed with garlic or onion flatbreads.

of course you can make a simple hot lunch for yourself as well. Boil some pasta and just melt a huge hunk of butter over it if you want add some fresh cut garlic too for taste or a few drops of olive oil to balance out the butter. Polenta is another good simple lunch . Make enough for one or two bowls and serve with butter and Parmesan cheese.A hot open faced sandwich is always good and it;s easy to make. Just used gravy in a jar, deli meats and bread and there you have it. Something hot and satisfying to get you through a round of work

Saturdays usually mean a day of catching up ion chores and finally getting to those DIY projects. Don't bog yourself down with the addition of making elaborate lunches. Stick to simple stuff that will sustain you through all that work!

Farm Fresh Goodness

It' time t visit the farms as late June melts into early July Summer is the season for all things fresh and handpicked. What better than harvesting them yourself at the local farms in your area. It's also a fun way of getting the kids away from their Play Stations . You can start with strawberry season which is right now and work your way though the second raspberry season in mid September.

One of the first things you can do is Google what farms are in your area.I've mentioned this in one of last summer's posts. Mostly every state has some kind of farm with some kind of festival too.How you pick depends on the farms. Most give you pails or baskets and you pay by them. Some have an entry fee which is minimal. Others such as our great Delicious Orchards here in New Jersey come with a store where you can by other food stuffs such as fresh baked goods, cheeses and even meats. Their produce is usually from the gardens and orchards around it.

If you do decide to go any kind of fruit o veggie picking make sure you're prepared. Wear a protective straw hat to keep out the sun's strong rays. Also bring along plenty of sunblock an lip balm as well. Wear a comfy old shorts and a tee and make sure you have comfortable sneakers . I wouldn't recommend flip flops because your heels and ankles may get cut up by thorns or rocks. Bring plenty of water too. Picking is thirsty work and you want to keep hydrated.Also bring a rain poncho if the weather is looking cloudy or there are storms predicted.

This is the time to get out to your farms and enjoy their bounty. You can literally enjoy the cream of the crop. It makes for both healthy and delicious eating!!

Cooking Co Ops

Yesterday's New York Times' Dining section had an interesting piece about kitchen co ops. This is where two or more families cook for each other and share meals. it;s kind of a spin on the Sunday church suppers where casseroles and baked macs are brought. Kitchen co ops not only widen your choices, they;re also money saving.

The article , written by Laurie Woolever, tell about how three families not only swap recipe but gaining good friends. One makes enchiladas while the others make Greek watermelon barley salad , lentil soup and Vietnamese pork salad. This would be a great idea if I were closer with friends and neighbors. I 'd like a once a week get together with people pitching in.However the down side is that everyone has different tastes and favorites and they may not agree with what i like or even like to make.

Another plus of having a kitchen co op is that it is surprisingly cheaper. You may have t make more food but it's not like you have to make everything. Other people bring dishes and desserts. Then the next week you may have to only bring sides which are far less expensive to make. It also cuts down on shopping time too, having only to buy so much.

Kitchen co ops are big right now and they're gaining in popularity if it's something you'd like to try contact friends and family. It'll be fun coming up with new recipes and serving your best ones.

Is Our Seafood Safe?

I've just come back from a glorious day at the New Jersey shore. It was full of sun and surf however gazing at the Atlantic got me wondering. Thanks to the BP oil spill is our seafood here safe? Will there be various side effects for months to come?.

Of course it will hit us economically There have been shrimpers who have been out of work since this began .This is affecting them and since we can't get our shrimp from them we'll have to go somewhere else.The problem is shipping it and trucking it into various cities. Chains like Red Lobster will probably have to hike up the price of some of their dishes. Unfortunately doing this also means that fans of the chain will have to curtail their eating there. For other restaurants it means cutting back on many seafood dishes and sticking with beef and chicken.

Of course it also means that the eco system is now totally shot. Any marine life will have ingested the oil and will be infused with it. This makes anything from the pompano to the shrimp unsafe to eat.with a host of side effects. I would be leery even years from now of eating any Gulf product. To be quite frank if this spill get sup the Atlantic Coast then forget eating lobsters, clams and crabs. It's time to stick to freshwater fish like trout or just forgo seafood complete.y

the ocean has always been a source of food and comfort for all. it;s given people food and jobs for millenniums. it's a shame that BP has ruined that and the industry's future. Will we ever have our water back the way they were? Not likely. Not soon.

It's Party Time!!!

It's summer and that means party times. It's weekends full of various get togethers, whether pool parties, or beach barbecues, patio brunches with friends or picnics in th e park.The big question is what to serve where. What may go well at a brunch may not be a big hit at a picnic. What could go well at the pool may be a total wash out at the beach.

As with any party think about what you' re serving and where. if you;re planning on an elegant brunch with friends then have simple dishes that can move quickly and seamlessly. from the kitchen to the patio. Mini frittatas are wonderful and they 're easy to whip up. You can make them with fresh produce from your garden or the local farm. Also have on hand chilled iced tea (preferably homemade) wine spritzers and fresh cut fruit. If you want any baked goods, stick with simple short breads rounds. These aren't messy and are a perfect end along with cups of flavored coffee or tea. Barbecues are heartier fare. Go with stick to your ribs foods such as grilled steaks, burgers, corn on the cob and a variety of different salads. You may want to start off with some fresh made salsa and or guacamole and end with an ice box cake or scoops of Italian ice.

Pool parties should be simple but fun. After all the main focus is on the pool and fun not eating Keep the fare to dogs, burgers and kabobs. If you want to make heroes or stuffed pitas then go ahead. Also a plate of crudites with dips won't go amiss here either. For beach barbecues, you ca go with the same fare as your back yard barbecues. After all the sea air makes every one's appetite increase so you can serve hearty steaks or double burgers. You can also have a lobster or clam bake too. Bring along some corn , plain Idaho potatoes and butter. Dessert may include hearty store bought oatmeal cookies and coffee brewed over the fire.

This is the season for all different kinds of parties Be prepared for whatever kind you throw with the right food. You'll be the hit of the summer party circuit!

Summer Foodie Check List

Summer 2010 is officially here. It's a time when you should be cooking and eating lighter fare. Summer is also a time to clean out the fridge and just pare everything down to basics. I always find that it's best to keep the things you 'll need like eggs and milk along with some other foodstuffs.

What to have in your fridge/ pantry:
Bottled water/ soda. / juice - you'll need cooling thirst quenchers for these hot days.Also good to have cold bottles ready for trips
Eggs - you can always make an easy frittata or even scrambled ones for an easy hot meal
Milk - for iced coffees or you can make an iced milk dessert
Bread - us e this for sandwiches again-or simple toast for breakfast
Cold cuts. These are versatile. make for a quick lunch sandwich or julienned for a chef salad.
Mixed salad greens, This is a no brainer. The base for any salads
Tomatoes, broccoli, peppers - not only good in a salad and omelet but also makes for good snacks.
Mayo - for sandwiches , and a base for salad dressings
Barbecue sauce You can use this straight onto grilled meat s or as a marinade.
Any fresh fruit. Use s a snack, part of a salad or crushed and infused with a vinegar.

These are what a summer kitchen should hold. Live off the basics until the cooler weather sets in . It makes for easy and simple meals and an uncomplicated diet.

Happy Dad's Day

Tomorrow is Father's Day here in the US and I'd just like to wish all the fathers out there a good day. Enjoy it either with an old fashioned breakfast that the kids have made, a barbecue of your creation or just a day at the beach with a favorite sandwich and drink (or in the backyard with a burger, a beer and the Sunday papers).


For all those foodie dad s out there, here's hoping you receive more than an apron that says "Number One Dad". I hope you get a Weber grill or an outdoor pizza oven. If you're into cooking then , then, her;es to getting those silicone oven mitts or that new food processor. let's also you get the newest trend masculine cupcakes. These are not the typical girly girly vanilla or chocolate ones with a puff of pastel buttercream on top. These are made with bacon, beer or Kahlua and are topped with colored chocolate discs in plaids , houndstooth or wood grain; perfect to go with a cup of breakfast joe.


Have a good day out there to all you dads across the US. Enjoy this special day with special food and family.