Lazy Summer Daze

Ahhhh… there’s nothing like the smell of freshly picked herbs in summertime.  To this day, I am still transported to my grandmother’s kitchen every time I smell a bunch of fresh basil.  You don’t need to be Martha Stewart to transform your meals from good to great- all you need are fresh herbs.  They look, smell and taste great, and are super easy to grow.  Whether you grow them yourself or buy them in the grocery store, rinse and store them in a paper towel upright in a container on your kitchen counter.  The mere aroma of fresh herbs will inspire you to chop them up and sprinkle on a pan of roasted potatoes with parsley, sage, rosemary or thyme, or flavor freshly brewed iced tea with mint like my grandmother did. While some people seem to be dazed and confused this summer because they have too much time on their hands, I am amazed at all the opportunities to enjoy my summer abundance.  Here are a few suggestions:

To Die for Lamb Chops

Marinate lamb chops in olive oil, chopped garlic, chopped rosemary and season with salt and pepper.  Cook over hot grill.

Kicked Up Salsa

Add the following to any jar of prepared salsa: chopped cilantro, chopped garlic, chopped green pepper, juice of 1 lime.

Killer Italian Pesto

In food processor add: 1 c packed basil leaves, 1 c pine nuts, 3 cloves chopped garlic, 1/2 c Parmesan cheese.  Turn on and drizzle 1/2 c olive oil while processing. 

Tarragon Chicken Salad

Boil chicken breasts with quartered onion and celery scraps.  When cool enough to handle, shred into a bowl and add chopped tarragon, diced onion and celery, and mayonnaise.  Season with salt and pepper.  Serve on split croissants.