Well, okay–given the heatwave we are still in the midst of, it isn’t exactly easy or pleasant these days, but I do like that old tune.  Since early June, I’ve been longing for childhood summer days, (and envying those that still get them!)– three months off, playing outside nearly every day, riding our bikes to the pool, not caring how hot and humid it got, staying out late to catch lightning bugs in a jar.  Yeah, summer was way more fun as a kid.  Yeah, I said it.  Way more fun.  Needless to say, most of my time these days is spent indoors trying to “keep my cool”.

I’ve been doing some Summer cooking inside, making use of some of the new kitchen gadgets we received as wedding gifts.  I’ve made lemon zest before, but never with a real zester.  And my new Kitchenaid funnels?  Kept the lemon seeds out of my smoothie! 

Actually, this green goo is not a smoothie, it’s Avocado Ice Cream.  No ice cream maker needed–and it’s fabulous.  My sometimes picky sweetie even liked it.  It could be consumed as smoothies as it was pretty tasty even before being frozen.  

I made a rhubarb pizza one day, and because my sweetie won’t eat rhubarb, I consumed the entire thing myself over the course of a few days.  I did run the oven for that one, but not for a very long time.  Easy, quick and delish!

And I made my favorite summer entree, Strawberry Cucumber Quinoa Salad.  Yum.   If only I had the ambition to cook this way all the time, we’d be eating a lot healthier. 

RECIPES:

Mary Jane’s Avocado Ice Cream (From Mary Jane’s Farm Magazine)
Prep Time: 15 minutes / Makes 3 cups

1 large avocado, peeled and diced
1 C half-and-half
2/3 C powdered sugar
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/3 C fresh lemon juice

1. Combine avocado, half-and-half, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a blender. Puree until completely smooth.
2. Poor mixture into a 2-quart dish.
3. Cover and freeze until firm, about 4 hours. (Can be kept in an air-tight container in freezer for up to one month.)
4. Before serving, let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. (I recommend topping with fresh raspberries!)

Rhubarb Pizza

Pizza Crust:
1 C flour, fluff to aerate before measuring
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp butter, cut into small cubes
1 egg whisked with 2 Tbsp Milk

Topping:
3 C rhubarb, chopped
3 oz. raspberry or strawberry flavored gelatin powder (I used Jello Sugar-Free)
1 C sugar
1/2 C flour, fluff to aerate before measuring
1/3 C melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter pizza pan.  In medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt.  Cut in butter until the dough becomes small crumbles and butter is well-distributed.  Stir in the egg/milk mixture to form a dough.  Press dough into pizza pan, using your hands, slowly working the dough to the edges of the pan (wet fingers as you go if the dough seems to sticky to spread).

For topping, top unbaked crust with rhubarb.  Sprinkle gelatin powder evenly over the rhubarb.  Mix the sugar, flour and butter, sprinkle over the top.

Bake 40 minutes until slightly brown on top, cool for at least one hour before serving.

Strawberry-Quinoa Salad
serves 4

1 C quinoa, rinsed
3 C strawberries, hulled & halved
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1/2 C sesame-ginger dressing (I use a ready made vinaigrette)
1 (5 oz.) container of baby arugula salad blend

Cook quinoa according to package directions.  Transfer to a large bowl and let cool completely, about 20 minutes.  Stir in strawberries, cucumber and 1/4 C of the dressing.

In second bowl, combine the salad greens and the rest of the dressing; toss to coat.

Divide salad blend among four plates, top each with equal amounts of the quinoa fruit mixture. 

Because I am usually cooking for two, I onnly prepare enough of the salad greens for two servings, refridgerate the leftover quinoa fruit mixture for up to three days, and preapre greens later as needed.

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Just as the July heatwave was getting into full swing, I made and decorated yet another cake…

This one to honor my sister and the little gal she is about to bring into the world.  The cake itself was cherry chip/white chocolate and that icing is pure, from-scratch, Doris-made, all calories included old-fashioned buttercream.  YUM.  My own design, trying to emulate the design of the paper products her mother-in-law chose for the party.

For my Summer Quilt, see my last post.

And for all the other Summer Quilt Show and Recipes go here.