Gratinée Tomatoes, and a change is in the air. . . . .

 . . . . . . . . . . and I actually started walking early morning again over the holiday weekend. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful it feels out there in 58-63F temps. after such a long hot, humid spell. I can breathe. I can wear long sleeves in comfort. I can listen to the 'morning sounds' of birds and barking dogs. I see rabbits hopping, and if I get out there before 7 AM, there is no traffic. There are silvery dewdrops on the spider webs. The leaves are fading and there are a few yellow ones drifting down onto lawns and garden beds.

The last of my summer flag collection - soon time for autumn leaves and pumpkins!

Above: Prepping Penne with Gratinée Tomatoes

Did you cook over the Labor Day holiday?  

We fired up the grill - real burgers for Bob, a veggie burger for me. I grilled red peppers for another meal this week. Also made two Lebanese dishes, mjeddrah (lentils, rice, and caramelized onions) and felafel (spicy chick pea patties) for pita bread sandwiches. . . . . . .and some prepped dishes for the week ahead.

With abundant Roma tomatoes filling a bowl on the kitchen island I made this easy peasy, tasty pasta dish. 

This quick pasta with a green side salad was enjoyed in the gazebo.

I often think that eating well has everything to do with having the correct food on hand in the fridge. It's so much easier to be innovative and pull a healthy and tasty meal together when things are waiting, chilled and still fresh, when one cannot do daily shopping as most of us don't these days.

You have to agree if you're the one searching recipes, choosing dishes, prepping and then cooking and serving, it's exciting and easier to have quick cooked veggies at the ready, steeping in olive oil with a few aromatics. . . . . some crushed or chopped garlic, shallots, grated lemon zest, and hardy herbs like thyme, rosemary, bay etc.  Just remember that sharpening veggies with lemon juice and vinegar, or anything acidic, should be left until just prior to serving.  

I'm making another dish of gratinée tomatoes today, a mix of Roma, cherry, and cocktail, they all work.  . . . . . and can be used in so many dishes.

Bon appetit.

September arrives and an early market visit. . . . . . . .

"Best I love September's yellow,

Morns of dew-strung gossamer,

Thoughtful days without a stir,

Rooky clamours, brazen leaves,

Stubble dotted o'er with sheaves -

More than Spring's bright uncontrol

Suit the Autumn of my soul."

                                ~ Alex. Smith ~

Thoughts of Autumnal days have filled my head this week.

The garden looks sad and will soon need attention - especially tree and

 shrub pruning. It's still too hot to work outside, highs in the 90's plus

 steamy humidity of 95% make the heat index around 102F.

Bob did mow yesterday and came in drenched and 2 lbs. lighter!

How come that happens to guys - we work hard too but losing weight

is always so difficult.

 The garden at least looks a bit neater for the holiday weekend.

 I've spent time in the cool of the kitchen with the rolling pin and fresh fruits.

Made this galette using fresh peaches from the farmers' market 

and blueberries from the store.

I made the pie crust last weekend for the deep dish spinach quiche (below)

and had enough remaining for this dessert.

Gina shared her dough recipe when we made a similar quiche during

 my recent visit to the farm in Utah. It was so good I couldn't wait to try my

 own. Really good, but I missed dining al fresco with such lovely friends,
 the sun setting over the pond, geese honking their 'goodnights', and mountains
 in the background!

Cooking outdoors over this holiday weekend may not be enjoyable in such heat. 

Salads sound perfect - juicy slicing tomatoes  - cheese with good bread or

 crackers - a chilled bowl of ice cream - a fresh peach dripping down the chin.

Life is what we make it - eating doesn't have to be complicated - especially 

in hot weather.

We just popped across to the neighborhood farmers' market for tomatoes and 
corn. Already steamy hot, quite busy with people and some lovely dogs - all
behaving well on a sunny Saturday morning.

Welcome to September.

Enjoy your Labor Day Holiday wherever you are, whatever you do.

Sunflower Saturday. . . . . . . .

In the quiet, early hours of Saturday morning. . . . . 

. . . . . a lone sunflower remains in the front garden, its face 

turned toward the east as the sun rises and another beautiful 

late Summer day begins.

Happy weekend.