What did you eat?

"Good Monday morning after another weekend

 for the history books!"

 Did you cook something healthy and delicious this weekend?

Perhaps, like me, you were in a very warm location and thoughts

 of turning on an oven in your kitchen just wasn't in the cards.

Yesterday, in the 90's again by early afternoon, and still hanging out

 at home, it was a grilling day for sure.

We fired up the grill early for veggies - eggplant, zucchini, peppers and a few

earns of corn.  I set them aside to cool, then cut off the corn to add to a large

bowl of orzo salad made around noon. We love this easy to make salad.

Leftovers can be used as a base for other tasty additions such as grilled shrimps 

or scallops, cheeses, other veggies, and chicken (which we don't eat).

Around 6 pm, another quick heating of the grill and we plopped on two veggie

  burgers (my favorite - Trader Joe's Vegetable Masala Burger with Indian Spices), 

and melted a thin slice of Manchego cheese on top.

Added fresh snipped basil and parsley from the garden to the salad, splashed

 balsamic vinegar on the grilled veggies and we were ready to go.

Delicious meal!

Basil coming along - pesto days ahead!

This was how I used leftovers another time - added more chopped and

 roasted veggies, toasted pine nuts and Greek Feta cheese.

Some beautiful white blooms out now - lilies and gardenias - both so fragrant.

Hoping your weekend was good and that this week will be even better.

Stay well and be strong!

Saturday morning. . . . . . . . .

The light this morning is bright and lovely with sunshine and

 blue skies. . . . . . . but will it last?

Doubtful with the current weather forecast. Hurricane Florence has become the

 first major storm of the season and, as always, the east coast gets nervous.

The entire week ahead shows rain and thunderstorm activity. . . . . . even this

afternoon we will probably get hit by a storm.

I have veggies to grill so my 'grill master' has just received his marching orders

 to get out there early and fire up the Weber . . . . . . . . . . here's your apron Bob!

Meanwhile, I'm heading to the garden to pick the last tomatoes, the few green

 bell peppers which are small but will add flavor to the grill, and a last clipping 

of basil for pesto. Figs have been left for visiting birds, squirrels and deer, they

were disappointing this year - late coming in, sparse, and not flavorful as in

other years. 

Thanks to each of you who commented on my previous post. 

Knowing your kind wishes and prayers are heading across the pond

 to Denise as she faces yet another serious health issue, makes me

 realize yet again, how special and generous blog friends are. 

Hoping your weekend is bright and beautiful.

Summer Saturday. . . . . . . . . . .

Early this morning was perfect with almost cool temperatures. 

Now and then a tiny breeze rustled the outdoor flag but wasn't enough

 to play the wind chimes. 

Almost zero humidity is so special here in the south during the

 summertime and this morning we were gifted.

We enjoyed our coffee on the front porch, reading the newspaper, knowing 

how it will get hot later and we will be inside keeping busy until the evening.

I need to bake blueberry muffins - Bob bought far too many - and I'll

perhaps make a veggie pizza and cook on the grill as the sun goes down.

We do plan a quick shop at our local LIDL to pick up the veggies as I

also want to make that wonderful oven-roasted ratatouille recipe this 

weekend. I shared it with you last year and will do so again later.

Tiny new potatoes are hopefully still available as I love the looks of 

this easy peasy dish - from UK Country Living.

We don't have one of these!  Lucky you if you do.

I took this photo at our hotel recently and think it looks so cool!!!

Have a great time this weekend whatever you are doing.

If cats could talk. . . . . . . . .

Time spent with cats is never wasted ~ Sigmund Freud

I'm cat-sitting again. 

My neighbor is paying me in cucumbers, peppers, and hopefully

 by the weekend, several ripe juicy tomatoes!

Heaven on earth - fresh veggies within reach of the kitchen.

The veggies are growing in the front garden in view of all and sundry.

I'm hoping the neighbors don't think I'm raiding his plot.

This is Ms. Nala, a shy, quiet, beautiful calico cat. Yes, she's 

a big girl, and very independent as most cats are.

It takes several days for her to get used to me even though

 I've visited often. I think she has to first get over her 'dad' leaving

 her and going on vacation before she will allow me to lift her on to my

 lap for a little cuddle. . . . . . . . and sharing some sweet purrs.

Nala apparently likes spending time on this corner of the bed where, 

when she looks out the window, she can watch me stealing harvesting

 her 'dad's' vegetables.

I can feel her beautiful eyes watching me.


Interesting Calico cat facts HERE