Summer Woes

We are enjoying the summer and the mercury is on the rise, the beach is where it's at, and a cold glass of lemonade is exactly what the doctor ordered.

I first tasted this salad at a book club event. Becky Colbert, a very fine interior designer from West Chester invited me to join her. (www.rebeccascolbertdesign.com) 

I asked her for the recipe to make for our Christmas Smørrebrød luncheon with my family.  It was a whole lot of Danish open-faced sandwiches, and this salad.  It is so fresh and flavorful that you will not be able to stop eating it, nor will your lucky guests.  Becky gave me permission to share it with you.  I made it with orzo, the Italian pasta which looks like rice, and you can also use brown rice.

NORTHERN ITALIAN RICE SALAD

The storm last week which knocked out power for us and so many others in this area ,,, reminded me of one of my more memorable visits about ten years ago. 

It was a beautiful summer day with a deep azure sky, the kind of sky you either worry slightly about as to whether it would suddenly turn darker and become a serious summer storm.  But there was not a cloud in the sky.  I was visiting a young family on Spring Valley Road where the new Redstone Luxury Apartments are now, near the corner of Rte. 322.  Spring Valley Road was being paved right in front of the home I was going to visit; so both I and the woman who lived there had to park in the driveway next door till they finished rolling out the hot asphalt mix. 

It was such an enjoyable visit with her and her two darling little girls.  Then it was time for the youngest to take her nap, and she reluctantly said goodbye, giving me a hug, sharing a stuffed animal with me, and dragging her blanket reluctantly up the stairs very slowly, peeking through the spindles at each step.  She called out finally that she was settled, and we went on with our visit.

Then we suddenly became aware that the sky had changed dramatically, and a storm was blowing in fast.  "I left all my windows open!  I'll be right back," she said, running out the front door.  

EDEN LAND CARE