Summer Salad Swap

Linking up with Mel today for a:

This might be the best salad I've ever made. It is seriously SO good and definitely worth considering for dinner this week.

Dinner with friends: divine. This dinner, alfresco, with friends, and an amazing rose´: a perfect Summer evening.

Starting with rose´ is totally optional, but honestly, why not? This lovely number is a french varietal bought at Trader Joe's.

A key to this delicious, flavor-packed meal is the lightly charred romaine. Oh my. Grilling the hearts makes for a more intense and smoky bite. I don't know that I'd ever make Caesar Salad again without grilling the lettuce--it's so worth it.

Add to the grilled romaine some tender grilled chicken, handmade croutons (not if you're grain-free like me), and a dressing so good it had me licking the spatula clean (a la` cake batter), and you have one unforgettable Caesar Salad. I've made this salad three times, and even without the homemade croutons, it is positively, absolutely, amazingly yummy and complete.

Scrum-didilly-umptious! 

Thanks for the great idea, Mel! Looking forward to enjoying lots of new salad recipes in the hot weeks to come.

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Adapted from epicurious.com

Serves 6-8

Dressing:

1/2 C freshly grated parmesan cheese (can do in food processor with grater blade)

8 anchovy fillets

3 TBS fresh lemon juice

3 garlic cloves

2 TBS Dijon mustard

3/4 C olive oil

Salt & pepper

Chicken:

4 breasts of chicken

olive oil

2 tsp chopped fresh thyme

1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary

Salt & pepper

Croutons:

3 Tbs olive oil

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp chopped fresh thyme

1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary

3 3/4-inch-thick slices whole grain bread, crusts removed, cut into 3/4-inch cubes (4 cups)

Salt & pepper

Salad

3 hearts of romaine, sliced in half lengthwise

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Cracked black pepper

For dressing:

Combine all ingredients other than olive oil in a food processor; blend well. With processor running, add olive oil in a slow stream. Season with salt and pepper.

For croutons:

Preheat oven to 325F. Heat 3 TBS olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and fresh herbs and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Remove from heat and add bread cubes; toss to coat. Spread out bread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until croutons are golden, about 15-18 minutes, stirring occasionally.

For grilled chicken & romaine:

Preheat grill to high heat. Spray with cooking oil.

Smother chicken breasts with a little olive oil. Season evenly with fresh herbs, salt & pepper.

Grill chicken over high heat until cooked all the way through, or until internal temperature reaches 165F, about 4-6 minutes per side. After flipping chicken halfway through cooking, brush olive oil over cut sides of romaine. Place romaine, cut side down, on grill and cook until just charred, about 2-3 minutes.

To assemble salad:

On a large platter, arrange romaine leaves, cut/charred side up. Slice chicken breast and lay on top of romaine. Top with 1/2 cup grated parmesan, croutons, and cracked black pepper.

Grain-Free Goodness: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Dinner with friends: divine. This dinner, alfresco, with friends, and an amazing rose´: a perfect Spring evening.

Starting with rose´ is totally optional, but honestly, why not?

A key to this delicious, flavor-packed meal is the lightly charred romaine. Oh my.

Add to the grilled romaine some tender grilled chicken, handmade croutons (not if you're grain-free like me), and a dressing so good it had me licking the spatula clean (a la` cake batter), and you have one unforgettable Caesar Salad.

Scrum-didilly-umptious! 

Oh, and let me mention the encore: homemade strawberry frozen yogurt and coconut milk mint-chip ice cream? Recipes forthcoming...

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Adapted from epicurious.com

Serves 6-8

Dressing:

1/2 C freshly grated parmesan cheese (can do in food processor with grater blade)

8 anchovy fillets

3 TBS fresh lemon juice

3 garlic cloves

2 TBS Dijon mustard

3/4 C olive oil

Salt & pepper

Chicken:

4 breasts of chicken

olive oil

2 tsp chopped fresh thyme

1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary

Salt & pepper

Croutons:

3 Tbs olive oil

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp chopped fresh thyme

1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary

3 3/4-inch-thick slices whole grain bread, crusts removed, cut into 3/4-inch cubes (4 cups)

Salt & pepper

Salad

3 hearts of romaine, sliced in half lengthwise

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Cracked black pepper

For dressing:

Combine all ingredients other than olive oil in a food processor; blend well. With processor running, add olive oil in a slow stream. Season with salt and pepper.

For croutons:

Preheat oven to 325F. Heat 3 TBS olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and fresh herbs and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Remove from heat and add bread cubes; toss to coat. Spread out bread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until croutons are golden, about 15-18 minutes, stirring occasionally.

For grilled chicken & romaine:

Preheat grill to high heat. Spray with cooking oil.

Smother chicken breasts with a little olive oil. Season evenly with fresh herbs, salt & pepper.

Grill chicken over high heat until cooked all the way through, or until internal temperature reaches 165F, about 4-6 minutes per side. After flipping chicken halfway through cooking, brush olive oil over cut sides of romaine. Place romaine, cut side down, on grill and cook until just charred, about 2-3 minutes.

To assemble salad:

On a large platter, arrange romaine leaves, cut/charred side up. Slice chicken breast and lay on top of romaine. Top with 1/2 cup grated parmesan, croutons, and cracked black pepper.

Samuel: 31 Months

Dear Sambino the Great,

Your tricks just keep improving! Every month you learn new ways to move, to make us laugh, and to interact with your world. You are outgoing, engaging, thoughtful, snuggly, crazy, creative and fun!

This month was a whirlwind of activity, starting with your first day of school on your last monthly update, a trip to Oregon, more school, and a trip to Carmel! And with your can-do attitude, sunny disposition and willingness to try new things, you've made it through every week with your usual gusto and amiability.

You continue to love all things that go: airplanes, helicopters, trucks, tractors, motorcycles, cement mixers, dump trucks, cars, trains, etc. You are always on the lookout for modes of transportation to point out and admire. We spend every waking minute of our car rides shouting out things like, "Yeah, nice car, buddy!" or, "Look at that boom-buhn (motorcyle)!" or, "Yes, a round-and-round (cement mixer)!" You continue to call things by their sounds, not their names, and it continues to make me laugh. One of these days I expect you to up and say, in a British accent, no less, "Motha, how is it possible that fah so many months you've allowed me to use sounds in place of wuhds? Honestly, how infantile."

You are practically fearless. This month you perfected jumping into the pool, unaided, even jumping in on your own, dropping beneath the water, and bobbing to the surface, hair dripping and face smiling. You also love to climb, climb, climb. After Daddy taught you and Maddie how to climb the wisteria vines, I fully expect to one day find you standing on the roof of the house, shouting, "MAMAAAAA!" You manipulate your environment, stacking boxes and chairs, all sorts of items in order to reach the highest possible point. I find you with all sorts of things you're not supposed to have, simply because of your creative ways of climbing up to where said things are stored. Hmm.

You continue to be absolute sweetness. So many nights I linger at bedtime, knowing that in your most cuddly of moments you bestow kisses like they're going out of style. One night I thought to count and am happy to report I received 27 of the most delicious kisses possible. You throw your arms around my neck, bury your face into my skin, spoon your body against mine, all in an effort to get as close as possible. Early this morning you called for me and I made my way, in the dark, to your room, where your soft little arms beckoned me. I woke up to you stroking my cheek with your hand, kissing my lips with such sweet and gentle tenderness. It is SUCH a gift, I can't even describe how grateful I am for our moments of snuggling together, as I know that these days will pass in an instant. So for now, I'm happy to draw out any opportunity to lay with you and receive the love you have to share.

You and your sissy are two peas in a pod. You made up your own secret handshake this month (which I have GOT to get on video, note to self), and every time I hear "Hit it, Sam-Sam!" or "Hit it, Mah-Mah!" I smile to myself. The looks on your faces, the connection you have, it's priceless. The joy that your relationship brings me is so great! At night, when we stop to pray, you always remember to thank God for your sister. And you never forget to give her kisses and loves before you head into your room. Such love for your sissy.

As you grow closer to three, it amazes us just how much of a little boy you really are. You run fast, throw hard, laugh, sing, joke and tease. You play guns with sticks, pillows and teaspoons. You scream and yell and jump and climb and wrestle. It's so awesome! I love having a boy! Thanks for being the best boy I know.

Love you,

Mama

Sabbath Adventures: fishing and swimming at shadow cliffs

Last weekend I was speaking in a women's conference and so Ben took the kiddos fishing at a reservoir nearby called Shadow Cliffs. They had such a good time that we decided to go back again for our family sabbath.

It was 85 degrees outside. Absolutely perfect. Warm and rosy-cheeked, Sam and Maddie napped on the way to the park and for a while in the shade. Ben got to fishing and I surfed the internet on my phone. To each his own, right?

When the little ones awoke, we checked out the lakeside and quickly chose swimming over fishing. Here's Maddie, fresh from her nap:

The kids ran around, playing in the water and sand for three hours. I re-applied sunscreen two times in those three hours, as we were all over the place! Sam played a chase-the-beach-ball game for about an hour. He would throw the ball out into deeper water, wade/run to it, throw it again, over and over and over. He kept me very busy, following at an arm's length to prevent any lake water mishaps.

After spending a lot of time in the water, the kids played in the sand. Sam liked to "dig dig dig" with the shovels, while Maddie preferred to make friends and follow them all around the beach.

Sam was displaying his beach bod for all to see. Swollen belly, strong calves, droopy swim trunks--too much for us ladies to handle:

How much do I love this girl?

We made lots of fast friends and had a great time enjoying our beautiful Spring day! Next time we'll bring our snorkel gear to practice for Hawaii.

(This morning, Ben and Maddie went BACK, AGAIN, to the reservoir. Ben has now fished it four times without catching a thing. Game on, lake trout.)

25 things you should know about me if we're going to be friends

1. I have a crazy amount of music memorized and will break into song at any given moment when the situation or conversation closely resembles any of the songs in my head. (Also: I totally wish they'd create "Musical Land," a theme park where actors and singers break into song)

2. I always joke that my house is about 10 minutes away from clean. I'm not a super neat person but I like to keep things fairly respectable. If you mention you're coming by, I'll run around like a crazy person for ten or so minutes, picking up, straightening, and hiding things in my laundry room.

3. I planned our entire wedding on a budget of less than $6000. We made our own food, decorations, invitations, centerpieces, programs, bridesmaid/groomsmen gifts, and did not have favors. I wouldn't change a thing. It's still the prettiest, most fun wedding I've ever attended.

4. I am a weird number savant. I remember phone numbers, count letters of words, and count things in threes, fours and fives to see if they even out. I used to be a real number/counting freak but have backed off a lot since having kids, and the subsequent turning of my brain into mush.

5. My least favorite body part is my thigh region. I've always had large, muscular legs and when I stopped playing sports they stayed large but not so muscular. :)

6. Ben and I did not watch TV until our first child was born. We owned a TV and occasionally hooked it up in order to watch breaking news, such as on 9/11, but for the most part we only watched movies and not cable for about 6 years. Now we watch way too much TV. My favorites are So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef, Project Runway, and LOST. I was kind of a freak about LOST and now it is over and I am back to normal. Sort of.

7. I have colitis and follow a really weird diet. I don't eat bread, sugar, potatoes, corn, processed meat or cheese, milk, or canned vegetables. I don't chew gum. I don't drink coffee, though at once I was a serious addict. I do eat lots of fruit, cheese, nuts, salad and protein. And I make my own yogurt with whole milk and whipping cream. It is delicious.

8. Approximately three months after getting my iPhone 4, I dropped it on the garage floor and shattered the screen. It still works and I will most likely operate it in said condition until it stops working or my 2 year contract runs out.

9. I have a habit of abandoning hobbies. In the past, I have spent serious amounts of time doing the following: knitting, making cards/stationery, quilting, writing poetry, collecting and making things out of vintage handkerchiefs, and scrapbooking. I have not done any of these things recently.

10. I HATE cleaning the shower. I avoid it. Until I can no longer ignore the pink stains and black mold growing near the sliding doors.

11. Cheese is my favorite food. I could eat Fromage D'Affinois the rest of my life and never grow tired of it. Add a roquefort, aged gouda, sharp cheddar, and apple slices and I'm in heaven.

12. My hair turned wavy after having my first child. It used to be stick straight but now it takes serious effort to blow it out. In Hawaii or humid climates, it is crazy wavy.

13. I go to bed most nights between 9 and 9:30. I like to sleep 8 1/2-9 1/2 hours a night.

14. Danville women intimidate me and I often go out of my way to keep things real by refusing to get all decked out when I, a) workout, b) go grocery shopping, and, c) drop off and pick up my daughter from school.

15. I am not good at small talk and conversation. I'd rather be quiet and listen to conversations that are already happening. It's not that I don't like you, it's just that I'm awkward at first.

16. I want my kids to think of me as loving, fun, approachable and dependable.

17. I don't like to have my picture taken. That said, my favorite photos of all time are ones in which I am laughing.

18. When I was about 8, I was giving a young friend a horsey ride on my hands and knees when I fell face-first on the linoleum, breaking off part of my right front tooth and severely cracking the other one. They are still cracked, partially fixed, and one of the reasons I don't like having my picture taken.

19. I wish that I lived closer to my family. It makes me very sad that we don't get to see each other as often as we wish.

20. I've never broken a bone, but I have had stitches once, in the back of my head. I also have loads and loads of scars from various childhood accidents involving barbed wire, bike wrecks and ATV riding.

21. I am a serious foodie. I love to eat good food. We love to cook, entertain, eat out and I also love to bake. But I don't bake much anymore because I can't eat these yummy treats.

22. My favorite books of all time are The River Why, Water for Elephants, and Les Miserables.

23. My life list includes traveling to foreign countries, seeing multiple musicals, becoming an excellent photographer, publishing a book, and seeing my children grow up and be joy-filled in whatever they do.

24. I have vibrant, crazy, and memorable dreams. Just this week I have been a top-secret scientist in charge of an entire island laboratory that was infiltrated by spies and subsequently destroyed. I escaped by leaping/flying out of the burning building, diving into the ocean, and swimming away at hyper speed (think leaping like a dolphin). I also rescued Jack Bauer once in my dreams.

25. I eat at least two apples a day. I buy pounds of apples at the beginning of the week and yet we always run out.

Summer Cooking: Tomato Sauce

Last Saturday at the Farmer's Market my favorite farmer was selling these bad boys for $1 a pound:

I just love a pile of red, ripe tomatoes, don't you?

Time to make some tomato sauce (recipe courtesy of our friend, Kara)! You'll need about 3 pounds of fresh tomatoes plus 1 cup each carrots, onion and celery:

Vegetables, meet my leetle friend:

Et voila! Chopped fine, in no time!

(If you're a freak like me and love to clean the kitchen as you cook, don't clean the food processor. Resist! Leave it out for later!)

I'm sure everyone out there knows this little tomato peeling trick, but if you don't, please observe. It will change your life:

Cut a little X in the end of each tomato. Plunge in boiling hot water for 30 seconds.

Remove with slotted spoon (see how they can hardly wait to get undressed? Tomatoes are kind of vulgar that way). Place in an ice water bath. Use your fingers to slide those skins right off.

And this is my favorite part of the recipe, where the real foodie in me comes out. Put the skins on a plate. Squeeze those skins to render all juice possible. You want every last bit of delicious late Summer goodness in your pot of sauce.

Squeezing skins + taking photos = big splotchy mess.

I'd recommend just squeezing the skins and taking pictures later.

Pick out your vehicle for slurping up this sweet sauce. My family likes this:

While I prefer the nutty sweet goodness of spaghetti squash!

Simmer tomatoes, chopped veggies, 1 TBS salt and galoop of honey for 30 minutes, uncovered:

Blend it all up (in batches) in that food processor. (Aren't you glad you didn't scrub it out?) Add 1/2 cup olive oil and simmer for 15 minutes more.

Dish yourself up some noodles, top with sauce and fresh grated parmesan, and have yourself a delicious, nutritious, lycopene-packed November Summer dinner!

Fresh Tomato Sauce

3 pounds tomatoes

Cut an X in the bottom of each tomato. Place in boiling water for 30 seconds, then plunge immediately in ice water bath. Peel tomatoes, reserving skins on a plate. Squeeze the juice out of skins into pot with tomatoes.

To pot add:

1 cup each finely chopped carrots, celery and onion* (use your food processor)

1 TBS salt

1/4 tsp sugar or a galoop of honey (yes, galoop is a technical term)

Cook at a steady simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.

Puree mixture in batches in food processor or blender until smooth. Return to pot and add:

1/2 cup olive oil

Cook at a steady simmer uncovered for 15 minutes more. Makes about 5 cups sauce.

*I totally forgot to add onions tonight and the sauce was still incredible. Hmm.

Colonoscopy: Uncensored

Before you click away from the screen, hear me out. There are hardly any first-hand accounts of colonoscopy experiences. There is a dearth of information about why they are important, how to prepare, etc., but very little is available on what exactly to expect with such a procedure. Some of you might have to go through this one day. Some of you need to schedule one. Ahem. Now you know what you're getting yourself into. Here goes my experience, in timeline form:

Sunday, 8/29, Two Days until Colonoscopy

11:00 am Clean and vacuum house & start laundry: This is an important step, considering the preparation, procedure and recovery for/from a colonoscopy (heretofore known as the big C) will take you out for two to three days

3:00 Shop for groceries: You'll need some fast, easy options for Dad and kids plus lots of delicious (ahem), nutritious, clear liquids for the patient (see below)

Monday, 8/30, Colonoscopy Eve

7:00 start clear liquid diet: juice, water, iced tea, gatorade, chicken broth, jello, popsicles (though not any foods with red food coloring)

9:00 finish laundry

12:00pm take 2 dulcolax tablets, hence beginning the expulsion process

5:30pm take 1 zofran in preparation for drinking prep solution, until you resemble a full, rolling water balloon. This medicine is intended to keep the delicious salty beverage from coming back up, instead working its way south and accomplishing its purposes

6:00pm start drinking 1 GALLON of C prep. It tastes like someone took an old lemon-lime gatorade bottle and filled it with sea water. You get a taste of lemon lime but it is not nearly enough to mask the salty, filthy flavor

Side note: did I mention you will be drinking 1 cup of this solution every 10 minutes? That is ONE GALLON of lemon-lime flavored SALT WATER in 2 hours and forty minutes. TWO DAYS' worth of water in 160 MINUTES. Be prepared for some bloating. I've thoughtfully included a picture for your viewing purposes. The picture on the left is of my pregnant belly at 18 weeks. the photo on the right is after consuming approximately 2/3 of the C prep.

7:40-10:45: go to bathroom. Frequently. Spend some time in bath, trying to relax. Get out. Go to bathroom. Get out, calm crying child. Get back in. Warm the water up. Get out, child is crying again. Get back in. Get out. Go to bathroom. Get out. Get in bed. Get out. Go to bathroom.

Another side note: See "Possible Side Effects"? I didn't vomit but the rest are a check, check, check, check, and checkity-check-check. Irritation is the worst. Baby wipes and bootie paste aren't just for babies, people. They are your friends.

Tuesday, 8/31, The Big Day

12:00 a.m. go to bathroom again

3:00 a.m. see previous line

5:00 a.m. see previous line

6:50 a.m. wake up suddenly, glance at clock, and inform husband it is time to MOVE, MOVE, MOVE! Get children dressed, fed, prepared for park play date with friend (extra clothes, sunscreen, diapers, etc). Pack yourself a lunch bag with jello and gatorade for when you come out, famished. Oh, and do this all with an excruciating headache, like someone was pounding on your head with a mallet while you slept.

7:30 leave house, drop kids off at playdate (thanks, Suz!), grumble at your spouse at least twice on the way to surgery center (you're hungry, tired, sore, and still fighting off a raging headache)

8:00 arrive at surgery center where procedure will take place

8:30 head back, get changed into ultra-fashionable surgery gown with bootie-baring opening. Be thankful you're not the only one wearing said garb. Receive IV (no vasovagal response! No fainting, anxiety, drop in BP, thank goodness!). Settle self down in lazy boy with magazines.

8:45-9:30 read two gossip magazines and consider yourself fully caught up on all celebrity goings-on. Look up occasionally to see doctors walking back and forth, MAs wheeling half-awake patients back and forth. Notice your warming blanket has grown cold. Consider asking for a new blanket but realize no one is coming to check on you.

9:35-10:35 walk into surgery room. Lie down. Make small talk with Ray, nurse and friend from last procedure. Mention you remember his kindness and TLC from two years ago. Smile as he straps you down and adheres various monitors, gives you oxygen (which tickles and kind of itches the skin under your nose). Engage in small talk with staff as they busy themselves around the room, getting you all prepped. Joke about going under as RN Ray administers the sleepy meds and wishes you a pleasant nap. Start counting to see how long it takes, lose track.

At some point during C, wake up, feel gas and pressure in nether region. See the live video feed of your colon on the screen above. Hear remarks from doctor. Realize this is not good news.

Flash-forward. Hear more remarks. Dr. is comparing last C results from two years ago with current ones. He is instructing staff as to how you can see multiple ulcerations, polyps that weren't there before. Hear disappointment.

Wake up barely, stand and turn around to sit in wheelchair. Get up again when you are delivered to lazy boy. Sit down, pass out. Wake up when a sweet old man joins you in the recovery room. You heard him talking earlier with the nurse and he has a gentle, warm smile. Wonder to yourself who is passing more gas, you or old man. Smile and go back to sleep.

Wake up. Nurse Ray says, "Look who's up! Ready to get dressed?" Nod. Start getting self dressed. Hear another nurse say, "Try not to stand up, ok?" Wonder if you got yourself dressed all previous times.

See hubby. Hear him talking with nurse. Think you hear nurse say "looks like 80 polyps." Wonder if that is even possible. Get in wheelchair. Wheel up the ramp to car. Get in. Talk for a few minutes. Realize that with polypectomy you will be on liquid diet at least two more days. Go to sleep.

11:30 Get home. Go upstairs. Get in bed. Eat two cups of jello. Drink a glass of gatorade. Go to sleep.

3:30 Wake up. FOUR hours later. Remember hearing your son go down for a nap, hearing his sweet "Nigh, nigh" as they climbed the stairs. Remember hearing hubby take shower and head to work. Think to yourself that mother and sister-in-law are at your house, but ask just to make sure you aren't home alone with two kids.

3:45 Go downstairs. Kiss son, check in with daughter. Drink a big glass of water. Realize you are starving but don't know what to eat. Open fridge and stare at delicious options available: gatorade, water, jello, chicken broth, popsicles. Make yourself a delicious treat of chicken broth mixed with vegetable broth. Sip slowly. Son climbs in lap, snuggles, stays for 15 minutes and helps you finish broth. Be amazed that he even likes the stuff. Relish those 15 minutes.

4:15 Hear mother-in-law announce they're taking the kids overnight. See packed bags sitting on counter. Kiss kids goodbye. Lay down on couch.

4:30-9:30 Lay on couch, tired, watching t.v., getting up occasionally for another glass of beverage. Go pee at least once an hour. Weird.

9:30 Go to sleep

Wednesday, 9/1, Day After

7:45 wake up 10 1/4 hours later. Wonder how it is Wednesday already

8:00 miss kiddos. Wonder why you still feel so tired and worn down. Look at recovery instructions from doctor and realize you're not supposed to drive a car for a full 24 hours after procedure. Realize you still have sleepytime meds coursing through body and resign self to sitting down, checking up on email, etc. Start colonoscopy blog.

9:00-11:00 chill

11:00 pick up some groceries

12:00 make your own chicken broth because the boxed stuff tastes like metal

1:00 nap

2:00 wake up, watch t.v., wait for kiddos to come home

4:00 kiddos home! Loves all around

5:00 feed family dinner. You're up! You're moving! You can even cook again!

7:30 get back to blog

There you have it! Three full days.

Summer Cooking: Farmer's Market Panzanella & Breakdown Mojito

Oh, how I love the Farmer's Market! Saturday's trip inspired tonight's dinner, a classic Panzanella (bread salad) with a special, secret ingredient.

Every good panzanella starts out with bread, in this case, a sweet baguette cut into small pieces and toasted for 10 minutes in a 375-degree oven.

Our star ingredient: heirloom tomatoes. Look at that sheen, that color, that shape.

Three heirloom tomatoes, all chopped up, equals a sunset-colored feast for the eyes and stomach.

And our secret ingredient? Watermelon! Okay, not so secret, but if you haven't combined tomatoes with watermelon, you are seriously missing out.

Next you head out to your miniscule herb garden to gather some fresh basil.

Get it done.

Throw in some half moon cucumbers, again from the market.

Red onion. But really? It's totally purple. Anyone else confused by that?

Oh, and if you had a day like I did, here's the extra special addition: summer lovin' mojito!

The finished product: red, orange, yellow, green, pink and violet. Every color of the rainbow but blue (unless you count the bowl). This is what summer is all about!

Eating the panzanella, drinking your mojito outside: pure Summertime enjoyment.

Farmer's Market Panzanella

4 servings

8 ounces bread, any kind of your liking, chopped into 3/4 inch pieces

3 heirloom tomatoes, chopped into 3/4 inch pieces

1 cup watermelon, chopped into 3/4 inch pieces (leave in fridge until ready to serve)

1 cup cucumber

8-10 small basil leaves, julienned

1/2 cup red (purple) onion, sliced very thin vertically

3 ounces feta cheese

salt & pepper

white balsamic vinegar

olive oil

Preheat oven to 375. Place bread cubes on baking sheet and cook for 8-10 minutes, until toasted. Set aside and let cool.

Place tomatoes, cucumber and chilled watermelon in large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and let sit about five minutes. Toss in onion and basil. Add bread cubes and splatter with oil and vinegar, to your taste. Add salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste, and sprinkle with feta. Enjoy!

Breakdown Mojito

(adapted, barely, from Sunset)

1 serving

Place 20 mint leaves and 2 teaspoons superfine sugar in a glass. Use wooden spoon or muddler to coarsely crush leaves.

Add 4 TBS light rum and a 1-2 TBS of dark/golden rum to glass. Stir in 3 TBS freshly squeezed lime juice. Mix. Add ice cubes to glass.

Top with 4-6 TBS diet 7up (or club soda).