One of my summer favs is Farmer's Market! I gather and collect every single color of fresh veggies into a basket and take them home to create some el fresco dinners. There is something beautiful about creating meals from raw, local, fresh foods... straight from the farm soils to our dinner table!
Caprese sandwiches are an easy fix for those summer nights when you would rather be playing jacks and marbles on the driveway with the kids instead of lingering in the kitchen.
Easily layer a slice of provolone cheese, sliced garden tomatoes, and fresh basil on sourdough bread. Drizzle with Italian dressing. Slide in between your panini grill and ta da! A fresh, incredible sandwich appears. ;)
This next one is a Summer Squash Corn Chowder from Cooking Light Magazine. It was very delicious!
The kids and I make a trip downtown nearly every week to gather our fresh Farmer's Market treasures, weaving around people, watching belly dancers and jugglers, and listening to the happy live music in the long sunshine.
Oh...and the fresh flowers are the BEST part. They're the highlight of my little homemakin' housewife rockin' week!
Lately, I've been hooked on great big, gigantic dahlias! I pick different colors to take home every week.
Immersing yourself in the heart of your town will add a layer of charm to your day to day life. Take a summer day to explore an area in the streets of your home that you usually just pass on by. Many unknown good times are waiting to be discovered by YOU.
Also on Main Street is one of my favorite restaurants, Il Bistro.
It is owned by native Italians who really know their stuff!
Their food is REAL.
Il Bistro makes their own homemade pasta and they sell it in their pasta and bakery market.
Il Bistro offers a unique variety of cooking classes. My mom and I recently had a girl's day out and attended their summer veggie class. It was simply DiVine.
Before our class began, we were treated with caffeinated goodness as our chef taught us some kitchen secrets.
After we learned little lessons, we gathered in the kitchen with aprons on to begin our day!
We experimented with beets...
...chilled beat soup with dill.
We used some gorgeous squash for a variety of dishes...
We made veggie paninis...
...homemade pasta raviolis filled with corn and shrimp, and more!
The experience was absolutely worthwhile and I'm looking forward to our next class! I encourage you to find a local cooking class at your very own special corner restaurant. Most of us prepare meals fairly often, and taking a class adds the extra boost and passion into the monotony of life. I hope you're able to find a class nearby.
Please share if you've atteneded
cooking classes before
and how much you
love, loved it!
Find some excitement in your life,
because it's a beautiful life,
created for a beautiful YOU.
If you're not loving life,
then you're not really living life.
This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, It's a Blog Party, Think Pink Sundays LambAround, DIY Showoff, Seasonal Sundays, Met Monday, Making the World Cuter, A2Z Tips & Tutorials, Lettered Cottage How To, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Home Decor & Organizing, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Avenue, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, eighteen25., Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up
