I hope you all had a wonderful Summer!

We can’t complain because it was a pretty nice Summer, and we are still having great weather. The best part of Fall besides the food that I love so much, is the mild days and cool nights. I love dressing light during the day and grabbing a sweater or throw in the evening and lighting a fire, even if it’s on the big screen. Hey, it has crackling sound and everything! I have some great ideas to come if you don’t have a fireplace or are in a rental in which you can’t or don’t have one. There’s always candles and the new ones they have do not need a match! I LOVE those, they even look like they are flickering and all.

This past week I was caught between Summer and Fall. I have had a crab boil obsession since I was a little girl as my entire family loves to gather for crabs and beer, especially my next eldest sister. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I didn’t have all the weird cravings as other pregnant women do. I on the contrary, HATED e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. and I mean EVERYTHNG! Crabs included! I hated them so much I didn’t eat them for 3 YEARS after having my daughter! My sister was LIVID with me! We used to get together for crabs at least a couple times a month, and that date had abruptly come to a screeching halt.

I contemplated doing a crab boil as my daughter is also a huge crab lover, but I just didn’t feel like all the cleanup, so I opted for Panko Shrimp. Just make a batter of eggs, flour, garlic powder, salt, pepper and water and dip the cleaned and deveined shrimp (cut the underside in small slashes so they lay flat) with tails on to serve as a handle, into the batter then dredge in seasoned panko breadcrumbs and rest on a baking sheet while you heat oil in a pan. Panfry the shrimp in batches and drain on a rack and keep warm in the oven. Serve with a baked potato and corn on the cob.

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I also made some black Olive Bread that I have been making for years and was so happy to make the first loaf of it in our new place. It’s soooo good and it goes with anything, especially something with a sauce to sop things up with it. And can I tell you how great it smells baking bread in the house? Amazing!

One day this past week I made a big batch of Quinoa Salad that I have been eating all summer just to pay homage to the great summer I had eating it! It’s a batch of cooked and cooled Quinoa, chickpeas, green beans, black beans, my “salad topping mix” (I will share with you next time), and Italian dressing. It’s so good and so filling. It’s great for vegetarians as well. The thing that makes it transition to “Autumn Quinoa Salad” is the addition of Apples, and I can’t wait to add them for the fall!

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Well, it’s Friday and you know what that means in our household if you have been around for a bit. It’s Pizza Friday! Sauce is simmering on the stove already this morning, low and slow and dough is rising on my noodle board on the stove! My new FAST sauce is made with sundried tomatoes (MY favorite), I will share with you soon as I’m sure I’ve taken enough of your time. Have a great weekend, until Monday (sorry I missed you last week, it’s been a crazy week)! See you then.