WELCOME SUMMER SOLSTICE!

... On The Summer Solstice ...
"Whatever is dreamed on this night, will come to pass."

William Shakespeare -

Acknowledging the Magic of This Time
A Mid-Summernight's Dream

Gerbera Daisy

Iceland Poppy

Zinnia

Solstice, from the Latin for sun stands still, in astronomy, either of the two points on the ecliptic that lie midway between the equinoxes(separated from them by an angular distance of 90°).At the solstices the sun's apparent position on the celestial sphere reaches its greatest distance above or below the celestial equator, about 23 1/2° of arc. At the time of summer solstice, about June 22, the sun is directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Cancer.In the Northern Hemisphere the longest day and shortest night of the year occur on this date, marking the beginning of summer. At winter solstice, about December 22, the sun is overhead at noon at the Tropic of Capricorn; this marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. For several days before and after each solstice the sun appears to stand still in the sky, i.e., its noontime elevation does not seem to change from day to day."

Solstice information courtesy of ~

( http://www.infoplease.com/spot/solstice.html )

MONDAY MAY MUSING ~ MEDITERRANEAN CHOPPED SALAD

"My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view."

~ H. Fred Ale

May Garden Flowers

(Petunia, Sweet Potato Vine, Alpine poppy, Autumn fern, Gerbera daisy, Columbine, Centaurea, heuchera ~ Key Lime Pie - Creme Brulee)

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MEDITERRANEAN CHOPPED SALAD

~ Garden fresh and colorful ... like May

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1 large red bell pepper

1 large pocketless Greek pita

1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 minced garlic clove

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1 cup finely chopped romaine lettuce

1 large chopped English cucumber

1 (14 oz.) can rinsed chickpeas

4 seeded and diced Roma tomatoes

1/2 cup chopped scallions (green onions)

freshly ground black pepper

2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

• Preheat broiler. Place pepper on foil lined sheet and broil abut 15 minutes, turning once or twice until blackened evenly. Remove to bowl: cover with plastic wrap and cool. Peel, seed and dice. Set aside.
• Brush pita with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Broil about 3 minutes per side or till edges begin to curl and bread is firm. Sprinkle with pinch of coarse salt and let cool. Break pita into 1/2 inch pieces.
• Dressing: Combine garlic, parsley, mint, basil, lemon juice in small bowl. Slowly whisk in 1/2 cup olive oil.
• In large salad bow. combine romaine lettuce, cucumber, roasted bell pepper, chick peas, tomatoes and onions. Add dressing; toss well. Add pita and toss again. Season with salt & pepper. Top with feta and drizzle with oil. (4 servings)

JUNE IS BUSTIN' OUT ALL OVER ~ (PICNIC SUPPER) LEMON-LIME CHICKEN TENDERS & COLD SESAME NOODLES

"You can feel it in your heart

You can see it in the ground

You can see it in the trees

You can feel it in the breeze

Look around!

Look around!

Look around!"

~ Carousel

LEMON-LIME CHICKEN TENDERS

~ Great on the grill and easy to pack and go

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2 packages boneless, skinless chicken tenders

(or 6 chicken breast halves)

1/3 cup olive oil

juice and zest of 1 or 2 lemons

juice and zest of 1 or 2 limes

4 cloves minced garlic

4 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 tsp. coarse salt

fresh ground pepper to taste

• Rinse and pat chicken dry. Pound between waxed paper to flatten. Combine olive oil, lime & lemon juice and zest, garlic, cayenne pepper, cilantro, salt & pepper. Pour over chicken and marinate up to 12 hours.
• Grill tenders for 2 minutes on each side or breast halves five minutes on each side or until done (depending on thickness). Let rest before serving or chill and pack for picnic served with Cold Sesame Noodles. (4-6 servings)

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COLD SESAME NOODLES

~ Delicious and easy ... perfect for a picnic

(adjust the hot spice according to taste)

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1 pound whole wheat spaghetti or linguine

(cooked, drained, and rinsed with cold water)

4 Tbsp. sesame oil

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 (1/4 - inch) slices chopped fresh ginger

4 cloves chopped garlic

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 tsp. dried hot red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp. Chinese chile oil

2 healthy Tbsp. firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 - 1/2 cup pasta cooking water or organic chicken broth

chopped scallions

chopped peanuts

additional chopped cilantro or parsley

• Toss cooked pasta with 2 Tbsp. sesame oil to evenly coat.
• Combine garlic and ginger in food processor. Add remaining 2 Tbsp. sesame oil and remaining ingredients except water or broth. Puree until smooth and pour over noodles. Toss well. Add needed water or broth to thin. Transfer to container and top with chopped scallions, peanuts and cilantro. (4-8 servings)

~ Iceland Poppies

SIMPLE SUMMER SUPPER ~ GRILLED SHRIMP GYROS with HERBED YOGURT SAUCE

"NOTHING IS MORE COMPLETELY THE CHILD OF ART THAN A GARDEN."

~ Sir Walter Scott

GRILLED SHRIMP GYROS with HERBED YOGURT SAUCE

~ Adapted from a worn Southern Living Magazine clipping

*

1 1/2 lbs. peeled & deveined medium shrimp

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano or marjoram

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

juice & zest of 1 lemon

6 (12-inch) wooden skewers (soaked 1/2 hour in water)

4 (8-inch) pita or gyro rounds

Herbed Yogurt Sauce

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

4 chopped and seeded Roma tomatoes

1 thinly sliced English cucumber

• Combine herbs, lemon juice, zest and olive oil in heavy-duty zip-lock bag. Add shrimp, seal and chill 30 minutes.
• Remove from marinade and thread on skewers. Grill, covered, over medium coals about 5 minutes on each side or until shrimp begin to turn pink.
• Wrap pita rounds in damp cloth and microwave on HIGH 10-15 seconds or until soft. Spread 1 side of each pita round with Herbed Yogurt Sauce. Top evenly with shrimp, feta, chopped tomato, and sliced cucumber. Roll up and serve. (4 servings)

HERBED YOGURT SAUCE

3/4 cup low-fat plain yogurt

2 minced medium cloves garlic

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme or marjoram

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint

1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

GARDEN STROLL ~ MID JUNE

~ Iceland Poppy

~ Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

~ Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

~ 'Carefree Beauty' Rose