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Friday, July 24, 2009

Mixing Bowl

There are lots of things I love about summer: lazy mornings and loose schedules, the smell of my kids' sun-kissed, brown bodies after a day at the pool, the sweet nectar of summer's fruit... These are the main ingredients of my summer.

Unfortunately, summer has a few ingredients that are rather bitter as well: obnoxious children who pick on their sisters until fists are flying bickering kids, a constant parade of humanity marching constantly in and out of my house and eating all of the food scheduling insanity, unimaginative kids who have lost the ability to entertain themselves for 5 minutes the occasional bout of boredom. And that's okay... really. I mean, what would ice cream be if you didn't add the salt?! You'd just have mush. I like to think the bitter ingredients balance the sweetness and keep it from becoming overwhelming.


The real problem is, there's no recipe for summer.

I just keep dumping stuff in the mixing bowl and hoping for the best. Every year I throw the same ingredients into the same bowl. And some days I get a brilliant fusion of flavors that dance on my metaphorical tongue.


And some days it's just crap.


On a decidedly better note, I've been eating like a queen all summer thanks to the fantabulous recipes on these blogs. If you aren't already regular readers you are seriously missing out. I've tried their recipes, and you know what? I never get crap...



56 comments:

theUngourmet said...

I'm here for you Kathy B. Just doing what I can to be the salt for your ice cream. ;0)

Can we come over and swim? It's hot over here!

Lindy said...

I'm so glad these things are normal.

I found it a bit odd that the other day, my husband walked into the kitchen and there, standing in front of our fridge (with the door open) was the neighbor kid.

He'd decided that he was hungry and our fridge was the place to go.

WTH?

~Thought's By Dena~/ JDs Gift Shack said...

yes isnt it funny.(not) how kids can become so bord so fast!!! Im gonna have to sneak over and gt me some recipes!!

Kimberly said...

Oh yes, we know these scenerio's of boredom.

I love recipes!!

Kristina P. said...

I think that you should also recommend my blog as a Must Read for children.

confused homemaker said...

Because I think you have a fab blog I've given you an award:) You can pop over to claim it, I love how your blog makes me laugh.

beth said...

oh! this is perfect! i am totally having a salt type of day. or maybe a mush type of day. whatever...i am not loving summer today!

Anonymous said...

I want to be you when I grow up. :)

ck said...

I have to say I've made some KITCHEN WITCH recipes - awesome. I've also just found THE UNGOURMET and she's fantastic as well. Guess that means I'll have to head over to Good Cook. If she's as great as the other two I'll be set for the rest of the summer.

LadyFi said...

Sounds like the summer hols over here too... but without the good food as I'm also crappy at cooking! ;-)

Nicole said...

Gosh, wish I had time to actually make stuff. I've been so bogged down! I've been eating out for like the last past month! I think I only cooked two times this month.

Liz Mays said...

You are like the model of what a great parent should be. Please stop.

mommakin said...

Great post! And so true! What works like a charm one day falls flat the next. Can it keep being summer but the kids go back to school anyway? I think I'd really dig that.

CynthiaK said...

That's exactly what I've been looking for - a recommendation for some tasty blogs. Can't wait to start cooking.

And, for the record, with all that gets dished up around your place every day, I suspect you're well on your way to hosting your own cooking show. (or more like reality tv?!) :)

peewee said...

I think court TV makes for a GREAT appetizer with a healthy order of TLC for the main course and Bravo for dessert. I find those foolproof, personally.

For real my fav thing about is all the great summer reads that come out...nothing like a summer vacation filled with chick lit!

The Rambler said...

I have to say that this summer has allowed me to get out of my little 'box' of what I can cook. Which most come from a "Just Add Meat/Water" Box.

Ahhh, summer. You muse, you.

:)

Helene said...

I'm literally X'ing off the days until Cole and Bella start kindergarten. That pretty much sums up my feelings on summer.

Thanks for posting the links to those sites...I love cooking blogs!!

The Good Cook said...

Kathy B,

You are a lovely lady with unbelievably good taste.

;-D

Thank you for mentioning my blog...

Nana said...

I like that. There is no recipe for Summer... that about sums it up.

We had a little accident w/ the salt in our ice cream one year. It didn't go over so big. It was funny to watch the unsuspecting as they took a big bite, but that was about it.

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

that'd be awesome. If I had a kitchen.

AiringMyLaundry said...

I love The Ungourmet. But I wouldn't even know where to begin on most of the recipes. I am awful in the kitchen. Things usually burn or wind up tasting like an old shoe.

passions and soapboxes said...

What would a recipe for summer be like I wonder.

ScoMan said...

It's freezing cold here. Too cold to go outside. Too cold to do anything.

Stop complaining about your lovely summer weather =P

Sandy said...

Would you really want a recipe for Summer?

Sultan said...

Very cool links, thanks for posting them.

Ginger said...

I've always said I'm bad at summer. Before I had a baby, I had to make a schedule for myself, just to survive. I'm a teacher, so I have the "time off". There's something about structure that I love - and keeping busy. It's decidedly harder when I'm the one making the schedule, instead of being the schedule follower.

Anonymous said...

haha I love this post!

Missy said...

Great post! I love summer!

Jen said...

I LOVE the ungourmet so I am going to look into the others.

TheKitchenWitch said...

Delicious Little Peach, I will happily cook for you the next time you are coming through. That's so nice of you to give me a shout-out.

Although you might be regretful when you read the incoming post about White Trash Food Motherlode! I know, I know, you can't take me anywhere.

Janell said...

This summer we seem to be surviving by going out of town a lot, but I don't know that that's really a helpful tip. :)

By the way that kid butt picture is hilarious! I'm enjoying your blog and will definitely check out the recipe blogs too. Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the comment. I love seeing new readers pop in!

Susie said...

I love summer...the good, the bad and the ugly. We just got back from our trip and we are ugly today:-)

Danielle said...

Your so darn popular now! You always make me smile with your words, so I am guessing that is the part of the recipe that makes everyone love you!

Gibby said...

Great metaphor, Kathy B!

I L-O-V-E The Kitchen Witch and I already can't wait to check out these other blogs. Thanks for the links!

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

I love The Ungourmet! Her recipes are always easy and delicious! I'm off to check out the others!

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