What I ate Wednesday 22

Hello again.  Well it's certainly more than 22 weeks into the year, but sometimes life gets in the way of taking pictures.  Actually I've spent most of July traveling, and it has been wonderful. I tend not to take too many pictures when we are away as a family or when I'm dining out.  (Although if you've read enough posts you know I break that rule too.)  We've had beautiful sunny hot weather lately and since I eat seasonally, for the most part, what I eat changes too.  All of the produce is locally grown except for the peaches and the blueberries are from lower Michigan (so within a 200 mile radius from Appleton). 

Breakfast: Buckwheat protein pancake, fruit, green juice and of course coffee.  

I love maple syrup and I was really craving it yesterday.  I whipped up a batch of this giant pancake, added some natural peanut butter and maple syrup and topped it with local berries.  We're on to raspberry season and blueberries and of course peaches.  The peaches aren't really local, but they are seasonal from Tree Ripe Citrus and so delicious. 

Lunch: Quinoa, tomato, cucumber and feta salad and cherry gazpacho.  

This cold salad and cold cherry soup are great on a hot day.  The cherries are from my favorite farm stand in Door County, Schartner's.  

Dinner: Roasted salmon with current sauce, salad from our garden and cherry tomatoes.  

This was my first time using fresh black currants which I picked up from our Saturday market.  The sauce/vinaigrette is a simple combination of chopped red onions, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, a pinch of salt and sugar, 2 T olive oil and 1 cup of fresh black currants or thawed frozen currants.  

Dessert (not pictured): A slice of cherry pie from Schartner's market.  Karen Schartner makes great pies so I always pick up a small one when I can.  

Bon Appétit!

And as always with love from the Midwest,

Beth 

There's Still Time

I love flowers.  I can't get enough of them. 

Hello readers.  You may be asking there's still time for what?  The answer is to enjoy the summer and get outside.  Recently my husband and I were talking about how we as a nation need to get outside and put away our technology.  

There have been many articles stating the benefits of fresh air and green space.  However for me I came up with a short list of why I like to get outside.  Here they are:

• I feel better when I spend sometime outside.  This could be only 15 minutes, but it really does help.  I won't lie though the more time out the better for me.  It does wonders for my body, mind and spirit.
• If I'm outside without my phone I have time to think.
• I love to hear the sounds of nature.  Recently I had the opportunity to listen to the night sounds of nature and morning sounds.  It is so different, the insects, birds and then no sound at all.

A view from my morning run in Door County this last Monday. 

There are plenty of ways to sneak in a little or a lot of time outdoors.  It doesn't have to be all at once if that isn't always your thing.  A couple of ideas include:

• cook - light the grill and maybe do a whole meal outdoors if you can
• read a book 
• knit
• stargaze 
• paint or sketch 
• have a picnic or eat a meal outside
• play with a child or a pet
• exercise - walk or run with a friend or do yoga or lift some weights in the grass
• hang laundry outside
• go for a hike 
• simply sit and do nothing and enjoy

Picnic in the park.  Pasta salad, water and kombucha

I hope this list encourages you to enjoy the summer weather and spend a bit more time outside.

As always with love from the Midwest,

Beth 

Vacation

I love my summer vacation in Florida.  We are so blessed to be able to enjoy my in-laws home for 10 days in the warm summer. Actually summer on the Florida beaches is wonderful.  It's hot, but that's what I want after our cool June and very cold winter.  Also there aren't a lot of people so it's easy to get somewhere or go out to dinner or lunch.  There's also a laid back attitude which I so need and love.  I thought I'd just share a few of our pictures from this year's vacation.

I love how the scenery changes all the time at the beach. One day can be perfect and the next have a roll cloud coming in. There was a torrential downpour that day.  

I feel so lucky when I get to see the sunrise and I don't even set an alarm to get up and take a run.  

It's always fun to see the wildlife.  Our first morning we had this river otter scratching itself on the deck.  It  was so cute.

We did do some other things than sitting on the beach.  The Sarasota farmers' market is a fun Saturday activity.  The food is good and all the dogs are too cute.

The Grad Prix boat races are always around the 4th of July.  Our favorite restaurant for lunch, The Old Salty Dog, has great viewing for the boats going in and out of the Gulf.

Of course just sitting back and reading is always a great way to spend our day. 

Of course the food is always good to.  One day my middle daughter and I went to The Pride of the South for a BBQ lunch, brisket, collards and fried green tomatoes.  I was so full. 

Last day breakfast.  I know it's a little strange, but I had fresh crab from the day before and an almond croissant from C'est La Vie bakery.  Delish!

I hope you are able to get some relaxing time this summer.  

As always with love from the Midwest,

Beth