Summertime is here

and with that we tend to spend more time outside so with that  in mind, I thought I would share a little inspiration with you.

What better time to head to your local Diary Queen or other favorite ice cream spot, to have  a nice cold treat on a HOT summer day.

Sometimes my hubby and I like to take a walk in the evenings up to our little ice cream shack that is patronized by all the locals here.  It’s a great way to cool off as well as catch up with some of your neighbors. 

 

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.  ~Celia Thaxter

Now would be a great time to dust off that picnic basket and load it down with all kinds of goodies.  Maybe grab some books or a fishing pole.  Head off to the nearest lake, or meadow and just relish in the day.

You can’t have a picnic without food, so I have shared a few treats with you below.

"If a June night could talk,
it would probably boast it invented romance."
-  Bern Williams

Summer just wouldn’t be Summer without the “House Wine of the South”.  Ice Tea.  It’s always a favorite drink of mine, not only in the summer.  It is something I drink year round, but will tell you that it taste best on a HOT summer day when it is chilled with loads of ice and some lemon. 

Wine of the South-Sweet Iced Tea

Ingredients
3 Family size tea bags
2 Cups of cold water
1 Cup of sugar

Directions

I recommend Luzianne Tea Bags if available, if not Liptons is another great choice.

Place the two cups water in a pot and add the tea bags. Bring to a boil, do not continue boiling. Remove from heat and let steep. Pour warm tea into empty pitcher. Add the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Fill remaining pitcher with cold water.

In summer, the song sings itself.  ~William Carlos Williams

And what about some fresh strawberry pie.  Yummy!

Ingredients

• 2 (8 inch) pie shells, baked
• 2 1/2 quarts fresh strawberries
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 (3 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin

Directions

1. In a saucepan, mix together the sugar and corn starch; make sure to blend corn starch in completely. Add boiling water, and cook over medium heat until mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Add gelatin mix, and stir until smooth. Let mixture cool to room temperature.
2. Place strawberries in baked pie shells; position berries with points facing up. Pour cooled gel mixture over strawberries.
3. Refrigerate until set. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

Summer has set in with its usual severity.  ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Or some good ole Strawberry Shortcake!  Delicious!!!!

Biscuits
3 1/2 cups (14 7/8 ounces) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup dried buttermilk powder*
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) butter or margarine, or1/2 cup shortening
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 large egg
1 cup (8 ounces) milk*
Shortcake
2 quarts hulled strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup (8 ounces, 1/2 pint ) whipping cream

*Or substitute 1 cup buttermilk for the buttermilk powder and milk.

The Biscuits: Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Whisk together the dry ingredients, and cut in the cold butter, margarine or shortening. Whisk the vanilla and egg with the milk, then add all at once to the dry ingredients and stir until the liquid is absorbed. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead 4 or 5 times, just until it holds together. Pat the dough out until it's about 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick, and cut it into circles (using a sharp cutter for the highest rising biscuits). Place the biscuits onto an ungreased baking sheet, brush the tops with milk or egg white for a shiny surface, sprinkle with sugar if desired, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for 15 minutes before serving. Yield: 9 biscuits.
To Assemble Shortcake: Mash 2 cups of the strawberries. Slice the remaining strawberries, and mix all of the berries with the sugar and lemon juice. Let rest 1 hour. Whip the cream until soft peaks form. Just before serving, split open the biscuits, spoon half the berries and whipped cream on the bottom half, top with remaining biscuit halves, and spoon on remaining berries and cream.

Summer time an' the livin' is easy, Fish are jumpin' an' the cotton is high. Oh, yo' daddy's rich, and yo' ma' is good-lookin', So hush, little baby, don' yo' cry.
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward

I hope you have a blessed day and weekend.  Get out and enjoy our beautiful summer weather.