A SUMMER HARVEST

   Once again, PBE walked in with another beauty. This time, it was something that made me appreciate summer just a little bit more.
   Here in the South, you can find fruit and veggie stands on just about every corner. Rich, vibrant colors grown with care from some huge garden that you can't find anywhere else.
   Of course, I am a BIG tomato freak. I love cold tomatoes by themselves. NOTHING beats it.  
   Now...what to make? Hmm...Some of PBE's salsa sounds good. Perhaps, fried green tomatoes? If this sounds good, come make some with me. Here's the recipe courtesy of  www.allrecipes.com. You can find the actual recipe and the credits by clicking HERE. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Ingredients

• 4 large green tomatoes
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 quart vegetable oil for frying

Directions

1. Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick. Discard the ends.
2. Whisk eggs and milk together in a medium-size bowl. Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal, bread crumbs and salt and pepper on another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Then dip the tomatoes into milk and egg mixture. Dredge in breadcrumbs to completely coat.
3. In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels.

SOMETHING "SPOOK"TACULAR WALKED IN ONE DAY...

   I'm not sure if it's my eagerness for cooler weather or if I'm secretly a Halloween fanatic, but either way I'm honored to consider both a part of who I am.
   Just the other day, PBE came in with this wonderful purchase from an estate sale. Being the trusty spouse of an estate sale guru, I never know what's going to come through the front door. So, this was a treat.
   It's a haunted house. Someone apparently placed a green Christmas bulb inside and VIOLA! it's a wonderfully "spook"tacular Halloween trinket.
   And HEY! What can I say? The kid inside me never died, and I'm honored to consider this a first edition to a Halloween town I'd love to get together and create. The only problem is sneaking this from PBE when he's not looking. LOL!

IT'S STRAWBERRY-PICKIN' TIME!

I must warn you, my imagination and visual imagery is not at it's best when I'm sitting here roasting under the sweltering buzz of the heat. HOWEVER, I did find something good to write about--simple but good. STRAWBERRIES!

For tomorrow's patriotic festivities, I purchased three packs of the sweetest, most delicious-looking strawberries. I ran them under cool water, saw them each glisten like rubies, and took a bite of one. I was right...SO JUICY! They will go into a pie where the devouring will begin.

BUT...of course...as the chef, it's only fitting I try a piece...you know...just to make sure it's going to be good. Wouldn't want any of my guests disgruntled and unhappy. LOL!

IT WAS EXACTLY TWENTY SUMMERS AGO

This summer marks a very special time for me. Exactly twenty summers ago, I began to fall in love with books without having to be assigned to do so in a classroom. WHERE ECHOES LIVE by Marcia Muller was the first mystery novel I ever owned, and I still own it to this day.

Grant it, the sides are creased and it has evident wear, but it was something that allowed the summer of 1992 to be one of my most memorable. It was also the summer that rained like crazy. As a young teen, I grabbed my umbrella, sat on the outside steps on the deck, pack myself a little lunch with a glass of lemon tea, and I'd read that book everyday until it was too dark to see anything outside. Then, I'd go to bed, wake up the next day, finish my chores, and do it all again.

During this time of year, the sweltering heat easily becomes unbearable and appears as though there's no relief in sight. Let's always remember those great things out there in life: tall glasses of refreshment, good books waiting to be either downloaded or opened, and going out to the nearest fishing hole with friends and loved ones for a time of cooling relaxation.

And who knows? If you look closely, the summertime blues might be easily to handle after all. We just have to look beyond the reality of life and see with our hearts. If we do that, then life's not so bad after all. ALTHOUGH...I do wish autumn would get here soon. Until then, I'll be making fresh-squeezed limeade for all to enjoy. We can sit on the front porch, sip tall glasses of lime goodness, and learn to be thankful for all the little blessings we never noticed before.