Yet another variation

Steak salad. Note: more peaches, the true star here.

As for the weather, which I like to report (when I remember): more rain/storms on the way. My impatiens, water-logged, have given up. Supposedly, there's also some disease going around. Downy mildew, they say. I think all this rain isn't helping.

Peaches

My neighbor and friend Tim supplied the peaches for this tart. The recipe is here. I added blackberries.

Next time, perhaps slightly less sugar, though of course such things depend, always, on the fruit...

Variation on a theme

Many of the same vegetables, plus kale (sautéed, inside), and chicken. Delicious.

Even prettier than I imagined

Grilled salmon with zucchini, yellow squash, and tomatoes. And those grilled lemons made the most amazing vinaigrette.

The rain finally let up

and I was able to grill: Lebanese chicken, zucchini, and tomatoes with feta and basil. Very pleasing.

Supposedly healthy muffins

Well they are made with half whole-wheat pastry flour and there's nothing unhealthy about raspberries, so maybe...

Per usual, buttermilk makes all the difference.

And that's a glass of vanilla kefir, to which I am happily addicted.

Cooking for a group

... is always enjoyable, I think. Here's some dry-rubbed barbecue chicken from earlier this week.

And later that same day, a cherry pie. The top wasn't as pretty as I would have liked, but oh well. The recipe was courtesy of Cherry Republic.

Fancy-ish

Sunday's project: a tomato-basil-cheddar tart. This recipe, like many good ones, comes from Leite's Culinaria.

Here it is, step-by-step.

First, the tomatoes went in the oven to slow-roast:

Meanwhile, I made the tart shell (pics of that are boring)... and... Vera did what she does...

and Theo did what he does...

If you know about Frosty Paws, then you know what this is all about.

Finally, about five hours later:

And then it was time to assemble the tart:

And then about 40 minutes later.... very pleasing.

And plated with sautéed kale:

Oh, and it was stormy on and off all day, which I quite liked. 

Fourth of July dinner

Grilled lamb chops, grilled asparagus, orzo salad. The storminess held off until after the grilling and then stopped again for the fireworks, which are surprisingly good here in Morgantown.

And for dessert, a devil's food cake made in a Mary Ann pan, with thanks to my friend Carol for sending it to me. With creme fraiche and berries.