The Joys of Summer Nights...Some-Mores and Fireflies

I know my childhood wasn't perfect, but when I look back I don't often think of the sad or difficult times. Maybe it's simply a function of time, but more likely it's maturity. Our lives weren't fancy or especially privileged, but I had many more good times than not, and as I write this I get a little misty remembering summer nights on Cornwall Street, the street where I grew up. If I was lucky we would be cooking out, which was one of my all-time favorite activities. Our grill was very simple and we used charcoal. If there were gas grills they were too fancy for us. The menu was usually hot dogs and hamburgers and dessert was watermelon and some-mores. After I worked at making the perfectly browned marshmallow -- I was obsessed with getting the marshmallow evenly brown all around -- I often collected fireflies. Then and now, a perfect evening.

 

Thanks, Mary and Mazola

I was reminded of summer nights fifty years ago thanks to my blog buddy, Mary at "One Perfect Bite" and the folks who make Mazola corn oil. The Mazola folks are the gracious sponsors of a wonderful "Summer Grill" giveaway, which Mary hosted on her blog. My winnings arrived yesterday and I was delighted to see the great new barbecue tools, apron -- underneath the tools -- and a large bottle of Mazola. Mazola was a mainstay in my mother's kitchen. I don't do any grilling at home -- tiny apartment with no backyard -- but a lot when I'm visiting my Breezy Point friends. We do simple menus, hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken kabobs and my favorite, corn cooked on the grill.

  Sweet, local corn -- perfect for grilling!

What are your summer grill favorites? Are there other some-mores fans in Buttercupland? 

If you enjoy food blogs, I think you would really enjoy a visit to "One Perfect Bite." Today's recipe is a wonderful cold soup from Spain that is calling out to me.  

Today was a beautiful summer day in New York City. I enjoyed the sky -- blue, blue, blue -- the company of a friend and the quiet of my apartment. Sweet summer day!

As always, thanks for visiting. Wishing you many sweet summer days.   

Farmer Appreciation Week Foodie Friday and Four Winners

Thank you, farmers and farm families. 

My walk from the subway to my gym takes me past both Lincoln Center and a local farmer's market. The market is set up across from Lincoln Center several times a week and the produce is amazing. Even though I live in the center of the densest urban area in the country there are fabulous farm fresh fruits and vegetables just a mile from my house. I know this doesn't happen by magic, but rather by the hard work of the farmers of New York and New Jersey. This summer I've made every effort to buy local produce and the effort has been so worthwhile. My favorite fruit has been the actually ripe peaches that have been the glory of the summer. They are every bit as good as the peaches I remember from childhood, sweet and so juicy. 

 I was delighted to find the first apples of the season. I did hold off buying them, and instead chose a selection of sweet plums and donut peaches. Plums and peaches have a shorter season and I've got the entire fall to enjoy apples. 

I'm a day late, but happy to announce the four winners of the Sonic coupons. They are Tracy, Anne, Kelly and Carol Sue. I will email the winners in the next day. I so appreciate everyone who stopped by and shared their favorite flavors, and as always wish I had more coupons to give away. Happy there will be sweet times all over the country. Thank you, Sonic and my buddy, Madison. 

We've had great weather and I have been outside enjoying the lack of humidity and moderate summer temperatures. I've had two ten thousand step days in a row and it is a treat to be out and walking.   

As always thanks for visiting, take good care and have a great weekend. 

Please note: The coupons have been provided by Sonic, but the opinions are all mine. 

Giveaways, Giveaways, Giveaways!

I feel kind of like Santa Claus tonight -- if Santa was a woman in blue jeans, without a beard, and happily there is no snow around us. But I do have two winners for the tote bag giveaway and a new winner for "4 Ingredients Chocolate, Cakes & Cute Things." Unfortunately the original winner for "4 Ingredients" didn't contact me. I went back to the very scientific picking a name out of a dish method and the new winner is blogger buddy, Pondside. Yay, Pondside! I strongly suggest paying her a visit. Her latest post about the state of her neck -- probably all of our necks -- is one of the funniest posts I've read in quite awhile.  

I was going through my massive tote bag collection and realized I had two cute, cute green tote bags and since I find it hard to only give one giveaway prize, there are two winners. One is Peggy, who blogs at A Primitive Plot. Please stop by and visit Peggy for fun posts on gardens and grandchildren. The other winner is my Facebook buddy, Elaine. We met in January when we started to chat in line at the Katie Couric show. Elaine is a honey and I'm so glad we've kept in touch. Happy reading and toting, Peggy and Elaine.

Sometimes Santa gets more than milk and cookies and I'm happy to share that I won a giveaway from my blog buddy, Shoshanah at "From L.A. to LA." The giveaway is a thriller -- one of my favorite genres -- "When Camels Fly." I really enjoy visiting Shoshanah's blog and especially like her book reviews. Thanks so much!

I did get to Macy's today, but I didn't find a dress. I did find a nice black sweater and a fun pink and black top that I think will get a lot of use. I tried on a few dresses, but nothing looked great and I hate to spend money -- even with great sales -- for something I may only use a few times. I almost made a financially disastrous stop at the shoe department, but luckily remembered buying new shoes before a vacation could be an orthopedic nightmare.

A relatively quiet corner of Macy's. I didn't even have to wait in line for the dressing room.

I've got a bid day tomorrow. One of the sweetest citizens of Buttercupland and her family is visiting New York City and I'm the official tour guide. I can't wait to show them around and I'm wishing and hoping for good weather. 

I hope you all had a great Father's Day and have a wonderful week. As always, thanks for visiting and take good care.