Time is flying by!

I can't believe we are nearing the end of the week.  I have been trying to get all the necessary garden and housework accomplished while physically recovering from the work leading up to the 4th of July party.  It was all worth it and it is not like I'm horribly ill or anything.  I'm just all achy and fatigued so the everyday work takes a little longer to accomplish and the afternoon nap is a necessity right now.

While I can blame chronic illness, I expect the junk food eaten over the holiday weekend did not help me to feel any better.  I must have gained twenty pounds in three days.  Back to lots of veggies!

I've been harvesting all the cauliflower, more kale, lots of cucumbers, and green beans.  Where the cauliflower plants were, I will plant more bush beans soon.  I like to plant them throughout the season.  The cauliflower turned out about as good (or not) as the broccoli last year.  I've decided our state's strange springs do not set well with this family of veggies... that is going from frozen winter to hot summer with about six hours of  nice spring weather each year.

The kale is as easy to grow as the green beans and since I found out one is suppose to harvest it all season (blush) instead of just watching it grow... it keeps producing more and more.  I started growing it when I read how nutritious it is and I must admit I'm only beginning to know how to cook it. 

I made kale chips once and they were fantastic but the next time they were awful (I used too much oil).  Still experimenting, perhaps with some Italian recipes (they use a lot of kale).  In the meantime I just saute' it with some butter and oil, salt and pepper.

Speaking of food and all, when our friends came over for Sunday Dinner I made the meatloaf recipe in Tyler Florence's Family Meal cookbook (which I highly recommend).  It turned out to be fantastic.  I usually don't try something new for guests but this looked straight forward (with no weird ingredients or anything).  Along with the new dish, I served my two tried and true side dishes that I've made for a gazillion years (the creamy cheese potatoes and the broccoli casserole recipes on my recipe blog).

Dessert was a pie I first made many years ago but for some reason, had not made it recently (I don't know why, it is creamy delicious).  It is called Possum Pie and you should have seen the look on my friend Linda's face when I told her the name of the pie.  We had just been talking a few days earlier about the possums that come up on my front porch at night, hehehe.  Since it is an old (1990's) Taste of Home recipe, I searched and was happy to find the recipe online... here.  Delicious... and you don't have to kill a possum to make it.

Stephanie had surgery today.  I know she would appreciate all prayers for a quick recovery.  She is suppose to be still and not do anything for two weeks.  I know her hubby and Elisabeth will help out, as well as her friends and her wonderful mother-in-law who is not too far away but... well, you know... it is not easy for a mother to be quiet.  In the meantime, I told her pain pills are her best friend for the next day or two.