Beating the Heat

Temperatures are rising and the prospect of heating up the house by cooking meals is dim.  So this morning, while it was still cool enough, I made enough hot weather food to last a few days.

The hard boiled eggs are, of course, a summertime standard.  Next to them are "new pickles".  At least that's what we call them in this house.

Thinly slice cucumbers, salt them nicely, squeeze on lemon or lime juice and sprinkle with cayenne pepper.  All amounts to your liking, naturally. 

Pasta salad is another standard I suppose. this one is full of goodies from our garden (carrots, beets, scallions, peppers, and the like) and it is dressed with a combination of mayonnaise, cider vinegar and Parmesan cheese.  I cooked up two pounds of pasta, so it should keep us for a while.

And finally, some herbed ricotta cheese, seasoned with dried bergamot (from my daughter's garden), fennel flowers (from mine), salt, and white pepper.

Yummy for the tummy and cooling too!  See you at the creek!