Summer Sunday with agua fresca

I hope everyone is enjoying this sunny summer Sunday.

Agua Fresca
2 cups cubed watermelon
1/4 to 1/2 cup water
1 cup crushed ice
juice of 1 lime
Agave nectar or honey for sweetness if needed

blend and serve over ice with a squeeze of lime.

p.s. The trees and shrubs all over Seattle are looking dry and crispy. Don't forget to water. Newly planted trees and shrubs need to be watered once a week during the late spring and summer, for the first three years after you put them in (even the natives).

Food tastes better when

you grow it yourself... or at least when you pick it yourself. Not much in life beats a good pacific northwest U-pick berry farm.

Anyhow, yesterday I picked this from our home garden: 

Today, while I was processing jars of cherry pie filling (more on that later), I transformed much of that harvest into dinner.

I did a play on a classic salad nicoise, but substituted chicken (what I had on hand) for the traditional tuna steak, and included the artichokes. I snipped some basil from out back, and made a basil vinaigrette to dress the protein and veggies. Perfect summer supper.

Now, before you think I've lost it and gone on a diet, remember that I was canning cherry pie filling. Mmmmmm rainier cherries. 

p.s. I used the kale by tossing it with spicy peanut dressing like I did here.

And then it happened

 

Gardening season started in earnest with these. June was sweet and juicy -- I was smitten. 

Strawberries were followed by these:

Then it was off to the races. Lots of time in the garden, on bikes, and at parks.

Where did the summer go?

 I think a lot of the summer was spent snacking on these, and commenting on how cute they are.

I just took a little trip to the Olympic Peninsula. When I returned, this is what I found: tomato plants as big as I am. Here I am trying to train them to their stakes.

 

This is what I harvested today. Any suggestions on what I should do with some or all of this stuff?

Zucchini, artichokes, lacinato kale, radishes, green beans, tomatoes, and a handful of blueberries.

What are you harvesting or cooking this week?