IF I COULD SEND YOU FLOWERS

OUR DAUGHTERS HAD TO GO ON AN ERRAND FOR US. WHEN THEY CAME BACK HOME THEY HAD A SURPRISE FOR ME. THEY HAD PICKED FLOWERS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I JUST LOVE THEM!!!I I DECIDED THAT I WOULD SHARE. I WENT TO GET A FEW FLOWERS FROM AROUND THE FARM TO GIVE SOME MORE COLOR. THESE ARE FOR EACH ONE OF YOU! I HOPE YOU ENJOY. I WISH I COULD HAND DELIVER THEM TO EACH ONE OF YOU, BUT I CAN'T. JUST KNOW YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS AND HAVE ENJOYED EACH COMMENT THAT YOU HAVE LEFT ME. HAPPY JULY!

I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT IS THE 1st OF JULY. OUR FAMILY ALWAYS HAs SO MUCH FUN ON THE FOURTH. THE TOWN WE LIVE IN HAS AN OLD FASHIONED 4th OF JULY, WITH A PARADE AT THE TOWN LAKE THEY HAVE TURTLE RACES, A SILVER DOLLAR SAND PILE, 5 k RACE, BABY CONTEST, AND SINGING IN THE EVENING. A TOWN PICNIC IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. VENDORS COME FROM ALL OVER TO SELL THEIR WARES. IN THE EVENING FIREWORKS ARE SHOT OFF AROUND THE LAKE AND

ARE JUST INCREDIBLE. IT REALLY IS A SPECIAL TIME FOR OUR LITTLE TOWN. SINCE WE WILL BE HAVING FAMILY OUT HERE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD TRY OUT SOME RECIPES. I HAVE A FEW FOR YOU TO TRY. IF ANYONE WANTS THE FOCACCIA BREAD LET ME KNOW. IT IS SUPER EASY.

BRUSCHETTA WITH PESTO AND CHUNKY TOMATO SALSA

ONE TOMATO, 1/4 OF A SMALL ONION, OLIVE OIL, 1/2 TSP. OF

ITALIAN SEASONING AND CRUSHED BLACK PEPPER.

CHOP ONE TOMATO INTO SMALL PIECES. ADD OLIVE OIL

CHOP ABOUT A 1/4 OF AN ONION, ADD TO CHOPPED TOMATO

AND OLIVE OIL. SHAKE IN ITALIAN SEASONING AND CRUSHED

BLACK PEPPER TO TASTE.

CUT FOCACCIA BREAD, THEN CUT HORIZONTAL.

LAY FACE OPEN ON A COOKIE SHEET AND BRUSH OLIVE

OIL ON THE TOP OF BREAD. THEN SPRINKLE SOME PARMESAN

CHEESE ON THE TOP OF THE OIL.

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR OVEN RACK IS IN

PLACE AT THE TOP. BROIL BREAD UNTIL CRISPY ON

THE TOP AND SIDES. THIS PICTURE LOOKS A LITTLE

FUNNY. IT DIDN'T LOOK THAT WAY WHEN I EDITED IT.

OH WELL.

FRESH BASIL PESTO

MAKING FRESH PESTO IS VERY EASY. YOU NEED 2 CUPS OF FRESH BASIL, 3 CLOVES OF GARLIC, 1/2 CUP OF OLIVE OIL AND 1/2 CUP OF GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE. SOME PUT IN PINE NUTS. WE DON'T CARE FOR THEM SO WE DON'T PUT THEM IN, BUT IF YOU WANT THEM PUT ABOUT 1/2 CUP IN..

I WORKED SO HARD AT TAKING THIS PICTURE IN MY KITCHEN. I FINALLY HAD TO GO OUTSIDE. IT WAS GETTING TO LATE AND THE HOUSE WAS GETTING DARK. EVERYTIME I WOULD TAKE A PICTURE THE PARMESAN WAS A GLARE. NOW I AM PROOFING EVERYTHING AND NOTICED THAT I DIDN'T PUT THE GARLIC IN THE PICTURE. USE YOUR IMAGINATION. SMILE! IT HAS BEEN QUITE A DAY. WE DO NOT HAVE OUR AIR CONDITIONER WORKING. IT QUIT LAST NIGHT. I AM SO VERY SAD. LOOKS LIKE IT WON'T BE RUNNING TILL NEXT MONDAY. THIS 4th COULD BE QUIT EVENTFUL.

FRESH BASIL FROM MY GARDEN!!!! IT SMELLS SO GOOD!

ADD ALL THE INGREDIENTS (DON'T FORGET THE GARLIC), INTO YOUR FOOD PROCESSOR!

BLEND TO MAKE A PASTE. IT WILL SMELL SO GOOD AND WILL FILL YOUR KITCHEN WITH THE YUMMIEST SMELL!

SPREAD FRESH PESTO ON THE TOP OF EACH PIECE OF BREAD.

PUT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT ON.

SPOON ON THE TOMATO SALSA. IT IS READY TO EAT! TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK...

I ATE THIS WITH ZUCCHINI AND YELLOW CROOK NECKED SQUASH THAT I PICKED THIS MORNING FROM OUR GARDEN. I ADDED BABY CARROTS, BROCCOLI AND DRIZZLED SOME OLIVE OIL OVER THE TOP. SPRINKLE WITH GARLIC SALT. PLACE THE VEGGIES ON A PIECE OF FOIL. TAKE TO THE GRILL AND GRILL TILL TENDER. MMMMM GOOD!

GREAT WAY TO USE YOUR SQUASH. THINGS ARE STARTING TO HAPPEN IN THE GARDEN! THE SQUASH BUGS HAVE KILLED 4 HUGE PLANTS NOW. I TRIED THE SOAP AND WATER MIX ON THEM THIS MORNING. PLUS I AM KILLING THEM. YUKKKKK! THEY ARE SO GROSS. HAS ANYONE HAD MUCH SUCESS IN GETTING RID OF THEM? I HAVE LOOKED UNDER THE LEAVES AND I'M GETTING THE EGGS AND LITTLE ONES. KILLED SOME BIG ONES ALSO.

BLESSINGS,

LINDA