I don't know about you but I've been ready for summer for about two months now. Yes, I still face a long wait. Drat.
As much as I love central Oregon, by the end of winter I'm wishing I had asked to move to Hawaii when we relocated. Double drat.
At least the sun has been shining lately, and the days are getting gloriously and noticeably longer. Whoo hoo! I like those long summer nights when I can stay outside till eight or nine o'clock.
I know summer isn't far away in some parts of the country, like Arkansas where my family lives. Grandson Number One, Jake, tried out for baseball last weekend. He turned six years old last Saturday, so he's past the T-Ball age. Sixty-six six-year-olds threw, caught and hit at try-outs, and I still don't know if Jake made a team.
His dad was in a bad mood that day when I talked to him. Things had not gone well all day long, and apparently the disorganization of try-outs wore on one of his short nerves. I didn't pursue that subject too long.
But I did talk to Jake about his birthday and the party. Right now, he loves motorcycles. Calls them "hot choppers," for some reason. So of course, Papa Ron picked out a couple of really cool motorcycles to send him.
Seems that everybody had the same idea because Jake received seven motorcycles. More drats. I thought maybe I had scored an original when I tucked six dollars into the pocket of a pair of jeans we sent him. I usually hide a dollar bill or a toy in his pockets. Nope, somebody else gave him six bucks, too.
He had a pirate-theme party, complete with a visit to a gymnastics place that has a pirate ship, with slides and places to jump into foam-ball-filled pits. I asked him if the pirate ship was really cool.
"It's just like any other pirate ship, Nana," he said. I see.
His mom baked two of her famously good cakes, a ship and a treasure chest, and Jake said he'd put a piece in the freezer for us to eat the next time we visit. What a sweetie.
It may not be baseball weather here, but it's coming. Until then, I'll pretend it's warmer weather with a recipe from "Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cooking 2." Her Pesto Pasta Salad looks summery, and it gets its light, summery taste from cherry tomatoes and pesto.
Here's to warm weather, no matter how we get it!
Pesto Pasta Salad
14-ounce box fusilli pasta
7-ounce container prepared pesto sauce
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (I like grape tomatoes)
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups pine nuts, toasted
Fresh basil sprigs, for garnish
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water; then drain again. Place in a large serving bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together pesto sauce, olive oil and vinegar. Pour over pasta. Add tomatoes and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill.
Just before serving, sprinkle with pine nuts and garnish with basil sprigs.
Cook's note: Buy pine nuts in the bulk section of grocery stores and save a ton of money over those little cellophane packages.
Reprinted from "Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cooking 2," published by Meredith Books, copyright 2005.
Sharon Vail lives in Powell Butte. She's looking forward to eating that cake with Jake very soon. Readers may contact her at svail3@netzero.net "Cooking from the heart of Oregon" |
