Rhododendron of July

wet rhododendron leaves in July
I am always late to the photo meme first of the month. I took these photos on Sunday, July 3, and it’s almost July 5th when they are going online. It was raining and pouring and drizzling on Sunday, so the wet adds a nice look to the shrub.

bud in July of rhododendron
As the rhododendron bloomed in mid May, there is a part of me that is ready to move to a different theme for first of the month. I did learn this month that the rhododendron forms new buds quickly, as you can see in the above photo. I have been considering photographing one particular shelf of my kitchen. When August comes, you will find out if I go through with that plan.

For more photos that are (close to) first of the month:
first of the month

Simple Summer Salads

salad bowl watercolor
Salad Bowl watercolor on paper, June 2011 by Leora Wenger

Thanks to all who participated in the simple summer salad hunt. The treasures are many!

Vegetable Salads

Whole Grain Salads

Ingredients that might work in a salad

  • Croutons, homemade croutons
  • Raisins, craisins
  • Steamed cauliflower or brussel sprouts: both taste good cold or room-temperature the next day.
  • Grated carrots
  • Tomatoes
  • Cucumbers
  • Fresh herbs: parsley, basil, dill, oregano
  • Lettuce: romaine, green leafy, red leafy
  • Spinach leaves
  • Endives, raddichio
  • Purslane

Carrot Salads

Beet Salads

  • Beets: If you are in the kitchen anyway, boil some fresh beets. They take 1.5 hours to cook (quicker with a pressure cooker), but most of your work time is spent cutting the ends of the beets off before cooking and peeling after cooking (10 minutes). You can mix them with cucumbers, olive oil and dill right before serving.
  • Cooking Manager: Marinated Beet Salad with Ginger and Garlic

Potato Salads

Light Meal Salads

Bean Salads

Spreads

Fermented Salads

  • Sauerkraut
  • Pickles – you can pickle any vegetable: cauliflower, parsnips, turnips, beets, garlic, radish or cucumbers

Salads with Cheese

  • Cooking Manager: Greek Salad with Feta Cheese and Olives
  • Baroness Tapuzina: Baby Lettuce Salad with Pears, Blue Cheese and Candied Walnuts
  • Robin’s Watermelon Salad:

    Prep Time: 15 minutes / Total Time: 15 minutes
    Ingredients:
    • 1/2 cup lemon juice
    • 1 tsp. tequila, optional (I left this out)
    • 2 Tbsp. honey
    • 1/2 tsp. salt
    • dash white pepper
    • 1/8 tsp. tabasco sauce
    • 1 medium-sized watermelon, cut into cubes
    • 1 cup 5% Bulgarian cheese, cubed (or feta or Roquefort)
    Preparation:
    Mix first 6 ingredients in small bowl and stir to dissolve honey. Taste for seasoning, cover, and chill for 1-2 hours to blend flavors.
    To serve, mix watermelon and cheese. Pour sauce over and mix well.

Notes from friends:

“For an Asian slaw…include pickled ginger & mint”

“Orzo salad -orzo, diced cucumber, sliced scallions, diced oil-cured olives, chopped fresh mint, olive oil and lemon juice.”

Summer Stock: Fireworks on the 4th

Fireworks 2010 July 4th Asbury Park Beach
Fireworks 2010 July 4th Asbury Park Beach

Last year we watched the fireworks on Asbury Park beach. This year we plan to travel to Donaldson Park (a five minute drive from home) to watch the local fireworks show. My daughter and I have planned a picnic dinner – she and my son remember being hungry last year on the beach and watching others with their picnic feasts.

If you don’t live in the U.S.A., on what occasions do you get to see fireworks?

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