“A perfect summer day is…
When the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing,
the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.”
– James Dent
When I read this quote in my Canadian Living magazine, it felt as though the author was reading my mind. I had to giggle. I think he gave me the permission I needed to ignore the yard work and enjoy the holidays.
Many of us have trouble slowing down and relaxing. This summer, I decided to do just that. For years, I have been trying to find time to visit my childhood friend, Tracy, who 19 years ago left the treeless plains of west-central Saskatchewan to work as a nurse in northern Alberta. She is a good friend, so I owed it to her to load up the kids, leave the work at home and reconnect. The driving was beautiful, we saw different country and we got to know each other all over again as we laughed about our childhood capers while watching our children connect, as we had done some 30 years ago.
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Food can play a flavourful role in fun summer activities
Recipes – popsicles are made with lactose-free milk and yogurt so are perfect for those who can’t tolerate milk, while everyoneelse will also enjoy them
Yikes, childhood still seems so fresh in my mind, could it have really been that long ago? It seems like yesterday that we watched a movie on the town’s first VCR at the local furniture store, or learned to drive in a 1952 Chev car (three in the tree shifting), and how after late nights out her mom would get us up to go and pick wild blueberries in northern Saskatchewan.
I still think of that when I eat fresh blueberries. Take some time to experience the remaining summer and all that it has to offer.
Grilled chicken with veggies
We like this recipe because it uses our family’s new favourite dressing. Serves four.
4 boneless skinless chicken 0.5 kg
breast halves (about 1 lb.)
1/4 cup Kraft sundried tomato 60 mL
and oregano dressing, divided
1 zucchini, cut into chunks
1 red pepper, cut into chunks
1 cup chopped asparagus 250 mL
1/2 of a red onion, cut into chunks
Preheat the barbecue to medium-high heat. Baste chicken with two tablespoons (30 mL) of the dressing. Let stand 10 minutes.
While chicken is marinating, poke holes
in bottom of an aluminum foil pan. Toss
vegetables with remaining two tablespoons (30 mL) of dressing. Place in the pan.
Place the chicken breasts and panned veggies on the grill. Leave on until the chicken is cooked through and vegetables are crisp-tender, about 20 minutes.
Cooking with pears
Dear TEAM: I am writing in the hopes you have recipes for pears besides eating them raw or cooking them up as stewed fruit. – I.H.B.
Dear I.H.B.: I have friends who always look forward to harvest so they can have pear pie. I have acquired a recipe for this tasty dessert.
Pear pie
1/2 cup sugar 125 mL
2 tablespoons flour 30 mL
1/8 teaspoon ginger 0.5 mL
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 mL
2 tablespoons minute tapioca 30 mL
sprinkle of salt
8 medium bartlett pears
Pastry for 2 crust pie
2 tablespoons lemon juice 30 mL
1/2 teaspoon sugar 2 mL
Measure and stir together the first six
ingredients in a large bowl. Add peeled pears and mix to coat the fruit.
Prepare the pastry and line a nine inch
(22 cm) pie plate. Pour pear mixture into the pie shell. Drizzle with lemon juice. Dampen the crust edges and top with pastry. Crimp the rim of the pie and pierce holes in the top. Sprinkle with sugar.
Bake on the bottom shelf in a 350 F (180 C) oven for approximately 60 minutes until browned and pears are cooked. Yields one pie.
Streusel kuchen with purple plums
I love purple plums. We always buy a case when they are in season. Try this dessert that I clipped from Taste of Home magazine, sent in by Lisa Warkentin. I changed it just a little.
2 cups flour 500 mL
1/4 cup sugar 60 mL
2 teaspoons baking powder 10 mL
2 tablespoons cold butter 30 mL
1 egg
1 cup whipping cream 250 mL
8 purple plums
Crust
2/3 cup flour 150 mL
2/3 cup sugar 150 mL
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 mL
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 0.5 mL
2 tablespoons cold butter 30 mL
2 tablespoons whipping cream 30 mL
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and baking powder. Cut in the first measure of cold butter until the mixture is fine crumbs. In another bowl, beat the egg and cream, add to the crumb mixture and toss with a fork until the mixture forms a ball.
Press the dough into a greased 9 X 13 inch (22 X 33 cm) pan and arrange sliced plums over top.
Combine the second amount of flour and sugar and add cinnamon and nutmeg. Cut in the butter until the crumbs are fine. Add cream, mixing gently with a fork. Sprinkle over plums. Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 35 to
40 minutes.
Serves 12 as squares or six on dessert plates.
Ruby peach cobbler
On my counter I have peaches that have not attracted the attention of my kids who say, “yuck, they have hair.” The fruit has now become a vacation spot for fruit flies. This recipe uses the peaches and the straggling rhubarb stalks that have weathered the summer.
3/4 cup sugar 175 mL
3 tablespoons flour 45 mL
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 2 mL
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel 2 mL
1/8 teaspoon salt 0.5 mL
2 cups sliced fresh rhubarb 500 mL
3 cups peeled and chopped 750 mL
peaches
Topping
1/2 cup flour 125 mL
1/2 cup rolled oats 125 mL
1/2 cup packed brown sugar 125 mL
1 teaspoon cinnamon 5 mL
1/8 teaspoon salt 0.5 mL
5 tablespoons cold butter 75 mL
In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, nutmeg, lemon peel, salt, rhubarb and peaches. Place in a nine inch (22 cm) square pan.
In another bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Cut in the butter until there are coarse crumbs. Sprinkle it over the fruit mixture. Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 35 minutes or until bubbly. Serves six.
Cleaning up
The worst part about summer for me is cleaning. Dirty clothes after a day at the beach make me cringe, as do the dishes I ignored while relaxing on the shore. Try these tips to make cleaning almost easy.
- Burnt food in pots and pans – Sprinkle pans liberally with baking soda, adding just enough water to moisten. Let stand for several hours and lift the burnt food out of the pan.
- Coffee and tea stains in cups – Just moisten the cups with lemon juice and rub with salt to remove stains.
- Grass stains – Green knees are almost a sure thing after a game of football. Sponge on rubbing alcohol several times. Rinse and work in some laundry detergent and wash as usual.
- Ink spot eraser – Do you have ink stains on your leather chair? Go to the refrigerator and grab the milk. Saturate the corner of a cloth and blot until the stain disappears. Wipe clean with a sponge or fresh cloth.
Jodie Mirosovsky is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and one of four columnists comprising Team Resources. Send correspondence in care of this newspaper, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4 or contact them at team@producer.com.
