Three summer recipes from bloggers I love, three books set in France and Cornwall, and a week that held both grief and joy
It has been a hard week. I mentioned last week that my niece’s father-in-law was in hospice, and he passed away on Wednesday. The strange part about it, about any of it, is that you know it is coming. You can see it. And there is still a part of you, a stubborn, irrational part, that hopes for a miracle. I am heartbroken for them. I honestly cannot imagine being twenty-six without parents.
Many of you wrote to me and shared that you lost your own parents when you were very young, and you talked about the challenges of that, the grief of it, the carrying on. Thank you for telling me. I do not take that lightly.
On a lighter note, my birds have feathers. I have been watching four little ones in the nest outside the window and I cannot stop checking on them. How can four tiny birds bring so much joy? I do not have a good answer for that except that they do. The circle of life is happening right outside my window and I am fascinated by every bit of it. As for the other circle, the one that involves patience and people and learning things you did not know you needed to learn, let’s just say I am getting an education. The most important lesson so far is patience. At this point I don’t have much.
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Friday Food
Summer is here and I am fully embracing the pasta salad life. There is something about a big bowl of pasta or a pizza that says Friday to me. Here are three recipes from bloggers I love, and then my sweet treat at the end.
Antipasto Pasta Salad with Herby Parmesan Vinaigrette by Half Baked Harvest. This is the pasta salad I want at every summer gathering from now until September. Short cut pasta tossed while it is still hot with a champagne vinegar and parmesan dressing, then loaded with cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers, salami, fresh mozzarella, and basil. The trick is the hot pasta absorbing the vinaigrette before everything else goes in. It is the kind of recipe that gets better as it sits, which means you can make it ahead.
The Tortellini Salad I’m Making All Summer Long by How Sweet Eats. Cheese tortellini, salami, baby arugula, roasted red peppers, feta, and a punchy Italian vinaigrette with fresh garlic and red wine vinegar. She calls it an antipasto tortellini salad. The arugula gives it a peppery bite and the feta makes everything a little tangy and creamy at the same time. I love that it is just as good on day two straight from the fridge, which is exactly what you want when you are feeding people all weekend.
Farmer’s Market Flatbread Pizza by Pinch of Yum. Shredded zucchini sautéed in olive oil until it gets soft and almost creamy, spread on a toasted flatbread, and topped with sweet grape tomatoes, soft white cheese, and fresh basil. This is barely a recipe and that is the beauty of it. Five minutes, a handful of whatever you brought home from the market, and you have Friday night pizza.
Something Sweet
Blueberry Swirl Bundt Cake made with Bonne Maman fruit spread that is perfect for dessert or a sweet treat with a cup of tea.
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On the Nightstand
Three books to add to your stack or your beach bag to enjoy on holiday, at the pool or sitting on your porch with a cool drink or your morning coffee.
The Secrets of Harbour House by Liz Fenwick. When Kerensa is sent by her father’s auction house to catalogue a neglected house overlooking the sea in Newlyn, Cornwall, she expects a job. What she finds is an extraordinary portrait of a young woman that dominates the hallway and two lives that deserve to be remembered. Harbour House was once the home of two fiercely talented female artists, and Kerensa is determined to give them their place in history. The novel moves between present-day Cornwall and 1930s Venice, and if you love art history, old houses, the kind of rooms where the walls have stories, this book will pull you right in.
A Springtime to Remember by Lucy Coleman. Lexie is a TV presenter who has always dreamed of producing a documentary about the gardens at the Palace of Versailles. Her grandmother Viv spent a year there in 1961 and never spoke about it again. When Lexie finally gets the chance to go, she brings her grandmother’s old diaries and begins to piece together what happened and why it was kept secret. Versailles, gardens, family mysteries, and a love story that unfolds across generations. If you love France and old gardens, this one is for you.
Outfit of the Week
Not all lemons are sour, this bright dress is a sweet piece to add to your summer wardrobe. I added an even brighter yellow bag, and simple black slides.
Outfit Details
Do you follow me on ShopMy? You can find all of the clothes, home goods and more that I recommend on the blog all in one place.
I keep thinking about those birds. They are so small and they have no idea what is coming, the first flight, the first time the nest is not there anymore. But right now they have feathers and each other and the whole world is exactly the size of that nest. There is something to be said for that. For being where you are. For not rushing toward whatever comes next.
What is bringing you joy this week? Not the big things, the small ones. The ones you almost missed. Share them in the comments.
I hope that you enjoyed Friday Favorites! Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for Weekend Meanderings with Kim. Juliet is taking a little break for the summer.
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