Click here to view the new pattern from this illustration.

Don't you just love this weather? It's in the high 80's here today. Last night we sat on the deck and you could smell all the BBQ's in the neighborhood wafting our way. We discussed how great it would be to bottle that BBQ smell, perhaps mist it over the deck sporadically; yummy! With summer BBQ's I have cravings for things like pasta salad, corn on the cob, baked beans, brownies, and cherry crisp. Wow! My mouth is watering, is yours?

I remember as a young girl, our families had a yearly family reunion and everyone would bring their favorite dishes to pass. What a feast! Not to mention, catching up with loved ones, great stories and loads of laughter. My, but the stories were GRAND.

Here's an illustration inspired by summer, loved ones, and good food. The pasta salad was a yummy dish my talented SIL Nelda Jane made for us while we visited her and my brother Buck last year in Florida. K and I still rave over the fact that they were the most incredible host and hostess - Buck and Nelda, thanks for the good time, and for spoiling us-you rock! Wish we were there!

Today is my Mom's Birthday, and she and Dad are spending it with Buck and Nelda down south, WE LOVE YOU MOM and hope you have the best birthday ever! We can't wait to see you and Dad in a few days!

Labels: BBQ, chef, food, illustration, Maggie Summers, Margaret Albert Summers, pasta, summer

Tonight I made Pad Thai for dinner. A few months ago my friend Sunaree who is Thai and her husband had my husband and I over for dinner and she cooked Pad Thai for us. I have to tell you it was the most amazing and delicious experience. I didn't take a photo of dinner as it was the first time we had dinner together and I thought it would be rude. The food was incredible and the presentation so colorful. Her husband loves her cooking too and is her perfect match.

Yesterday Sunaree brought me some rice noodles and I tried my first hand at it. I bought a sauce mix ( I know, not very original) however I am going to try making the sauce on my own when I have more time. I only have about an hour in the evening during the week so cooking quickly is often a must. My husband and I had seconds and we'll both have some left over for work tomorrow. Yum!

This is the closest photo to what Sunaree served us for dinner that night (an exceptional photo of Pad Thai I might add!). Pim used a few different ingredients than Sunaree did and I used a packet of sauce picked up at the store which my husband and I both found quite good. I also substituted the shrimp for chicken and left out the egg as we are watching our cholesterol which is a good thing but fresh shrimp with this meal is incredible. I'll save the times to have it with shrimp when Sunaree is doing the cooking. Visually, hers looks so much more vibrant.

I can't say enough about Sunaree, she is an amazing cook and so sweet too, I can't wait until she cooks for us again. After all, why have a copy when you can have the real thing! :)

Labels: "pad thai", "rice noodles", cooking, dinner, food, thai