A Taste Of Summer

One of my favorite aspects of summer is having the time to cook. When it comes to cooking, I have big shoes to fill on both sides of my family. My grandmother Barbara is a quintessential home-cooked master. Her strawberry cookies are still being talked about by my close friends. Her mother, my Nana, was by far the best southern cooking woman I've ever known. Her field peas, cornbread, and biscuits were the best around. Even the animals like deer, rabbits, squirrels, birds, cats and dogs would gather at her back door in hopes a few extra servings.

My grandmother Wilma was the baker. Her sweet treats were mighty fine! From pound cakes to divinity, she could definitely hold her own in the kitchen. Knowing her it probably looked just as wonderful as it tasted. My mother more than anything knows how to bring comfort with her dishes. Chicken di van, white chicken chili, broccoli casserole, and banana pudding. Nothing says welcome home more like a family dinner. 

I once was asked, "what type of food best describes your cultural identity?" Although most people around here might say...well, southern of course! I on the other hand must be authentic to my own taste palette. I love southern cuisine, but nothing says authentically me more than Mediterranean cuisine. I love basil, feta, tomatoes, mozzarella, olives, hummus....(I can go on on!). One of my favorite dishes is this Arugula Salad With Penne. My compliments to Kristine's Kitchen for this delicious recipe that is a crowd favorite. 

No wonder I am counting down the days until Adventure Is Out There. 27 days to be in fact until my Mediterranean adventure. I cannot wait to taste and sample all that Spain, Monaco, Italy, Greece, and Turkey has to offer. 

A large part of cooking is daring to challenge yourself. I am not a baker. I'm too impatient and not really a chemist when it comes to the kitchen. I like to be more creative and artistic, putting in whatever and how much of whatever into my dishes. There are few boundaries really for me when it comes to cooking in the kitchen. Baking however is a different story. Precision and timing, patience and overseeing is a must in the entire process. With the help of my wonderful mother I was able to make my first triple layered cake. The lucky first recipe?

Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake. Thanks to Sally's Baking Addiction for this recipe.It truly looks and tastes like the first bit...or should I say bite of summer. I chose to modify it by doing a blueberry cream cheese icing instead of a simple traditional cream cheese icing. 

Whatever palette your taste buds enjoy, challenge yourself to create something new this summer season!

-Authentically Me