An upcoming class and a lovely feature

It’s never too late to learn something new. On September 29, at the Bethesda Strosniders, I’ll be teaching Canning 101. It’s free to attend and always fun.

I also want to share some information about a great local organization, Hungry Harvest. It’s mission is to eliminate food waste and hunger, and I think we can all get on board in support of those goals! One of the Hungry Harvest’s team members recently took one of my canning classes and today shared a wonderful article and some beautiful pics on the HH site. Check this out!

To all my friends and family in the Carolinas and Georgia, stay safe! I’ve prepared for many a hurricane in my lifetime and it’s always so worrisome and intense. You’re all in my thoughts, and I hope Florence backs off.

Pies and kids

I can hardly stand it, y'all. This Sunday -just 4.5 days from now- I will lay eyes on my boys for the first time in six weeks. The letters have slowed as have spottings of them in the once-weekly camp photo album. I saw Ol from behind today, but that's it since mail last week. Which I think means all great things. BUT, I can't wait to get my mitts on those two. 

OMG, how precious are his legs?! The kids are in line signing up for War Game team preference.

In the meantime, I've been working and nesting and making lots of pies. I taught a fab class last weekend: a dad and his daughters. How dear. We made two pies, and I have since finished the one that was in the fridge and made two more.

tomatoes, spinach, basil, chives, feta, mozzarella, eggs, and milk

lemon meringue pie

Plus I have overhauled the boys' rooms and bathroom, even teaching myself how to install dry wall anchors, repair wood trim, and caulk. Hear me roar. Y'all know how I love to paint. Mamma mia does everything look sharp. 

This has been a great summer, good for all of us in so many ways. I feel grateful. And I cannot wait to hug J and O.

PS- Know what's happening tomorrow? My PH 5 is being hung! FOR THE WIN!

A new delicious salad and a pie

I am bushed tonight, y'all, but it's been a productive, good week. We received several letters from the boys; Jack sounds positively ebullient, and Oliver does too, in his own understated way. No one who knows him will be surprised to find that with all manner of found object -stones, cobwebs, pine needles, etc- he has erected Tent 7 Town Hall underneath his tent (they're raised structures) at camp and is running it in his down time. We know not who else participates in T7TH but perhaps that doesn't matter. 

I am really starting to miss them and will be beside myself with anticipation one week from Sunday when I first get to lay eyes on them. Aah!

In the meantime, a beautiful pie and a new salad to share.

The pie is a strawberry rhubarb balsamic. Because yesterday was so humid, I could take great liberties with my oil-based crust. It's often quite finicky but is a snap on a wet day. So, fleurs.

And this salad arose from a burst of creativity and a need to use up some produce. I shaved a bulb of fennel and a nectarine, halved a few cherries, and chopped some fennel fronds and mint. I had some pepper-crusted goat cheese and roasted pistachios too, so those went on, and then I drizzled the whole thing with salt, freshly ground pepper, peppery olive oil, and some pear balsamic. Dreadful photo, scrumptious salad. Summer on a plate!

not the prettiest photo, but alas