summer desert

 you know it's officially summer when you've been invited to a barbeque. i volunteered to bring deserts, but i'm oh so indecisive...

1. mini strawberry shortcakes

from snappy gourmet

2. olive oil cake with candied oranges

from food babbles

3. blue berry streusel bars with lemon cream filling

from tracey's culinary adventures

4. strawberry cream cake

from everyday occasions

5. chocolate tart with creme and blood orange

from our kitchen

6. strawberry upside down cake

from joy the baker

7. citrus cake with lemon curd filling and orange lemon icing

from apollinas

ice ice baby

every summer i make mid-year resolutions. one of mine this year is to drink more water. i think water is boring so i revised that resolution and opted to drink more iced tea.

1. iced chamomile sun tea

from la buena vía

2. hibiscus tea

from my bueno cookbook

3. strawberry mint iced tea

from joylicious

4. mango iced tea

from bread & honey

5. ultimate iced tea

from cooking by the seat of my pants

gimme gimme more

gimme sweet nostalgia, backyard campfires, burnt marshmallows, sticky fingers. gimme s'mores.

1. s'mores bars

from cherry tea cakes

2. s'mores cake in a jar

from home sweet eats

3. s'mores graham cookies

from budding baketress

4. chocolate covered s'mores grahams

from sarah cucina bella

5. peanut butter s'mores turnovers

from recipe girl

6. s'mores cupcakes

from annie's eats

7. chocolate covered s'more cookies

from simmer down

atmosphere

meals are sacred and therefor shall be enjoyed in sacred surroundings. if your area is not as lovely as your meal, make some changes. even if they are minuscule; set out some fresh flowers, use cool salt and pepper shakers, add some color. 

pictures from dwellinggawker.com

wild and free

i am currently on a road trip through the midwest. between colorado, new mexico and arizona, i've seen plenty of colorful wild flowers growing. they look so beautiful i could just eat them all up. maybe i will...

1. violet tea cupcakes

from a little zaftig

2. humming bird cupcakes with pineapple flowers

from mrs. regueiro's plate

3. rice salad with carrots and chive flowers

from apron and sneakers

4. fruit and flower salad

from sabores de cannel

5. garden rose syrup

from yue's handicrafts

6. lychee rose cupcakes

from evan's kitchen ramblings

7. rose petal and coconut fudge

from cook republic

8. rose milk

from ecurry

9. espresso white chocolate rose cake

from poires au chocolat