The Naptime Chef

We’ve been up in Cooperstown this week getting in the summer frame of mind. It’s been nice to take a break from our busy camp schedule and spend some time with my parents. Cooperstown is a lovely place all summer long but I’ve always felt that June is one of the best times of year to visit. Town has a pre-tourist calmness, each day is a perfect 75F, and the lake is just coming alive with ducks and fish jumping everywhere. On Monday we even launched our little boat. Also, by June our local Farmer’s Market is booming with terrific goodies from the farmer’s and artisans in the region. It is one of our favorite places to visit. Here are a few of things we have to look forward to seeing this summer!

This is the latest installment of my Powernap column. The series where I share quick, easy food that can be made for all kinds of situations. Powernaps are short and sweet, and so are these recipes. These are the things I make in a jiffy when I need a quick snack, am in the mood for a recipe experiment, or simply need to clean out the pantry.

Last year I replicated the Roasted Peach Lemonade I had first tried in Atlanta at BlogHer Food. It was extraordinary and we drank it all summer long. Last week I found the first peaches of the season in our store and decided it was time to revisit our favorite summer beverage. Of course, not being able to simply leave a classic recipe alone I decided to change it up and make it into iced tea instead.

On the heals of last week’s Kitchen Gadgets post I am bringing you a round-up of my favorite items for the kitchen garden. When I say kitchen garden I am talking about a simple container garden of assorted herbs and maybe a few small tomato plants that thrives on nearly any porch or shady fire escape. Not the lush English-style garden that requires much more gear than this to maintain. For example, a kitchen garden does not require a lawnmower, wheelbarrow, or electric clippers (thank goodness!) It only requires a few basic necessities to thrive. With these items on hand you are all set to grow herbs and enjoy cooking them with them all season (or year) long!

What’s Going on Today: Daughter is at camp all day, loving the warmer weather.

Naptime Goals: Make basil breadcrumb gremolata to prepare for tonight.

Tonight’s Menu: Pan Roasted Tomato & Mozzarella Spaghetti with Basil Breadcrumb Gremolata, White Wine

I told my daughter what we were having for dinner and she asked “what is gremo-wa-wa?” I nearly died laughing. It is definitely an unusual word when you take the time to think about it.  The whole idea of making it on this particular day was my fresh batch of breadcrumbs (from the remainder of an enormous baguette nobody ended up finishing) and, of course, the booming basil plant on our porch. I swear, if I didn’t know any better I’d suspect someone was slipping it steroids when I wasn’t looking.

I am stopping in with a quick book tour update! Last week I confirmed five awesome new book signing events at Costco’s throughout the Northeast. I am beyond thrilled that one of my favorite places to shop is hosting book signings for me! I hope you’ll all come out to say Hi if you live in any of these areas, I would love to see you. The dates and times of each signing are below and you can also find all this information on my book page.  If you can’t make it I will miss you, but remember you can always buy the book online too. It has great food for your family year-round and always makes a great hostess gift!

Saturday, June 16th at 11am at the Norwalk, CT Costco*

Sunday, June 17th at 2pm at the Milford, CT Costco

Saturday, June 23rd at 11am at the Nashua, NH Costco

Saturday, June 30th at 12 noon at the Danvers, MA Costco

Sunday, July 1st at 12 noon at the Waltham, MA Costco

* Here is where you can find the exact addresses of each Costco location!

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