School has started after an incredibly fast summer....REALLY??

Wow. It has been a long time, my blog friends. Too long. I somehow allowed too many simple moments to pass me by and instead experienced the fastest summer of my life. Many wonderful experiences occurred between Walt Disney World, my daughters' first two concerts, their first time at sleep away camp, wonderful, albeit brief, visits to PA, Boston and D.C., a weekend or two on Hilton Head, enticing beach reads, great and fun times with family and friends. Tough times too because life is never all good and no one can ever pretend it is. But I have to be honest in saying I didn't pause often enough to really soak in the moments. When I did stop, I saw this....

Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in your head and in the moment that you just go and you just move and you aren't really living in the present even though you appear to be. It is a trap because you experience life and all that is happening but do you really feel it? Do you really allow yourself to enjoy it fully in each special and simple moment? See, by sitting down and writing, I have to stop and think. I have to fully reflect on my present. I need to see my pup curled up near me sleeping in his Salty Dog bandana that he wanted Kelley to put on him. I need to focus on the cup of iced tea near me, unsweetened with lemon. Those who really know me, know how much I really love my iced tea. I need to focus on the fact that at 90 degrees, it is one of the cooler days this August. I need to close my eyes and listen to the sounds of summer. I think of my friends who are taking their children to college today and of my daughters that have just finished lunch at school and are in classes. I stop and notice everything going on around and inside me, and my shoulders relax. I take 3 deep breaths and I am here.

The times I enjoyed the most this summer were the spontaneous days - the ones where things just came up - a basic plan may or may not have been set but then ideas formulated on the spot and we just lived the day. I cherish those moments. Those were the very best. I am here.

Time to put on Locked Away by R. City and Adam Levine and get cooking.

Summer for me says lobster, blueberries, white sweet corn, really red, juicy tomatoes, cucumbers directly from the garden (not refrigerated), ripe plums, eating outside, being barefoot, ice cream (ok for me ice cream is a year round thing but you get my drift), the smell of food on the grill, the sound of my kids playing outside and a refreshing cocktail in my hand. This summer was the summer of the Moscow Mule. Even though school is in session, I have to remind myself that it is STILL SUMMER.

So, that said, I didn't cook a lot this summer. In part because I was traveling and in part because I was moving too quickly. BUT, one of my favorite dishes was from Bon Appetit in July, 2015. It was delicious but also very pretty, and INCREDIBLY EASY. You do need to like fennel to like this dish though. I do so I really loved it. Perfect on a hot summer day.

Shrimp Salad with Cucumber and Fennel, Bon Appetit, July 2015
2 lb. small shell-on shrimp (I used larger)
kosher salt
2 fennel bulbs, sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick, fronds reserved
1 English hothouse cucumber, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 small red onion, very thinly sliced into rings
1T finely grated lemon zest
1/4 cup (or more) (I chose more) fresh lemon juice
Coarsely ground black pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 cup small dill sprigs

Cook shrimp in a large pot of simmering salted water until bright pink and cooked through, about 3 minutes. Drain and let cool.

Peel and devein shrimp (I bought mine peeled and deveined, tails on) in a large bowl. Add fennel, fennel fronds, cucumber, onion, and lemon juice and toss to combine. Drizzle with oil and toss to coat. Add dill and lemon zest and toss again; season with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice, if desired. Top with more pepper, just before serving. Salad can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.

Enjoy and have a really happy day, everyone!