Friday, July 02, 2010

Impromptu Pearl Party and July 4th


Happy July 4th to you and yours.

I was packing dishes for goodwill when Bernie came back from Chicago and Chris arrived from the East Coast. We had to have a pearl party. Never mind my extra dishes were loaded in the car for good will.

My third trip to goodwill to donate leftovers from my garage sale I found eight huge green glass goblets just right for gazpacho that coordinated with the dishes I had planned to give away. A good thing I didn't. They worked well with Monet and dark green placemats.

The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook provided the gazpacho recipe. Plenty of fresh tomatoes, cucs and tomato juice serve as the base with chopped stoplight peppers, onion and garlic. A dollop of sour cream on top and homemade garlicy croutons completed the presentation. Yummy and comfortably filling.

A pitcher of fresh squeezed lemon juice allowed each to make their own lemonade with honey. A simple pleasure. So what if I served ice cubes with salad tongs.

We caught up on each other's news. Chris kayaks and has learned to sail off the East Coast. Bernie returns to Chicago next week to begin radiation treatments. It was a time to celebrate each other's accomplishments and offer support. We're our own Yah Yah Sisterhood AKA Pearl Girls.

Deep in my hutch I found eight clear yellow dessert plates just right for a slice of homemade Suzane Somer's New York Style Cheesecake with Raspberry Coulis and a fresh strawberry fanned by Chris. And she stayed to help with dishes, God Bless her.

July 4th reminds us to treasure our simple pleasures, our freedom and take nothing for granted. I hope you have a safe Holiday.

2010 Red Convertible Travel Series

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