Summer is in full swing and boy, has it been a hot one! I usually love to take long walks in the early morning or evening but it has been so hot, I find myself sitting in the air conditioning, reading a good book – one of my favorite pastimes. I recently finished The Chef by James Patterson: a fast-paced thriller about a New Orleans police detective by day and a food truck chef by night. It was a good summer read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Too hot to cook? Summer meals don’t need to be complex – but that’s not a reason why they shouldn’t be delicious! If you need some fresh ideas, it’s really hard to go wrong with cheese and fruit. Don’t know where to begin? I have a few suggestions for interesting combinations.
Concerns have been raised by some that the COVID-19 recession will lead to economic deflation, while others say inflation. Which outcome is more likely?
Unfortunately, the last four months have brought quite a bit of turmoil. U.S. unemployment numbers were at a historic, record low of below 4% for 23 consistent months, only to be destroyed by a nationwide stay-at-home order that decimated our workforce. It is estimated that over 36 million people lost their jobs between the end of March and the beginning of June, and our unemployment rate is the worst since the Great Depression.* In fact, the currently horrible economic numbers can only be compared to those experienced during the 1930s.
During the recent quarantine, my family and I took time to relax, enjoy some frozen pizzas and popcorn and catch a few “under the radar” movies and episodic Netflix series. Sure, there are other things to do, but it’s all about how you like to decompress, right?
Are you a hot dog lover? National Hot Dog Day is celebrated on the third Wednesday in July. And the beloved sandwich deserves a special day because it is one of America’s favorite summer foods! The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council created this day and holds an annual hot dog lunch in our nation’s Capital.
In the summertime, supper goals include quick and easy meals that don’t involve turning on the oven. Pasta salad is one of my favorite options – not only does it allow you to take advantage of seasonal vegetables that are becoming available at local markets and create new flavor combinations, but it’s also delicious and always a crowd pleaser!
In 1852, in the northwestern region of the Mitten, a Presbyterian missionary named Peter Dougherty went against the advice of the local inhabitants and planted the first cherry orchard on the Old Mission Peninsula in Grand Traverse Bay. To everyone’s surprise, his stone fruit crop flourished and soon thereafter, cherry trees dotted the land. The first commercial orchard was Ridgewood Farm near the Dougherty property and the first processing facility was built by the Traverse City Canning Company.
To paraphrase wording used frequently in these trying times, I am older than 60 and have a pre-existing condition. That’s right: I am a Monster Kid.
