Sounds of Summer: Lemon Beer Bread

Summer for us wouldn't be summer without hitting up some summer concerts.  There is such simple joy in sitting out on the grass and listening to music as your children dance.  My family also uses this as an extra excuse to picnic-  something we all enjoy.

Our first concert of the summer was a repeat performer, and a repeat venue, but our first time seeing this performance at this venue!

Ruth and Emilia at the Botanic Gardens

Both kids enjoy this musical show about an alien who lands in a young girl's backyard, but Thatbaby especially loves it.

The space they used this year was a little different from years past.  With less sitting room for parents, and not a conducive space for picnics.

On the other hand, our local Arts Center started a new program this year with concerts every Friday night.  And there's much more space for everyone.

We attended a few of these concerts, everytime we were home on a Friday night.  They set out some chairs for people, but the rest of the space was open for you to bring your own chairs or blankets.

They also set up yard games and inflatables for the kids to play.  Which can make it even nicer for parents who want to just sit and listen while their children run around.

They also brought in food trucks every week, so that you could grab dinner while you sat and enjoyed the summer evening.

Sometimes we brought our own dinners, sometimes we picked up once we were there.  But we always end up with some kind of treat.

Speaking of treats, I picked up Trader Joe's new "Lemon Peal" malt beverage this summer, thinking it would make a nice evening drink for Thatboy and I.  It did not.  Honestly, neither of us could finish it.  It was harsh.  Not light and refreshing.  I started brainstorming immediately how I could use it.  I decided it would be best used in recipes that called for beer.  The lemon flavor there would complement the dish, and the maltiness would serve for the same use as the beer in the recipe.  I tried it with some chicken dishes, in the marinade, and it was successful.  But I knew that it would really shine in a beer bread.  I tend to think of beer bread as a great fall food.  Served alongside a nice roast, or soup, or chili.  But with a lemon-beer?  I was hoping it would add some lightness and brightness to make it more of a summer experience.  I was right here too.  Thatboy said this is the best beer bread he's ever had.  The boys loved it.  It's even worth buying a six-pack of Lemon Peal, just to make it!

Lemon Beer Bread

3 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

4 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp lemon zest

1 can of Trader Joe's Lemon Peal

1/4 cup butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a loaf pan with baking spray.  Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, pepper, and zest.
2. Stir the beer into the dry ingredients just until combined.  Pour the batter into the loaf pan. 
3. Drizzle the melted butter over the top and bake for 50 minutes.
4. Allow to cool in pan before slicing and serving.

Summer Festivals: Scotch Eggs

I don't know about where you live, but the summers round these parts are filled with festivals of all kinds.  And we've been hitting them all up.  We usually try to make it to one or two festivals, but since I started volunteering with Broadway San Diego, I've been helping man a booth and we've been attending twice as many!

Like this weekend we went to the Festival of Books.  I manned a booth and the boys went and listened to stories, got new signed books, and found a tortoise rescue.

And before that, we attended PRIDE and got to march in the parade!

I manned the booth at the ArtWalk while the boys went around and looked at art and made art.

One of the most unexpected festivals we went to was not related to my volunteering.  Thatboy had heard about the Scottish Highland games and decided we MUST go.  The kids had a great time trying out the traditional Scottish games.  Thatkid fell in love with archery.

Thatbaby learned how to toss sheafs.

But found out he really has a talent for caber tossing.

We watched the real competitors and ate Scottish food and had a really great day.  So great in fact, that we did a little Scottish food night at home.  With Scotch Eggs!    Scotch eggs are a typical British pub food, but also great for picnics.  The concept is easy - an egg wrapped in sausage and then deep fried.  This is one of those things both kids and grownups seem to love.

 Scotch Eggs

6 hard-boiled eggs

1 pound sausage meat

flour

2 eggs, lightly beaten

bread crumbs

Canola oil

1.  Place flour, beaten eggs, and bread crumbs in 3 separate bowls.
2. Peel the eggs and roll them in  flour.
3. Divide the sausage meat into 6 balls and flatten slightly.
4. Place each egg in the center of each flattened ball and wrap the sausage meat around the egg.
5. Roll the sausage covered egg in flour, then dip in egg, and then roll in the bread crumbs.  Place in refrigerator while the oil heats.
6. Heat canola oil until it reaches 375 degrees.  Fry the eggs in the hot oil until browned and cooked through. 
7. Drain on paper towels.  Chill and serve cold.

Summer Fair: Simple Summer Salad

School's back, which is the unofficial end of summer - despite the fact that it's still so super hot here and theoretically we've got another month of "summer."

I think we've done a pretty good job of making the most of the summer.  Starting with the fair.  There's never enough time to do everything we want to do at the fair now that we have kids and head home before it gets dark.  So we made it out twice this year to fit in everything. 

The theme of the fair this year was "Ozsome", and there was a ton of Wizard of Oz themed attractions to peruse.

Including props to create your own scenes.

And the Wizard was there with some of his friends.

There were even themed food - like Emerald City lemonade.

The kids of course love the rides the best.

Due to Newcastle disease, the fair had a no fowls this year, which meant we didn't get to watch the turkey races.  I didn't mind so much, because as I predicted, the turkey people brought their camels instead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first time we went, Thatboy and Thatkid won a father/son look alike contest!

We listened to fair music, took silly fair pictures, and ate all the crazy fair food.

And as much as I love crazy fair food, it always makes me crave something healthier the next day.  It must be my body trying to right itself after spicy, fried foods.  Lately all I want is salads.  Green, leafy, crisp, crunchy salads.  And the nice thing about salads is they are incredibly easy to make.  Whether as a side dish or a main meal, they're on your plate in minutes. 

Simple Summer Salad

1 head of romaine lettuce, shredded

1 grapefruit, peeled and sectioned

2 bell peppers, julienned

1 cup of cherry tomatoes

1. Make a bed of the romaine on a platter or shallow bowl.
2. Arrange the grapefruit, peppers, and tomatoes atop the romaine.
3. Dress with a light vinaigrette.

Summer Theater Fun: Peach and cherry ice cream

We started the summer theater season a little early this year, while the boys were still in school, because that's when Charlie and the Chocolate Factory came to town. 

And to really fit with the theme, we took the boys to Sugar Factory before hand and loaded them up with their very own version of the chocolate factory - milkshakes loaded with chocolate and candy.

The very next night we went to see our own little performer.  His very first play, he entertained us all with his stunning performance as Big Bertha Lee in the first grade's production of "The Three Nanny Goats Gruff."

Thatboy and I also took in some shows of our own - at our neighborhood theater as well as heading out to see Puffs in it's first California production.

There's no summer theater without hitting our favorite outdoor venues for picnics and musicals.  This summer we saw Matilda, which was phenomenal.

And we saw Wizard of Oz, which is always a favorite in our house.

And when I found out that a local children's theater was doing James and the Giant Peach?  Well we hit that up too. 

Which was the inspiration for this peach ice cream.  Well that and the fact that I bought these amazing smelling peaches, that tasted only "alright."  It was disappointing.  But alright peaches are great for baked goods, which was my plan.  Until Thatkid suggested ice cream instead.  And those cherries?  They're more than alright.  So they had to go in too.  Stone fruits all go together so well.  

Peach and Cherry Ice Cream

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups heavy cream

2 cups half and half

2 peaches, peeled and diced

1 cup cherries, pitted and chopped

1.  Combined eggs, sugar, salt, cream and half and half in a saucepan over medium low heat.   Use a candy thermometer and cook until the mixture is 160 degrees.
2. Remove from the heat and stir in the peaches and cherries.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.
3. Pour the cold mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to your maker.