Everything & Anything about Nothing, Really

It would take way too long (and be way too boring) to catch you all up on the last 4 days of my non-blogging world ... so, I'll just say we've been living life and really enjoying it. Trying to enjoy the more relaxed days of summer ...

Inspired by Jessie (who for a few years now has made her own strawberry jam), Ethan and I tried our hands at Strawberry Jam. Well it was totally easy, albeit a bit time consuming and more imprtantly, totally worth it ... hello sweet summer strawberry jam!



Ethan so enjoys helping me in the kitchen and really loves putting on his little apron and doing as much as I let him. Today he got to taste the sweet reward of yesterday's hard work ;).


Erin shared a great recipe on her blog this week and I realized how much I love that ... so I thought I would share one that caught my eye ... first because it's "Bob Barker's Summertime Pasta Salad" and I just happen to know someone who is a bit of a freak when it comes to Bob Barker and the Price is Right ... and second because it looks really good and refreshing and healthy and summery ... LOL ...

Bob Barker's Summertime Pasta Salad

Bob Barker
From Every Day with Rachael Ray
June-July 2007

FOUR SERVINGS
Prep Time: 10 min (plus cooling)
Cook Time: 10 min

Ingredients:

1 pound tri-color fusilli pasta 3 bell peppers (yellow, red and green), cut into strips 6 ounces grape tomatoes, halved (1 cup) 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped One 6.5-ounce jar marinated artichokes, drained and chopped 1 red onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves, chopped 1 teaspoon lemon juice Italian seasoning Salt and pepper

Directions:
1. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and transfer to a baking sheet to cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss together the bell peppers, tomatoes, olives, artichokes, onion, garlic, olive oil and vinegar. Add the pasta, basil and lemon juice and toss again. Season to taste with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.

Happy Wednesday!!