Key Lime and Avocado

I like to pass on my fair share of recipes that are tried and true, but don't be fooled. We're usually shoving frozen pizza into our mouths or scrambling at the last minute after Sawyer goes to bed, trying to piece together a "meal," typically void of vegetables or anything green.

Last night it was taquitos. Frozen beef taquitos and tortilla chips. Super healthy.

But here's a gem I found to class things up a bit. I'm not usually a salsa girl, but I bought this on a whim and am about to go back to the store and throw down $50 to stock up on as many jars as I can get of this limited edition. Frontera Key Lime Avocado Salsa. ¡ME GUSTA!

Off to the grocery store to make a salsa investment!

Urban Farmer

Our church started a vegetable garden a few years ago, and it's raised hundreds of dollars for our Warming Center and other community efforts. It's also allowed many of us to get our hands dirty and learn a thing or two about growing food, city-slickers that we are.

I signed my city-mouse up to be on the garden team. I figure no one's too young to contribute once they're able and it would get us out in the sunshine!

So far, he's been a good farmer who loves to water the plants, eat the veggies, and play in the dirt. Sawyer's a huge fan of tomatoes, so he seems to find these mini ones particularly wonderful. Beans are a close second.

An interesting development in this year's garden has been the flourishing of seeds that we never planted, but that have risen out of soil that was from the church's compost bin. Peppers and gourds spring up all over the place that weren't planted. I mean, what the heck is this thing, a mellon? A cantaloupe? Whatever it is, it's massive and it's growing in our temperate garden unbeknownst to us.

I long for the day we have our own garden where we can sow and reap to our hearts content, but until then, this city plot will have to do!

26.2 Marathon Challenge

My dad is a cool guy. He's a hard worker, a dedicated husband, a caring father, committed son, and an ethical employer. He rides a motorcycle and taught a karate class to kids at his church. He's a golfer, bowler, and all-around athlete.

He also runs marathons. The dude is 57 and he only started running a few years ago! In October, he's running one in New York and hoping to raise money for the summer camp that me and my siblings all went to growing up and that we worked at. He and another board member have thrown down a challenge to each other to see who can raise the most money for a capital campaign the camp is having to be able to maintain and improve its facilities. His challenger is in the lead and he needs your vote!

If you're looking for a worthy cause toward which you can make a donation, here's your chance! Please consider voting for my dad with your dollars and contributing to this amazing camp that has molded so many young people and changed so many lives, including my own!

Click here to learn about the 26.2 Marathon Challenge and make a donation today.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Sea Coast

As summer passes and fall returns, most of us bid farewell to our favorite summer recipes. In come the chilis, stews, and hearty foods, and out go the potato salads, grilled goodness, and lite fare. Sure, you can grill all winter, but there's something about following a calendar of foods, anticipating the arriving season's culinary traditions that I appreciate and stick with.

This means after Labor Day, my family says goodbye to our favorite, most adored pasta salad....drum roll.....Sea Coast Salad! I whipped up a batch yesterday for a Labor Day picnic and I can't keep the recipe to myself. Sorry I didn't share it in the spring so you could indulge all summer long. Next May I'll remind you.

I got this recipe several years ago from the wonderful Edith Benson, one of the most hospitable women on this good earth and I've been making it ever since. If you have an Aldi nearby, I'd recommend getting your imitation crab meat there. Also, I've never used the real deal with this recipe when it comes to crab meat, so if you try it let me know how it turns out. I think artificial just works better with this recipe for some reason. Plus it's a little cheaper, and who doesn't want to save a buck?

It's as easy as this: boil water and cook the macaroni shells until al dente. While you're letting the shells boil, chop up and combine the rest of the ingredients.

Combine and refrigerate. So stinkin' good. Your family and your tummy will thank you. It's lite, easy, and delicious...all you need for a summer meal.

Sea Coast Salad
2 cups macaroni shells (medium)
1 medium cucumber (peeled and cubed)
1/4 cup green onion
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 TBSP dill weed (YUM)
1/8 tsp pepper
2 TBSP red wine vinegar
2 tbsp salad oil
2/3 cup mayo (do NOT put Miracle Whip in here)
1 12oz package of crab meat