Like Riding a Bike

Yesterday we found that Didier had regained enough of his balance to (for the first time in three years!) ride a bike. Though wobbly at first, he made quick progress, and we were able to bike to Oakledge and enjoy a late-afternoon swim in Lake Champlain - a chilly treat on a hot summer day.













Didier wasn't happy with last night's culinary creation, a curried chicken salad with raita (cucumber and minted, spiced yogurt) and roasted chickpeas: too many flavors not coming together.




But there could be no complaint about these "drunken berries," soaked in raspberry liquor! (Just add to 3/4 cups Chambord to berries an hour or more before serving.)

Warm Lentil Salad with Smoked Kielbasa

Recipe for Warm Lentil Salad with Sausage

From the Garden

Today's meals were all about the garden. For lunch Didier made a pizza topped with swiss chard (sauteed stems and leaves) I picked this morning. If you think you don't like swiss chard, try this pizza, also with onion and red bell peppers: Recipe for Majorcan Pizza.

For dinner we had an abundance of zucchini and so--voila!--flounder filets with basil wrapped in zucchini very thinly sliced with a mandoline accompanied by grilled-vegetable ratatouille brightened with basil and feta. Recipe for Grilled Ratatouille

Blame It on the Rain

As it rained all day yesterday, canceling any summer outing plans, Didier made an "indoor clambake" with lobster, steamers, corn, smoked sausage, and red potatoes all bundled together in cheese cloth and steamed on the stove top. Add an egg and when it's hard-boiled, your clambake is done! Recipe for indoor clambake