Fourth of July Favorites

All of a sudden it's Thursday, my house is a mess, tomorrow is the big holiday, and I'm out of time for that blog post full of Fourth of July treats I've been thinking about all week. So, in the interest of maximizing this pre-holiday time, here are a few tried-and-true, easy-to-prepare, seasonal favorites from past posts that I'll be whipping up for the weekend ahead. Maybe you'll enjoy revisiting these as well...


It's peak season for garlic scapes (the edible would-be garlic flower that farmers and gardeners trim off so the plant's energy can form nice big heads of garlic instead). Scapes make great pesto and this recipe for Garlic Scape Dip is just a riff on the typical pesto recipe. Add a few crackers and six-pack of your favorite icy cold beverages and you've got a party.

Since lazy, holiday weekends offer us a bit of extra time, why not whip up a batch of homemade scones for breakfast? You can enjoy the season's very first blueberries in this recipe for June's Blueberry Scones. June is my mom and she's been baking these delicious scones for almost as long as I can remember. They're best freshly baked and hot from the oven with a slab of butter and a big mug of strong coffee. In a pinch, a few years ago, I also discovered that scones make a pretty amazing shortcake as well. Just slice in half and top with fresh fruit or a compote like Blueberry Lavender Compote and a little whipped cream. Super yum!

Ok, go have fun, be safe, eat well, and have a very happy Fourth of July!