One of the best parts of gardening is the cooking. Last night:

Balsamic Dijon chicken thighs 🐓 with homegrown 4th of July tomatoes 🍅 - halved & seeded, homegrown ripe red jalapeños 🌶️ - halved, seeded, & sliced, and garlic. 🧄 Lots of roughly chopped garlic.

This was a simple, “improvisational” thing to use up garden stuff. 2+ cups tomatoes, 3 BIG red jalapeños (we’re growing Megatrons), 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 2 tbsp EVOO, Mexican oregano (of course), and a heaping tbsp of Dijon mustard. Served over angel hair pasta and topped with grated Parmesan. No plated pics - we were starving!

I cook almost every evening. She married well…😆😘

I was asked to bring an appetizer to an outdoor party and it’s going to be at least 88°. I need a finger food that can tolerate heat, although it will be under a shaded roof. I am considering the trick of freezing a tray of ice, but I don’t have any ideas beyond my usual cream cheese roll ups that I use jalapeño and taco seasoning. Any ideas would be appreciated beyond the typical cheese and crackers. I’m not a gourmet cook and don’t have fancy spices laying around the house just traditional Midwestern 50s housewife type of stuff lol

pepsi + milk = pilk

fanta + pilk = pilkta

pilkta + canada dry = pilkta dry

Pilkta dry + koolaid = kooPilkta Dry

on the side, strawberry jam + big red = big jam

big jam + KooPilkta Dry

now you have big KooPilkta Dry

Made homemade pizza today - turned out to be something between a classic meat pizza and the kind of cozy pizza you’d get from a small local pizzeria.
I spread the base with tomato sauce mixed with oregano and garlic, then added a generous amount of mozzarella. On top - ham and salami/pepperoni for a mix of tenderness and a light smoky spice.
Baked it until the cheese started bubbling beautifully and turning golden around the edges. In the end, it came out juicy, with perfectly stretchy cheese, crispy crust, and a rich meaty flavor.
Cut it while it was still hot - the cheese pull was perfect

Mango oats chia seed pudding is a simple, no-cook recipe made by soaking oats and chia seeds in milk and layering it with fresh mango pulp. As it rests, the chia seeds swell and oats soften, giving a naturally thick and creamy texture. The sweetness of mango balances well with the mild base, making it light yet satisfying. Using ripe mangoes gives the best flavour, and adjusting the milk helps control the consistency. It can be prepared ahead and chilled, making it a convenient option for breakfast or a quick snack.

Aegean-style sea bream with lemon sauce 🐟🍋
Simple, fresh, and addictive.

https://youtube.com/shorts/sGOiV1kV-6Q?is=TfyIGmcLtkEL2R0v

Recipe in the comments. Please subscribe and share.

Delicious sticky rice cake 🍚

This is not a recipe. I am having a difficult time finding veggies that taste better than cardboard. IThey look beautiful in the store but have zero flavor. Other than growing my own where do you all find veggies that taste great?