Happy Wednesday! I have been enjoying soaking in the sunshine each morning.

If I could live somewhere where it was sunny every day I’m pretty sure I would do it. You can’t beat daily sunshine early in the morning in my opinion! I am already mourning the fact that we are past the summer solstice. WHY must it get darker and darker in the morning from now on???

Lettuce get to some delicious eats from the past few weeks!

I made a couple of coconut cream pies in our usual Father’s Day fashion. I haven’t always been the biggest fan of coconut cream pie but I have to say it is growing on me! I am generally more of a fruity pie person as opposed to creamy. Which do you prefer?

THIS SMOKED WHITEFISH SANDWICH. From work. Has to be one of my all-time favorite Juicy Kitchen specials. Features smoked whitefish from John Cross Fisheries mixed with creme fraiche, capers, red onion, celery, & fresh dill along with some magically delicious pickled red onions. On our usual 9-grain bread from Crust Bakery. What more could one want?

A wonderful batch of molasses tahini granola fresh out of the oven. Its uses are endless! Prime for topping yogurt and smoothies, eaten by the handful out of the jar, drizzled with some almond milk, etc. etc…

All the greens with some chopped carrots, radish, cuc, and tomatoes. Drizzled with a homemade strawberry balsamic vinaigrette. I used this recipe for the dressing and substituted strawberry jam because that is what I had on hand. It turned out excellent!

An evening snack of my favorite lemon bars and a glass of almond milk. Summertime snacking at its finest!

Favorite dinner creation as-of-late #1. Frittata with corn, zucchini, cherry tom, goat cheese, thyme, and rosemary. Served along with a side salad and deliciously moist cornbread with *required* cornbread toppings of honey and butter. YUM!

Favorite dinner creation as-of-late #2. Quinoa topped with roasted zucchini/red bell pepper/red onion, the best JK sun-dried tomato hummus, and freshly grated parmesan. Alec and I LOVED this one and have probably already had it 4-5 times in the past couple weeks! Sometimes it is a blessing in disguise when the grocery budget is running low at the end of the month and I am forced to get more creative!

Favorite chocolate chip zucchini snack cake. Always moist and always a winner! Made x2 to bring to church lunch.

Vanilla cake with a cream cheese frosting for my mom’s bday. Photo taken en route to Grosse Pointe. Always a challenge to keep the desserts intact during the hour drive!

A new-to-me recipe of jalapeño pepper jack turkey burger patties that turned out insanely moist and delish! Topped with roasted white onion and served alongside JK potato salad, roasted broccoli, and usual side salad.

Cottage cheese hidden below a mound of summer’s finest produce. Are you a fan of cottage cheese?? I used to think I didn’t like it but I think it was more of a mental barrier of me thinking it was gross for no reason other than it seems and looks weird… but after recently giving it more of a chance I am now a fan!

I had a bit of a snafu with the baked donuts at work not rising as much as they usually do for some reason so *sadly* I was forced to take a bunch of them home. Naturally I proceeded to top them with chocolate and bring them to my grandparents’ for the weekend of the 4th. I actually think they tasted even better than usual in this denser, gooier form! Let’s just say they didn’t last long!

Everyday Enjoyment:

SO MANY GOOD BOOKS: A number of recommendations I have read or am reading lately: The Power of Showing Up, Brave Girl Eating, The Last Thing He Told Me, The Origins of Totalitarianism. Quite the array of genres! I can never keep up with all the books that interest me so my reading list is perpetually and exponentially growing! I’m not sure I will ever catch up…

Summer strawberry dessert recipes: My mom made this fabulous strawberry shortcake over the 4th. You must give it a try! I also really want to try this strawberry crisp with peanut butter oatmeal crumble and strawberry cream cheese pie before summer is over!

Celebrating America: Family, fireworks, lake activities, and delicious food over the 4th. Feeling blessed to be born in the greatest country to exist and always enjoy celebrating and reflecting on that great reality every year! How was your 4th??

Enjoy the rest of your week! Leave any book or recipe recommendations in the comments!