DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

June 22, 2009 - DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Greetings to all cookbook lovers, recipe-saving addicts, and just plain passionate cooks. It's great to have such a diverse audience of people who love to try new recipes and get great satisfaction cooking up new dishes. But of all times of the year to cook, I must say that the hot days of summer may be the hardest. It is not the greatest weather to motive us to spend time at the stove. Experiencing the 100 degree weather this week on several days, one would think we were already in the "Dog Days of Summer." And since we are only in June, we ask ourselves, "What will July and August bring?"

I say, "Let's not cook at all,"…or very, very little.  Just open *Rosalie Serving Italian* cookbook and pick out some great dishes to fix with the hot weather in mind. We can get started with *Italian Stuffed Tomatoes,*-- a great dish using 4 large fresh and firm, garden tomatoes, 2 cans of tuna packed in olive oil, chopped vegetables plus hard boiled eggs, all stuffed with a touch of basil and red wine vinegar into the garden fresh tomatoes. Add crackers or rolls, and together with a big glass of iced tea, everyone is happy.

Next, consider the wonderful *Italian Green Bean Salad,* which is fresh green beans cooked up with small new red potatoes. This is one of my favorite summertime salads. Once the green beans are cooked and drained, just add a large yellow onion, sliced thin. Then add minced garlic, fresh tomatoes cubed, and a fantastic extra-virgin-olive-oil/cider-vinegar dressing to top it off. When you eat this dish warm, with a slice of Italian bread, you may feel totally revitalized. Or if you must have a sandwich, just fix up some salami and provel cheese, slather it with a little pesto sauce, and you will have dinner the whole family will rave about.

Finally, my mother's *Awesome Potato Salad,* is the best potato salad ever! The trick to this dish is the sweet-sour bacon/vinaigrette dressing that flavors the potatoes, eggs, and other ingredients. Just whip it up in no time, and throw a few burgers on the grill outside the door with little or no attending, and watch everyone praise the cook.

While the "Dog Days of Summer" are indicating that the dogs and cats are hiding under the front porch to keep cool, we can enjoy good food indoors, with little or no cooking. And when the sun does go down, and the evening starts to cool a little, how about making some *Italian Lemon Ice?* This refreshing treat is nothing more than shaved or tiny crushed ice, drenched in frozen lemonade with real squeezed lemon juice, and sweetened just enough to keep it tart/sweet. Munching the flavored ice while sitting up on the porch and viewing the sunset is nothing short of being in Venice, Italy, proxy.

So, my friend, don't sweat-- play it cool. Get out your *Rosalie Serving Cookbook,* and whip up a fast "cool" supper within minutes. By the time July actually get's here, you will already have beat the heat!

Look for me at J. Viviano's and Son's on "The Hill," on July 11, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The address is: 5139 Shaw Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri. I will be there signing cookbooks and handing out *Italian Cream Cake.* Check out my website for other upcoming events, and have a cool next few days.

Buona notte, and Good Evening,

Rosalie