It has been a very busy summer. Most of my time during the last couple of months has been spent in the garden. It needed a lot of attention now that the deck has been completed. The kitchen was placed in a secondary position…way down the list.

However, in my kitchen, I have flowers, lots of flowers.

Here is lavender on an open shelf,

and rosemary by the stove.

There are vases and containers of sweet peas in the kitchen.

The colors are vivid this year. It changes year to year, sometimes I plant pastels.

There are roses in my kitchen

and vases of mixed blooms from the garden.

The dahlias are starting to bloom, a bright red with chocolate-colored leaves is the first one.

Of course, I put some of the flowers in salads.

The fresh greens were from the garden as well.

Single-bowl dinners have been common.

One interesting new thing did happen in my kitchen. I know, I know… I am way behind with this trend.

Did you know that you can use fresh ravioli, potstickers, or tortellini in a salad? Of course, you do. But did you know that you can fry them (uncooked) and add them? Here vegetarian potstickers (frozen but thawed) were simply coated with a little olive oil and cooked in the air fryer until hot and crispy, then tossed into the salad. I have also done the same treatment for cheese tortellini. If they are from the fresh refrigerated section of your store (or you made your own from scratch – go you!), they don’t need to be cooked first.

Of course, the new deck called for a dinner party.

 

 

 

Lastly, here is the beginning organization for a larger deck warming party. Which got so busy that I forgot to take pictures. I am so sorry as the food was delicious and a good time was had by all.

 

I’m joining the In My Kitchen gang at Sherry’s Pickings this month. Please come on to discover the goings-ons in kitchens around the world.