a perfect summer meal

We've been craving chilled avocado-cucumber soup all summer, but it hasn't been hot enough for it. Until now. We couldn't find the recipe, so I did an internet search and found this recipe from the LA Times. Andy (who is a fabulous cook) whipped it up for us tonight along with the sandwich I can't get enough of lately: fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil paninis.

Doesn't that look good? We didn't have buttermilk for the soup, so Andy just mixed up some milk and sour cream. We also added a little fresh dill and chopped green onions. It was much tastier than I remembered our old recipe being.



Oh, and the cucumbers, basil, and dill all came from the garden of some friends. Andy is going to take care of their chickens while they are away, and in exchange, we get whatever comes out of their garden. In August. Needless to say, this makes us both very happy. We have plenty of room for a garden, and have attempted them in the past, but we just don't seem to be able to put the time in that's required. (We even let our herb garden go to seed, we've been so busy this summer, which is very sad.) We are very lucky that to be surrounded by generous and kind gardeners!







And now, here is the rest of that shop preview I promised you.



Chicken print dress by Barnsville U.S.A. (I am not kidding.)





Wooden wedge 1970s mary janes.





Bohemian wreath-print peasant top dress.





Plaid Jonathan Logan dress.





Feathered fascinator hat.





Lizard skin pumps by Andrew Geller.





Mod Peter Max-esque mini-dress.





Tooled leather wallet clutch.





A tiered cocktail hat covered in sequins.





And my new favorite, the colorful birdy print on black dress by Joan Miller Juniors.





xo

k