charred rainbow beet + pistachio salad

Oh boy, it feels like forever since my last post - almost a month, craziness! Between a long 4th of July weekend at my sister in laws family camp on the lake in Maine, a trip to Chicago for a work conference and lazy summer days there hasn't seemed to be much time for posting. Coupled with unbelievable hot summer days I just have not had the motivation. However that did not last long, at the market I came across the most beautiful rainbow beets from Sanborn Mills Farm. I tell you, week after week they lure me in with their beautiful produce- absolute food porn.

chickpea, baby beet greens, radish salad // scape hemp seed pesto

Summer is here - the Farmer Markets are open!

Am I super excited to say the least? YES, why you ask- there are actually a few reasons:

First, I get to see my Farmers on a weekly basis

Second, nothing beats fresh organically grown local produce

Third, I get to ride my new bike with the snazzy market basket attached to the front.

My Mom and I rode our "vintage" bikes down to the market on Saturday, it was so much fun. It had been a while since I rode a bike on an actual road versus a bike path- it took just one trip to be fully comfortable on a bike again. Growing up riding a bike was my mode of transportation before getting my license, my cousin and I would ride our  bikes all over town- I loved it!

shallot balsamic tomato soup

Say what? Soup in the summer, has she gone mad?!

No, not mad- just lazy and in need of some comfort food. Sometimes, for no reason at all I can get into a major funk. A funk where I don't feel like doing anything, talking to anyone - a mood that I can never explain. I am sure every one goes through this, right? Not everyone can be sunny, happy go lucky all the time. These "funks" don't last long, but when they come around all I want to do is curl up on the couch with my handsome kitty on my lap, my loyal pup at my feet with a good book and a whole lot of comfort food. Soup and Grilled Sandwiches are top on my list of comfort foods- I shared with you last week my grilled sammie, well today I am sharing with you its better half.

I'd have to say this combo is much like Justin and I: I'm the sandwich - hot on the outside, full of goodness on the inside (okay, I'm joking- kind of), Justin the bowl of soup- hot, dependable with a little spice & surprise. Yes Justin is the tomato soup to my grilled sammie.