State climatologist Jim Angel said Sunday that rainfall the past few days has officially made the month Illinois' wettest June in recorded state history. State records go back to 1895.
Angel said that through Saturday, the statewide average rainfall total for the month was 8.91 inches.
That's compared to an average of 3.5 inches. It has been really stinkin rainy. And cold. It's barely cracked 70 by the lake most days this month. I keep dressing for the weather I want, not the weather that's actually out there, so I've been freezing all month. And continuing that theme, I'm also cooking as though it's summer. Who says we're too old to pretend?
Anyway, here are a few yummy summer meals, sides and drinks from the past week:
Jennifer's Corn Salad
c/o Jennifer Jordan, my sister-in-law Sue's longtime friend
c/o Jennifer Jordan, my sister-in-law Sue's longtime friend
It's a fantastic side for any grill food.
1 pkg frozen corn
1 can black beans, rinsed
add a chopped red pepper and a chopped red onion
Sautee a couple zucchini and dice them.
Cut up an avocado or two
Add some chopped cilantro and crumbled feta.
then season with salt, pepper, olive oil and red wine vinegar. Let it sit a bit for maximum yum.
This was killer and the whole thing took about 20 minutes.
mix in a food processor:
1 small onion or shallot, 1 quartered and seeded jalapeno and 2 cloves garlic. Pulse till blended.
Put that yumminess in a bowl with 1 lg chopped tomato, 1 diced avocado, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro.
Add 3/4 tsp salt & 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice. Mix and set aside.
Take 2 lb peeled and deveined large shrimp and mix with 1-1/2 Tbsp olive oil, 1-1/2 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp salt & a few good dashes cayenne pepper.
Either grill the shrimp 90 sec per side or oven roast them at 400 for 9 minutes.
Serve on corn tortillas with the avocado salsa.
I made brown rice and black beans for sides.
Watermelon-Feta-Mint salad
Thinly slice 1/2 red onion. Add 2 TBSP fresh lime juice and let sit about 10 minutes.
Add 1 TBSP olive oil.
Add 1 TBSP olive oil.
Wash, trim and thinly slice about 1/4 cup mint leaves
Cut up 1/2 round watermelon into large dice
peel and cube 1 large hothouse cucumber
add 1/2 cup crumbled feta
Add the onion mixture and stir well.
I served it with chicken kabobs (marinate in italian dressing, grill about 10 minutes) and corn
And then? Last but definitely not least.
La Paloma.
My sister Ellie emailed about this drink a couple weeks ago and I tell you what, it's a summer time
game changer.
rim a highball glass with kosher salt.
put a jalapeno slice on the bottom
add:
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
2 ounces silver or blanco tequila
fill the glass with ice
top with grapefruit soda. (sometimes hard to find but persevere, it's worth it.)
I ran into my neighbor this morning and she declared, July is going to be awesome.
I'm buying what she's selling.
Happy summer everyone.
YUM!!!
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