Peach, Blueberry and Goat Cheese Spinach Salad

"This guy is standing on the street, and he has a giant peach for a head.  And a man walks up to him, and says, "Ummm....you have a giant peach for a head.  What's up with that?  And the guys says, "Funny story, actually.  A genie came up to me and granted me three wishes.  And for my first wish, I asked to be rich. 
And a guy came up and handed me a briefcase with a million dollars, and I'm a millionaire, a millionaire.  For my second wish, I asked for the most beautiful woman in the world to fall madly in love with me.  Mila Kunis walked up to me, said "I love you" and we are getting married in a month.
For my third wish, I asked to have a giant peach for a head."

-Matthew Perry

Summer is quickly winding down, so I am trying to get in as much fruit as I can!  For lunch today, I fixed a quick berry salad with creamy goat cheese.


Here's what you need (for 1 salad):
1 handful of spinach
1/2 a handful of watercress
1/2 a peach, sliced
a few blueberries
2-3 teaspoons of plain goat cheese
dressing of choice or 1-2 tablespoons of aged balsamic vinegar

Pineapple Fruit Salad

Why can't a bicycle stand up by itself?
Because it's two-tired.

Mmmmm.  Summer fruit salad.  Yumzers.

We had the pleasure of going to the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center last night for jazz on the lawn.  So great, you pack a picnic and some wine and sit on the front lawn listening to music.  The perfect summer night activity.

The group last night was the Ted Howe Trio featuring vocalist Karla Harris performing "The Music of James Bond".  Needless to say, it was awesome.

Among other delicious things that were packed (roasted chicken, fresh grape tomatoes, french bread, brie, salt and vinegar chips, humus), I also made a Pineapple Fruit Salad.  This is best made the day before, so that the fruit can sit and become juicy buddies with each other.

Here's what you need:
1 1/2 cups of blueberries
1 peach
1 naval orange
1 small pineapple

Blueberry Blackberry Lemon Bread

Knock-knock.
Who's there?
Army.
Army who?
Army and you still going for ice cream?

Blueberry Blackberry Lemon Bread.  Say that three times fast.

Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to receive some fresh picked blueberries from my buddy Whitt.  Hopefully this recipe will do her berries justice.

So many delicious things are made with blueberries: pie, cobbler, crisp, muffins, cake, fruit salad, smoothies, Gin cocktails, or just straight up.  I decided to go with a bread (the thicker bigger version of a muffin).  We picked up some blackberries on sale at Kroger and lots of lemons....mmm....berries and lemon....add sugar and you've got a party for your mouth. 

Here's what you need (for 2 loaves, one for you, one to share):
3 cups of blueberries and blackberries
3 cups of all purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
12 tablespoons of unsalted butter
2 cups of sugar, plus 2/3 cups of sugar for glaze
4 eggs
4 teaspoons of lemon peel
1 cup of milk
7 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice

Blueberry Basil Iced Tea

What do you get when a bunch of blueberries try to go through a door all at once?
A jam.

It's summer time, sweet sweet summer time, summer time.. and we are here hanging in the south...so of course we are making some iced tea.

This is a great one.  Refreshing blueberry iced tea with fresh basil.  For more basil flavor, take a fresh piece and rub around the rim of your glass (great trick for cocktails too!).

Here's what you need:
4 bags of Blueberry Herbal Tea
boiling water
cold water
fresh basil, a handful-ish