Sunny Beach Days w/ Triple Berry Crisp

This weekend was filled with sunny days at the Ocean and the laughter of some of my favorite little people - my neice and nephews ages 5 to 11. I was kept busy playing in the waves and running along the shore, and I couldn't think of a better way to spend my time. My youngest daughter came along, but opted to hang out with her friends a few blocks up (she is 17, need I say more?). After a few hours on the beach, I asked my niece if I should retrieve her older cousin so she could have another girl to play with, and it was then that I received the best compliment EVER. "Aunt Terri", she said "It doesn't matter. You're just like her and I can just play with you." Too cool. I cannot tell you how much her statement meant to me, but I will share this. One of my many goals for the second half of my life is to remember how to play. I embarked on a lot of adventures and tested my own comfort zones in order to let go of those serious tendencies that we all aquire through our trials and tribulations, and in this little girls response, I found that I had reached my goal! So, since I am very busy playing hard this summer, and I do not have a lot of time to spend in my kitchen (but love a good dessert), I have created this easy recipe for a sweet summer treat. Enjoy your summer days, and remember to PLAY!
Take 3 cups of your favorite fresh berries (I used Strawberries, Rasberries, and Blueberries), add sugar to taste (3 tblsp for mine) and place in small baking dish (2qt or less)
Put 1 cup organic flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 cup butter in food processor and pulse.
Place over berries. Bake at 350 for 25 min. Remove and press down top of crust so that the juice seeps through the top all over. Place back in oven for 5 min. Put it over ice cream (or a frozen whipped banana). Yummy!

KISS - Keep it Simple w/Whipped Frozen Bananas

I had the pleasure of spending the day with a very special young lady a few days ago. The wisdom of this little five year old is vast, and like many children, she says the most extraordinary things quite simply. It is endearing - to say the least. After watching her jump on a trampoline, in the hot sun, for an extremely long time, without losing any energy whatsoever, I, who was sitting in the chair under the apple tree, decided that it was just too hot and we should go back to the pool. When I explained, to this little wonder, that I was getting a little stinky in the hot sun, while just sitting there and sweating, her response was the following: "Well, just don't smell your armpits." She never stopped jumping and she didn't miss a beat. Of course, I laughed, but then I thought a little about what she said, and how profound her statement really was. How would her cavalier attitude handle the oil spill in the Gulf? I expect she would say "Well jeeze. Don't do that anymore." And when explained that we need the oil, she would probably respond, "Just use something else." It is in the wisdom of the young, before we have the chance to mold and make, that the most simplistic truths are stored, and if we all could just get back to that place that resides within us, I am quite sure that we would surprise ourselves with just how wonderful our lives, and the world as a whole, are. All of the problems, that we sometimes feel our insurmountable, would probably look more like a mole hill after all. With that said, I would like to share a lovely little treat with you that I discovered in Rehoboth Beach. It turns out that frozen bananas, when whipped, are extremely smooth and creamy, and maintain the same texture of frozen yogurt.
So, for all of those lactose intollerant, or those who may be watching calories, or those who want a truly healthy treat - treat yourself to this. Take 1 whole, very ripe, banana and freeze it. Plop it into your food processor and let it spin. You will need to scrape down the sides. When the mixture looks just like frozen yogurt you are done. I top mine with Maggie Moo (an organic chocolate syrup) and 1/2 tsp. of heated natural peanut butter (micro 30 secs.) and let me tell you - simple and yummy! Have a great simple day and enjoy Summer!

Life is Sweet with Sweet Mint Tea

Okay so I know I have been away from writing in this blog much longer than expected, but the beach can do that to you - just take you away from things. I had a lovely trip in Rehoboth at a little cottage that was a cross between NYC (inside) and Key West (outside garden) that was located in the center of town. I started my days at a little shop called Grubs, where locals and tourists alike can get fresh coffee and pastries, as well as lots of yummy organic options, and then I would take a long walk on the beach. Even though my trip was perfect, it was cut a little short when I received a call from my oldest daughter Stevie. She had just been booked on her first movie and was moving from NYC to CT to start shooting immediately, so back to B'More and then to NYC. It is all good. Stevie is in CT having the time of her life, the Hubby and I got to see Nathan Lane in The Adams Family, and after an exhausting but wonderful whirlwind of a time, I am now basking in my sweet life and making a fresh pot of my favorite summertime drink - Sweet Mint Tea. I started brewing this when I first moved to my home and I found fresh mint growing around my 1849 barnhouse. The mint was (and still is) in better condition than this old building, but it remains one of my favorite spots. I fell in love with the old barnhouse, so I have never restored it in fear that I could alter it too much. Even so, without a coat of paint this year to hold it together, the whole thing could fall down! Anyway, summer always reminds me of this Sweet Mint Tea and the recipe follows:

Place 4 tea bags (I use Lipton) in a 6 qt pot filled with water
Place 10 fresh mint leaves in and bring to a boil
Just as mixture begins to boil, turn down heat to a simmer
Simmer for 5 min. and remove from heat
Add 1/2 - 3/4 Cup of sugar (depending upon how sweet you like it)
Remove tea bags and mint leaves with slotted spoon
Pour mixture in a gallon plastic pitcher after cooling and add fresh water to the top of the rim.
Put on the lid and shake to mix. Put 10 more fresh leaves in the top of the pitcher. Cool.
Pour over ice and enjoy!