OF POTATO SALAD AND HIKES

We had a wonderful, relaxed 4th of July. The food was great and very healthy! We're up early this morning and in a few minutes, we'll go for a walk, taking advantage of the morning cool.

The Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad was a hit, and it was completely fat-free.
Potatoes come in a variety of sizes and colors. For best results, I use fingerlings or the smallest size I can find. If they are small enough, you won't need to chop them!

RED WHITE AND BLUE POTATO SALAD

1/2 pound  red potatoes
1/2 pound  potatoes
1/2 pound (purple) potatoes
Juice of 1 lemon or lime
3-4 cloves garlic, roasted
1 bunch fresh basil
Salt to taste

Boil or roast the potatoes until tender and set aside. When cool, chop any large potatoes into bitesize pieces. In a food processor, combine garlic and basil leaves; process until a pesto is formed. Add lemon juice and salt. Add about an ounce of new potatoes and process until smooth.

Mix this "dressing" with the potatoes and chill until ready to serve.

*Note: to roast the garlic, spray with olive oil and bake in a 400F oven for 20 minutes. The cloves are done when they're soft and squirt out of their husk easily when pinched.

The Finished Product!

We had a good walk. Somewhat strange, because I somehow managed to put on one of my own shoes, and one of Eric's which are ever so slightly bigger than mine.

We saw deer!

And a night heron!

And a tiny bunny!

And we made it back before it got too hot. In a little while, I will head off to the gym to complete my workout regimen for the day.

Morning workouts are my ideal. I work from home when I am not off singing, and a ridiculous amount of mental energy is spent on logistics of when to go to the gym, depending on what else I have to do that day. It would be nice to get up,  put on my workout clothes, have a little breakfast, and walk, then hit the gym. Then I'd be done for the day and could move on.

Problem is, there are too many people at my tiny local gym in the mornings. It's hard to get the machine I want, and I certainly can't get it for a full hour. It's far too hot to walk anytime other than early morning or after 7. And I don't want to have to change clothes or shower more than once, at least not on a regular basis. On days when I don't teach, I wear exercise togs around the house all day, until it's time to go to the gym. But I don't like to wear them when I teach or run errands.

It's silly. One of life's niggling little annoyances. One of these days I will design exercise togs that can go from class to lunch with friends to the gym! Or maybe I will finally be able to afford the elliptical machine I want and a bike for my husband, and eliminate the need to go to the gym altogether. A girl can dream!

Comments

[StuFromOz]

I do not believe there is a collective noun for emus, partly because they rarely gather in large groups. Incidentally, dad emu is the one that looks after the chicks!

[H. Skippety]

I don't feel one-upped. I feel at a loss for a word.

I find myself wondering what one calls a flock of emus (i.e. a murder of crows, a gaggle of geese, a flush of ducks, a sleuth of bears, etc) . . .

[Cindy]

HS, not to one up you or anything, but once upon a time in Santa Barbara County, Mr. Cindy and I were driving along and saw a WHOLE FREAKIN' PASTURE full of emus.

I understand the meat is very lowfat!

[H. Skippety]

Okay, the food looks ultra yummy. and I have to tell someone this, and since you posted about animals, YOU'RE IT

mister skippety and I saw an EMU. We were driving along a country road, passed a fenced-in field, saw cow . . . cow . . . cow . . . and then, what the @#%$%! And yes, as we pulled up to examine the sighting closer, it was indeed an emu.

[Dee]

Cindy as usual you hit the nail on the head with your posts, i am always inspired by reading and want to thank you for all the guidance and frank discussion! Also thanks for the recipes! -Dee in Philly