Ahhh...summer...

image courtesy Country Living

I have been working a little more than usual lately and that has turned me into a bit of a cranky beast, so that is why I stayed away from here. I would have kvetched too much about the customers.

"why does everyone want things framed in a rush for weekend company coming when it's summer and most likely everyone is outdoors anyway?

And why do I have to hear 'certain' people complain about the price of custom framing when they are framing something for their SUMMER home and on their cell phone with their cleaning lady?"

Grrr....see what I mean?

Having a few glorious(hot and hotter!) days off in a row finally because of the 4th of July holiday(won't have to go in to work until the 7th of July)

has changed my whole attitude and I am loving the summer again.

This town is a little nuts and overrun with extra people right now. The beaches are a big draw and with the the holiday weekend and hot temps, an even bigger draw. Trying to navigate my way through the beach and Pier area and simply trying to go into town to shop is pretty frustrating.

Yesterday, I saw cars with licence plates from

Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut(the big three around here),

as well as Vermont,

Ontario,

Quebec,

Illinois

and Wisconsin.

Ever since certain fireworks were made legal in this state (a few months ago), it seems everyone is letting off firecrackers(this all started Thursday night in my neighborhood). Luckily, both my cat and dog are not too afraid of the noise.

Last night was a perfect summer night, with clear skies full of stars, and a little bat and firefly action to compete with the fireworks display over the river(a few people do this in our neighborhood every year the night before the 4th).

We'll be leaving the house at around 4:00 this afternoon for a annual cook-out/pool party at a friend's house. They are right next door to a public park where this is a huge fireworks display every year(a pretty impressive one for a small town), so we just sit out on the front yard to watch the show.

I just finished making a pitcher of white Sangria, and making some stuffed pepperoncini peppers(I made these last year and they were scarfed down within fifteen minutes)

Of course, I have to use the good and real Greek kind that are spicy enough, like the Sclafani brand.
Stuffed Pepperoncini

Ingredients:
6 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
1/3 cup minced shallots
1 red bell pepper, minced
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese,
softened
1 tablespoon milk
32 ounces pepperoncini
Directions:
1.
In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until bacon is browned. Move bacon to paper towels. Keep bacon drippings.
2.
In drippings, cook shallots and red pepper over medium heat until vegetables are tender. Cook about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and let cool for 20 minutes.
3.
In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and milk with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Stir bacon and shallot into the mixture.
4.
Spoon cream cheese mixture into a heavy weight plastic bag. Cut a small hole in one corner to squeeze the filling from. With small knife, cut a slit lengthwise into each pepper. Do not cut the whole way through the pepper. By squeezing the bag, pipe cream cheese mixture into peppers. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to one day.