grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Sunday Letter: July 2024

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Dear Sunday Letter friends,

Once Independence Day is behind us, I imagine we are coasting on the downhill side of the summer Ferris wheel. How did that happen already?

Our 4th of July celebration started with a yummy potluck with friends (is there anything better?) and ended with the most delightful sort of fireworks—the rumble of thunder, a lightning show, and much-needed RAIN! Until the rain, the temperature was downright rude. Since the rain, we’ve had a pleasant cool down. I think we might survive summer.Continue Reading

Sunday Letter: 07.26.2020

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blackberry cantaloupe

Happy Sunday to all you fabulous Sunday Letter readers,

Is it too soon to start counting down to fall? I swear the heat and humidity has been so bad I can see it creeping onto the back porch in the morning and pressing its hot breath against the window of the back door.

Sometimes, like now, I miss the pool we built at our Dallas house.

Before I continue with this week’s Sunday Letter rambling, I know someone will ask what’s up with the sign above the door in the picture above. So I’ll go ahead and tell you.

The sign says Unity House. Our friend and former East Dallas neighbor, Marcia, gave us that sign when we left Munger Place and moved back to Arkansas. Our Dallas home on Worth Street (which we LOVED and miss!) was built in 1910. Like most of the homes in historic Munger Place, it lived many, many lives before we were honored to call it ours for thirteen years. By the 1970s, the house had been divided into apartments and served as a home for recovering alcoholics. It was known as Unity House. Those interested can read about the redevelopment of Munger Place Historic District, with a reference to the relocation of the residents of Unity House, HERE.

The sign provides a reminder of our time in such a special place in Dallas. And, maybe it’s a reminder to us that we shouldn’t drink too much, especially during this corona-summer.

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Fresh Corn Salad with Basil

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Fresh Corn Salad with Basil
Fresh Corn Salad with Basil

Yay! Sweet corn is in season. If you’re like me, you are always looking for ways to serve it. When you grow corn, on a good year you end up more corn than you can say grace over…

This fresh corn salad with basil is the summertime side dish to accompany all your grilling endeavors including pork, chicken, beef, or seafood. If you follow a plant-based diet, fresh corn salad will fit right in with your menu. And it isn’t heavy like some summer sides.

Basil

Basil truly takes most everything up a notch. And when you can use basil and onions from your garden? Well, that’s a bonus.

Fresh Corn Salad with Basil

Here’s the recipe:

Fresh Corn Salad with Basil

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 4 ears of sweet corn
  • 1/3 cup green onion / whites and stems
  • 2.5 T apple cider vinegar
  • 2.5 T extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Dash of cayenne to taste
  • 1/2 cup freshly julienned basil

Instructions
 

  • Boil corn approximately 4 minutes in salty water. Drain water and plunge corn in cold water to stop the cooking. When cooled, cut kernels from cob.
  • Mix onion with vinegar, olive oil, salt and peppers. Pour over corn and combine. Fold in basil.
  • Serve cold or room temperature.

Make It Your Own

Corn Salad with Basil can be served as a dip with a sturdy chip. Or, add it as a topping to your tacos for a little extra zip. As a yummy variation, toss in feta crumbles or mozzarella cubes, because cheeeeeese.

Even if you don’t grow it, corn is widely available at the grocery store and farmer’s market. I recommend you stock up (but don’t horde, that’s not cool). If you freeze it, you can enjoy fresh corn year around. My rockstar gardening friend Rachel at The Homestead Life shows you how to freeze corn like a pro. Check out her post HERE and give her a follow. She’s amazing!

What are your favorite summertime sides?

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

 

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!