Simple, Summer Sandwich

We wrapped up another school year today! 

Well, kind of.  The students finished today, I have to go back tomorrow for "check out", but all exams have been graded and averages submitted. 

To celebrate, I made a dinner for me tonight...R is on his own. 

Some artichoke dip, along with an incredibly ripe tomato served as inspiration.     

Toasted pumpernickel bread slathered with some of the leftover artichoke dip and topped with thinly sliced tomoatoes, then popped under the broiler for a few minutes. 

Heavenly. And just what I have been craving. 

Grillin' and Chillin'

We live on such a wonderful street.  We are blessed with great neighbors who are a ton of fun! 

To celebrate Memorial Day weekend we had a street party.  Super relaxed and informal.  The "home-base" was the house of a Vietnam veteran whose son and daughter have both been in the service.  Very fitting.

Everyone was to bring a couple of dishes, something to drink and some chairs.

Here is a fraction of the food we ended up with...

I was so busy enjoying all of the delicious food that I did not get pictures of everything, but here are 3 of my favorites:

1.

Venison Sausage Queso

2.

Margarita Cupcakes

And finally, the most innovative dish of the evening...

3.

Inside-Out Pasta Salad

This is pure genius, Kerry! 

What could be better than pasta salad that you don't need a fork to eat?

Eventually several people broke out musical instruments and an impromptu jam session ensued.  Things didn't wind down until well after midnight.

Good times, great friends and a chance to honor some really special people.

Boy, Do I Love These...

To wrap up the week dedicated to R's love of all things salty, I made Shrimp Puttanesca.  It has been way too long since the last time I fixed it.  It is salty, tomato-y goodness at its best!

Switched things up a little bit and used a Austintatious Spinach Basil Garlic Linguine from Austin Gourmet Foods. 

This pasta packed quite a punch!  I think it's probably better suited to a milder sauce. 

And it kind of made the finished dish look like Christmas with the red sauce on green noodles...

The key to a good puttanesca sauce????

There is absolutely no substitute for these little guys.

 
And with that picture I say 'goodbye' to Salty Foods Week. 

While I thoroughly enjoyed the delicious foods, I am looking forward to waking up without a super-puffy face and being able to easily slip on my wedding ring again.