We’re Havin’ a Heat Wave

And no doubt. Actual temps have been in the mid- to upper-90s, with heat indexes 100+. It’s not fit for man nor beast out there. Time to seek out a few culinary cures.



Sick and tired of ice tea? I know we are! SouleMama tempted me with her adult variation on rhubarb soda, which includes the addition of tequila and fresh lime juice. Her inspiration actually impelled me to leave my air conditioned home for a sprint across a searing asphalt parking lot in order to seek out the necessary ingredients.



Well worth it! This is the first time I’ve ever made or perhaps even tasted rhubarb anything. The soda was delicate and slightly sweet without being overpowering, and the tequila blended perfectly without being obvious. It was the perfect party drink. This size glass only contained an ounce of tequila, so it certainly wasn’t strong. The only thing missing was a drink umbrella.



Rhubarb is in season, and so are blueberries. Unfortunately blueberries were a no-show at the local farmer’s market Saturday, but that didn’t stop me from picking up a pint at the grocer. Plump and juicy, they were the perfect addition to a new-to-me blueberry muffin recipe in my all time favorite cookbook, penned by the employees of a regional hospital in Ohio. Unlike most blueberry muffin recipes I’ve seen, this one called for whole wheat flour. It proved to be a major hit, rich and wholesome, yet delicately sweet. I sprinkled them with Swedish pearl sugar before baking.

More cookbooks are calling.