The August heat has us hopeful for some cool relief in September. September celebrates many culinary treats, such as apples, chicken, biscuits, potatoes, rice, honey and my favorite bourbon. I hope you have taken advantage of the variety of fruits and vegetables available at our local farmers market, your produce box from the Farm to Table Co-op, or growing your own.

One of my best memories as a child was when I would get to go to my Uncle Lew and Aunt Janie’s house for a week during the summer. First of all, my uncle loved to ...
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The August heat has us hopeful for some cool relief in September. September celebrates many culinary treats, such as apples, chicken, biscuits, potatoes, rice, honey and my favorite bourbon. I hope you have taken advantage of the variety of fruits and vegetables available at our local farmers market, your produce box from the Farm to Table Co-op, or growing your own.

One of my best memories as a child was when I would get to go to my Uncle Lew and Aunt Janie’s house for a week during the summer. First of all, my uncle loved to fish, and we would go everyday to a pond near the house. Secondly, he would have a freezer full of ice cream I could eat. Third was the garden that my Aunt Janie had and grew the most wonderful things that she either fried, sautéed or just cooked in a bunch of butter or bacon fat. She loved to cook for us, and we always had a table full of food. I sometimes wonder if she would cook differently now. I am sure all those veggies would have tasted just as good grilled or roasted with just a bit of olive oil and been much better for all of us.

Across North Carolina, a lot of vegetables and fruit will be coming to the markets, such as apples, grapes, figs, and greens of all types. These are good for you, taste wonderful and add much needed fiber, iron and vitamins to your diet.

This month I had the opportunity to visit Richard and Iris Johnson, local beekeepers in West End. Even though I am a bit allergic to bees, it was quite an experience for me. Learning about how delicate the bees are and the many threats they face was amazing. The Johnsons explained the process as we observed their four hives. The best part of the visit was getting to sample the honey. Honey is a natural emulsifier, so it is great to use in Vinaigrettes. It is a natural sweetener that pairs well with many foods like salads, fruit, grains, yogurt, chicken, pork and fish. Also keep in mind that local honey is great for allergies. Hope you keep eating healthy and keep eating local.

Honey Vinaigrette

3 Tbs of honey, juice of one lime, pinch of minced ginger, 1tsp. finely chopped mint

Whisk all ingredients together and pour over a mixture of your favorite fruits.

By Cos Barnes/Special to OutreachNC

At first I could not put down A Reliable Wife, capitivated by the author’s gothic tale, his good writing and great characters. I thought it was a typical story of a lonely man and his mail-order bride, but as the mystery and suspence built in the complicated plot, I found I was turned off by the brutality, deception and violence.

Set in 1907 in Wisconsin during a cruel midwestern winter – actually the snowy landscape is a character, too, – as Catherine frequently studies the cold environment, looking for answers to the questions she ...
 » Read More]]> By Cos Barnes/Special to OutreachNC

At first I could not put down A Reliable Wife, capitivated by the author’s gothic tale, his good writing and great characters. I thought it was a typical story of a lonely man and his mail-order bride, but as the mystery and suspence built in the complicated plot, I found I was turned off by the brutality, deception and violence.

Set in 1907 in Wisconsin during a cruel midwestern winter – actually the snowy landscape is a character, too, – as Catherine frequently studies the cold environment, looking for answers to the questions she has found herself involved in.

Ralph Truitt, the wealthiest man in town and the boss of all the citizens, after 20 years of being alone, advertises, “Country businessman seeks reliable wife. Compelled by practical not romantic reasons. Discreet.”

Sending a picture of a less flamboyant relative, Catherine Land arrives at the train station, having shed her party dresses and sewed her jewelry in the hem of her dress, in plain clothing that befits a chaste spinster. She is greeted with Truitt’s statement, “This begins in a lie.”

From there the plot thickens. She has come equipped with a bottle of arsenic and a pact with another character to slowly kill Truitt and claim his wealth. Catherine has a past blacker than imaginable, a sad childhood and adolescence, and not much in the way of cheeriness or cleanness. Yet, the reader will be drawn to her as she saves Truitt’s life not once, but twice and undergoes a complete life change.

You will read of Truitt’s first wife, his daughter, and his son who may not be legitimately his. You’ll read of his parents and his mother’s obsession to do things right. But it is Catherine who is the star in this bizarre tale which may become a movie.

Video of Virginia\’s Service 90th Birthday Skydiving Jump

Video of Virginia\’s Service 90th Birthday Skydiving Vacation in Oak Island

Carolina blue skies, rising winds and warm temperatures wrap together for perfect skydiving weather and the perfect 90th birthday gift for Southern Pines resident Virginia “Ginger” Haller Service. Inspired by the former President George Bush’s skydiving jump for his 80th birthday, Service decided that she too would celebrate her milestone birthday in high style.

However, this skydiving event quickly became a family affair. Two of Service’s five children and three granddaughters all agreed to join her in tandem ...
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Video of Virginia\’s Service 90th Birthday Skydiving Jump

Video of Virginia\’s Service 90th Birthday Skydiving Vacation in Oak Island

By Carrie Frye, OutreachNC

Carolina blue skies, rising winds and warm temperatures wrap together for perfect skydiving weather and the perfect 90th birthday gift for Southern Pines resident Virginia “Ginger” Haller Service. Inspired by the former President George Bush’s skydiving jump for his 80th birthday, Service decided that she too would celebrate her milestone birthday in high style.

However, this skydiving event quickly became a family affair. Two of Service’s five children and three granddaughters all agreed to join her in tandem jumps. Reservations were made, vacations planned and soon a family reunion would take place around the skydiving event.

“I’m going to take the jump of my life today,” declares Service on the morning of Aug. 2 in the skydiving hangar at the Brunswick County Airport in Oak Island, N.C.

Service is just the second oldest jumper to take the leap from 11,000 feet above the North Carolina coastline with Skydive Coastal Carolinas. Owner Brian Strong is in his 31st year of skydiving and happy to assist Service and her family members with the experience.

“I think giving people a thrill for their life is the best for any age, from 18 to 90,” says Strong.

The jump is a buildup of anticipation for all the skydivers. The process begins with watching the square parachutes being packed as they are laid out in the hangar. Jumpers then watch a video and sign a waiver before suiting up for the 25-minute flight, 45 seconds of freefall and five to 10 minute floating descent once the parachute opens.

Service emerged from the dressing room in a light blue jumpsuit with multiple NASA patches on the front waving to her adoring crowd of more than 50 family members.

Skydiving instructors Bob Stephens and Laura Mullen assist their tandem partners with their gear and explain how the harnesses and parachute will work. Both are experienced jumpers with Stephens having over 1,400 jumps and Mullen with over 6,500 under their respective skydiving belts.

“We will leap out of the plane and take you with us,” laughs Mullen as she encourages the jumpers to scream on the way down and demonstrates how jumping from the Cessna 182 will look.

The plane holds five including the pilot Chuck Jacelon, so the jumpers would go in groups of two with their instructors, saving Service as the grand finale for this family birthday celebration.

“I’m very glad to see someone else do it first,” jokes Service. “When they come back down and tell me how wonderful it was, I will regain my adventurous spirit.”

Granddaughters Katie O’Leary from Reston, Va. and Bethany Taylor from Atlanta, Ga. both suited up for their adventure, climb aboard the plane and ascend into the sky and out of view. Several minutes later with the eyes of the spectators all aimed above, the brightly colored square parachutes begin to peek in and out of the clouds gradually becoming larger and more in view. Upon landing in the field just outside the airport hangar, each granddaughter stands amidst smiles and cheers from the crowd.

With a brief turnaround, Service’s son John Taylor who had already made quite a journey from Germany and his daughter Laura Taylor McLeod from Colorado Springs, Colo. put on their gear and load up into the Cessna with its shark paint scheme.

Soon the chutes of color are visible with fingers and eyes pointing to the sky. After landing, the father/daughter jumping duo left the landing field arm in arm with big smiles.

And then it was Service’s turn to gear up and take some final instruction from Mullen. Service and her daughter Carol O’Leary, also visiting from Colorado Springs, would be onboard together. With a final wave to her fans, Service steps up into the plane awaiting takeoff.

In anticipation of her arrival, family members on the ground could not contain their excitement.

“She has a lot of gumption. I don’t think there’s anything she can’t do. She’s always been athletic, and you just can’t stop those Hallers,” laughs Minerva Haller, Service’s sister-in-law from Ocean City, Md. “This is a very close family. I lucked out to marry into it.”

“We had to come down for this celebration,” adds Don Haller, Service’s 83-year old brother from Richmond, Va. “Ginny is terrific, very dependable and very loving.”

With the anticipation building, a group of granddaughters begin to sing their own rendition of “She’ll be coming ‘round the clouds when she comes.” And just like before, the colors of the parachutes appear against the blue sky bouncing in and out of view of the clouds. After Carol’s safe landing, the family members cheer, take photos, wave and point to the sky as the day culminates in Service gliding down to the landing field.

With a bit of a bumpy landing and a little help from her daughter and granddaughter, Service stands tall in the field for a sweet moment before loading into a golf cart for a ride back to the shade of the airport hangar. And just as children would gather to hear a grandparent’s story, the family surrounds the golf cart in the hangar to hear Service’s tale of her jump.

“The experience was tremendous,” Service says. “Looking out over the ocean, seeing the green trees under the canopy of blue, I never appreciated quite so much what a beautiful world we live in. I’ve never experienced anything so wonderful, and I’m so glad my family was there with me.”

Editor’s note: We had the honor of meeting Ginger Service in February when working on a feature recounting stories of the women of World War II in our area. She shared her plan for skydiving in August. At her invitation, OutreachNC was able to be a part of this birthday celebration and witness firsthand what an inspiration Mrs. Service is, not only to us, but of course to her family, most of whom traveled from across the country and beyond to share in this special day on Oak Island. We owe special thanks to Mrs. Service and her family for the experience and their kindness.

Recently we bought a 1984 Westfalia Vanagon. For those too young or too old to remember, it’s a camper van Volkswagen made from 1980-1991. It’s turned out to be a time machine. We’re reliving the heady days of our youth, all the crazy monkey fun we had and can’t do anymore which is sort of a bummer, dude. But I digress.

So we got this beauty, can’t wait to go camping, and now my husband wants to get a vanity plate, aka. prestige plate, personalized plate, custom plate. I am so embarrassed. You can tell I’m biased, but I ...
 » Read More]]> Recently we bought a 1984 Westfalia Vanagon. For those too young or too old to remember, it’s a camper van Volkswagen made from 1980-1991. It’s turned out to be a time machine. We’re reliving the heady days of our youth, all the crazy monkey fun we had and can’t do anymore which is sort of a bummer, dude. But I digress.

So we got this beauty, can’t wait to go camping, and now my husband wants to get a vanity plate, aka. prestige plate, personalized plate, custom plate. I am so embarrassed. You can tell I’m biased, but I just don’t see the point. Vanity plates cost extra money; in North Carolina, it’s an extra $30 a year in addition to the original $28 plate cost. That’s enough for 30 bags of groceries at Wal-Mart, or 8 Mocha Moolattes at Dairy Queen, or 15 cups of coffee at the coffee shop, or a quarter tank of gas, or almost the whole family to see a movie if your family is really small.

I have never found anything on a vanity plate worth reading. Although, I have spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure them out. Things like NOGRBHE, and IMDGDLVN. I’m assuming if you get a vanity plate you have something of overwhelming need to communicate to fellow drivers. So why then pick SENGULVT? Is this a message about a sea gull? A singing sea gull, that somebody loves? That’s as far as I got. There was HAISSEM. Took me three stoplights—one I almost ran—to figure out this was MESSIAH spelled backwards. As a sufferer myself, let me say this is a nasty thing to do to people with obsessive compulsive disorder when they are driving.

I’ve seen lots of plates I understood. L2PARTY is one. But why would you want to broadcast this if you park your car in the company’s employee lot, I don’t know.

I love tofu turned into ILTOFU on one car. Yes, it is a diet preference, I checked, but here is a prime example of a waste of $30. How many cars filled with old men have followed this 64-year-old woman home only to find out what was for dinner?

What is this lady advertising with 2GRL1CUP? I wouldn’t want to date someone with LUVRATS on their plate? I think they’d be an interesting friend. I once had a rat as a pet. But the point is, do they literally love rats? As pets? Companions? Is this some sort of hinky romantic preference?

Boys, don’t put a plate saying WEEKSPAY on a 1993 Plymouth Colt Vista. Trust me; this will not help you find a date.

COPTEZR gives all the wrong messages, especially if your boyfriend is at the wheel.

At my age, people ought to know better than to put SENILE on their plate. I can’t remember why, but they just ought to know better.

My personal favorite is GUNRUNNR. This works on so many levels, but mostly for the FBI.

Then there are such notables as WYDREAR, SLZBAG, and AXEWMN. Is WYDREAR talking about her car or her backside? I suspect SLZBAG is some ex-girlfriend’s revenge. AXEWMN sounds like my kind of gal; no, I won’t tell you why.

All this plate talk has given me a brainstorm. How about OLDYELLR? The Vanagon is a pale yellow and the drivers are old. Yeah. Or maybe just a bunch of random letters and numbers we only paid $28 for?

Cohea, a freelance writer, can be reached by email at a37_tao@hotmail.com.

By Ann Robson/Special to OutreachNC

Most of us remember exactly where we were and what we were doing the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

We had just left my brother’s home in Ottawa, Canada and were heading to the Canada-USA border at the Thousand Islands crossing. We were listening to CBC radio when there was an abrupt change in tone and the network switched to NPR. At first, we didn’t fully understand the magnitude of the report. Information was still coming in to the network, but before long, the horrible situation became clear.

My brother called to say they’d ...
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By Ann Robson/Special to OutreachNC

Most of us remember exactly where we were and what we were doing the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

We had just left my brother’s home in Ottawa, Canada and were heading to the Canada-USA border at the Thousand Islands crossing. We were listening to CBC radio when there was an abrupt change in tone and the network switched to NPR. At first, we didn’t fully understand the magnitude of the report. Information was still coming in to the network, but before long, the horrible situation became clear.

My brother called to say they’d heard that the borders, particularly the ones with New York were closed and to offer safe haven if we chose to turn around. We weren’t far from the border and we opted to keep going. When we reached the major east-west highway that traverses southern Ontario, we were shocked to see very little traffic on a road that is often swollen with vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Where we pull off for the border exit, the road goes between two huge natural stone walls; there was no other car in sight. It was like a set from an end-of-the-world movie. Our crossing was equally unusual. Often there is quite a wait to go through customs and immigration. That day we were almost alone heading south. Coming north out of New York into Ontario was a very long line of 18-wheelers heading away from unknown danger.

As we cleared the two bridges offering magnificent views of the Thousand Islands and were welcomed to New York by a sign I’ve always taken for granted, I let out a huge sigh and shed a few tears. That was when I knew I really was an American citizen. We still hadn’t seen pictures of the World Trade Center disaster but we knew some very bad people had done something horrible. How dare they!

We stayed with friends that night and got our first glimpse of the devastation and just couldn’t believe what we were seeing. The four of us were as speechless as we’ve ever been when we’re together.

The next morning we opted to continue south but stayed away from major interstates, traveling instead through the beautiful rolling hills of the Finger Lakes area. At every gas station, market stand and small store, we saw signs that had one theme: God Bless America. Less than 24 hours after the disaster, average, hard-working American people were letting their neighbors and the world know that no matter what, they stood by their country. That spirit continued through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and home to North Carolina. Those are the images of 9/11 that I prefer to keep.

Three years later, I visited Gander, Newfoundland, which played a major role in giving shelter and comfort to 39 heavy aircraft with 6,500 passengers for four days after 9/11. Because New York airspace was closed, more than 200 flights in the air were diverted, many to other Canadian airports. The 10,000 people of Gander pitched in and took care of international and American travelers. They opened their homes, provided food, simple things like laundry facilities and more. Gander has long been an important refueling stop for transatlantic flights. They do not see themselves as heroic, but rather as Newfoundlanders doing what’s right. Those they welcomed have repaid the city with large gifts, such as a high school gym. They have stayed in touch with their hosts. Many have gone back to visit under better circumstances.

That’s the other 9/11 image I carry: good, solid people holding part of the world in their arms.

Based on the hundreds of requests generated last year on the occasion of the D-Day Celebration, the volunteers of the Carolina Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, based at the Moore County Airport in Southern Pines, have once again organized a dance to honor WWII American Military and Aviation.

On September 18, 2010, Tim Haley and the Sandhills Community College Jazz Band will perform their music magic for the local audience. Emerson Cole, the popular radio personality of 550 AM, will be the M.C.

The dance is based on the U.S.O format. There will be prizes at the door for best swing ...
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Based on the hundreds of requests generated last year on the occasion of the D-Day Celebration, the volunteers of the Carolina Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, based at the Moore County Airport in Southern Pines, have once again organized a dance to honor WWII American Military and Aviation.

On September 18, 2010, Tim Haley and the Sandhills Community College Jazz Band will perform their music magic for the local audience. Emerson Cole, the popular radio personality of 550 AM, will be the M.C.

The dance is based on the U.S.O format. There will be prizes at the door for best swing dancing, and in the hanger for best and most complete 1940′s era civilian and military dress. Limited refreshments will be served.

The dance is a fundraiser to keep the 1944 Stinson (V17), which saw service in India during WWII and which is based at our historical airport, in flying conditions.

Our volunteers are counting on the enthusiasm and the participation of our community to continue to maintain and operate our warbird, an important piece of history.

You may purchase tickets for $15 each, at the “Country Book Shop” in Southern Pines, at the “Gentlemen’s Corner” in Pinehurst, or the Moore County Airport. Last minute tickets will be sold at the airport for $20 each. For further information, please call the Carolina Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at (910) 692-3719.

Fidget aprons are used for dementia and stroke patients with decreased cognitive functioning. They can be used as tactile stimulation or as a fine motor skill activity. They are a great way to engage patients with a decrease in cognitive skills safely while keeping them active.

Fidgets, fabric and friends needed! We are looking for volunteers to help make aprons and sew on the “fidgets.” We are also in need of supplies including, but not limited to: fabric, yarn, ribbons, buttons, beads, thread, needles, lace, zippers, Velcro, scarves, shoelaces, gloves, balls, spoons and whisks.

To volunteer your sewing skills or ...
 » Read More]]> Fidget aprons are used for dementia and stroke patients with decreased cognitive functioning. They can be used as tactile stimulation or as a fine motor skill activity. They are a great way to engage patients with a decrease in cognitive skills safely while keeping them active.

Fidgets, fabric and friends needed! We are looking for volunteers to help make aprons and sew on the “fidgets.” We are also in need of supplies including, but not limited to: fabric, yarn, ribbons, buttons, beads, thread, needles, lace, zippers, Velcro, scarves, shoelaces, gloves, balls, spoons and whisks.

To volunteer your sewing skills or items, to obtain an apron or for more information, please contact Jennifer Tyner at (910) 639-9964 or Tracy Gibson at (910) 315-3269.

Nothing is more fun than reading to children. I can remember reading to my son and trying to cover two pages at once. He was too smart for me to do that. He had memorized the picture, the page and the plot.

A wonderful book to read to your grandchildren is What Bluebirds Do. Written by Pamela F. Kirby of nearby Gibsonville. It is full of her spectacular photographs which were taken in her backyard. When she was here for a program at Weymouth in the spring, along with bluebird guru Frances Outhwaite, she read the entire book ...
 » Read More]]> Nothing is more fun than reading to children. I can remember reading to my son and trying to cover two pages at once. He was too smart for me to do that. He had memorized the picture, the page and the plot.

A wonderful book to read to your grandchildren is What Bluebirds Do. Written by Pamela F. Kirby of nearby Gibsonville. It is full of her spectacular photographs which were taken in her backyard. When she was here for a program at Weymouth in the spring, along with bluebird guru Frances Outhwaite, she read the entire book aloud to the audience which was composed of many more adults than children. They were mesmerized by the soothing cadence of the words and the glorious shots of the bluebirds.

The book details how they build their nests, how many eggs the mother lays, how long the sky-blue eggs must be incubated, how the birds’ color changes, the father bird’s role in raising the young and how they are eventually encouraged to fly off and leave home.

She explains that bluebirds were once in danger of disappearing with the advent of the house sparrow and birds from other countries, so concerned bluebird lovers set up and monitored bluebird nest boxes all across the continent and set up trails. They designed nest boxes and fought off insects. The book is not only pretty to look at and entertaining, it is also scientifically accurate. At the end is a glossary that defines words that might be unfamiliar to readers.

The last chapter lists instructions for attracting bluebirds. I was especially interested in this as many years ago my husband built bluebird boxes for me and all our grown children. He followed the instructions to a T. Bluebirds are a persnickity lot. We sat hardly breathing late one afternoon as a father bluebird inspected our house, flew in and out, brought back his mate, then they flew away never to be seen again. They evidently did not like the neighborhood. I myself am content with reading What Bluebirds Do to my four and five-year-old girls.

More than 40 years ago one of my favorite poets, Judith Viorst, wrote “Married is Better.” At the time I totally agreed with her, and still do.

Late last month, my husband and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. Fifty years with the same person!!! It’s truly hard to imagine where those five decades have gone. After all we’re still basically the same fun-loving kids we were in 1960, aren’t we?

Who knew then that we would leave our native land, legally live in five states and become U.S. citizens? Who knew that he would have to travel ...
 » Read More]]> More than 40 years ago one of my favorite poets, Judith Viorst, wrote “Married is Better.” At the time I totally agreed with her, and still do.

Late last month, my husband and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. Fifty years with the same person!!! It’s truly hard to imagine where those five decades have gone. After all we’re still basically the same fun-loving kids we were in 1960, aren’t we?

Who knew then that we would leave our native land, legally live in five states and become U.S. citizens? Who knew that he would have to travel a great deal, and I would often get to go along to foreign lands?

We’ve learned a lot in 50 years. As the oldest children in both our families, we’ve learned the need to do what we can for our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Family comes first. Running a very close second are friends. When you move away from where you grew up, friends quickly become your social glue. We have been exceptionally lucky and still have good friends both in Canada and the states where we lived. Retirement has enlarged and enhanced our circle of friends — most of us don’t have our families just down the road a bit, or in the next town, not even in the next state, so we fill those empty family spots with good friends.

I’m not sure that you’d consider us a “perfect match.” Nothing is perfect. But somehow we muddled through and got to this landmark anniversary.

He’s a right-handed engineer, born under the orderly sign of Virgo. I’m a left-handed klutz, born under Leo’s more flamboyant sign. Married is better.

He’s an outdoorsman who likes almost any sport out there, whether as a player or spectator. I’m more of the indoor type. He brings home the news from the golf course. I bring the gossip from the bridge table. Married is better.

When he mangled his shoulder and several adjoining parts in a ski accident, I quickly learned to be a caregiver, and depending on the day, a drill sergeant, more of a nag, or a compassionate companion. When I broke my left arm, was casted from shoulder to fingertips and was helpless, our roles were reversed. Married is better.

I cry at sad movies. I cry at happy movies. I can even shed a few tears at a commercial. He hands me his handkerchief. Married is better.

As we age and have annoying things like doctors’ appointments, ‘procedures’, therapy with aches and pains, it’s so good to have someone to lean on, to do the driving, to talk back to the medical profession when needed. Married is better.

With very little guidance, he can shop for groceries and then cook them. Married is better.

We have one daughter who has brought much joy and happiness, tears and laughter, adventure and bravado, surprises and challenges to 40 of these 50 years. Married is better.

When we got married, we never thought about a 50th anniversary. In those days, people who made it to 25 years were special — and old, like our parents. Now we read about lots of 50s, several 60s, and even a few 70s in years together. Married is definitely better.

As summer reaches it hottest point, there are several topics related to cooking and nutrition that we can discuss. One of the most important things to remember in the hot weather is to hydrate. Remember over half of your body is made up of water and you must replace what goes out on a daily basis. By the time you feel thirsty you are probably already dehydrated to some extent. Each person should drink approximately eight cups of fluid each day. However, this does not include beverages such as coffee, tea, milk and soft drinks. ...
 » Read More]]> As summer reaches it hottest point, there are several topics related to cooking and nutrition that we can discuss. One of the most important things to remember in the hot weather is to hydrate. Remember over half of your body is made up of water and you must replace what goes out on a daily basis. By the time you feel thirsty you are probably already dehydrated to some extent. Each person should drink approximately eight cups of fluid each day. However, this does not include beverages such as coffee, tea, milk and soft drinks. Water is best, but as an alternative you could also drink fruit juices, sports drinks or even eat fruits high in water content, such as melons. This time of year you can easily pick up watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and peaches at the local farmers market or grocery store.

August is National Panini Month, perfect timing with all the fresh veggies available. Someone recently asked me why I always smell everything first. The answer is simple, one of the best ways to choose a fruit or vegetable is to smell it. Does it smell like what it is supposed to be? If it has no smell, it is probably not ripe enough. And if it smells rotten or moldy, it probably is! Soft spots can also be a sign of overripe food. One of the advantages to buying from a local grower is that you know where the food came from and typically it is picked within a day or two of when you purchase it. This will create a much fresher taste when cooking and require much less seasoning and cooking time in general. One of my favorite sandwiches to serve in the summer is a grilled vegetarian; here is the recipe, so ya’ll can enjoy it too!

Vegetable Panini

4 pieces of bread

1 Squash

1 Zucchini

1 Eggplant

2 slices of fresh Mozzarella

Pesto (store bought or homemade)

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions: Wash and slice vegetables thinly. Coat them lightly with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Grill on each side for 2 to 3 minutes max and set aside. On each slice of bread spread 1tablespoon of pesto. Then layer the grilled vegetables (divide between the 4 pieces). Add one slice of Mozzarella to two of the slices of bread, and broil open faced (or toaster oven) until cheese is melted (approximately 2 minutes). Once out of the oven, assemble into two sandwiches and enjoy.