Summer Rolls and Newsy Bits
I have the uneasy feeling that blogging over the summer is going to take extra effort. For us, life tends to pick up speed in July and August and doesn’t slow down until the pumpkins are ripening. Fueled by an essential café au lait in the morning and an energy drink post-lunch, I slip into a summer rhythm of applying sunscreen, collecting bathing suits & towels, and keeping everyone hydrated as we go from one event to the next. There’s so much happening, it’s hard to focus on one particular subject/meal and subsequently, much rambling ensues–hence this morning’s post!
I’ve been too busy celebrating ten years in Quebec to sit down and share what I’ve been up to, but I plan to eventually!Everyone has such good suggestions and it’s been a memorable summer so far.
We’re enjoying beet greens, lettuce, radishes, herbs and chard from the kitchen garden, but has it merited it’s own Update? Sadly, not yet. If I have a spare chuck of time, I’m weeding like a mad-woman, not documenting the progress of the tomatoes.
On top of everything, we’re counting down the weeks (2 1/2!!) until we fly out to Western Canada and I’m trying to wrap my head around packing. Focus, girl, focus.
It doesn’t help that I’m still in a dream-like state over our blissful weekend getaway; I didn’t want to leave our private beach on a quiet corner of a lake.
It was an amazing little holiday, complete with a few wine tastings, dinner at a cozy restaurant that featured local ingredients (rabbit for me, duck for him), a picturesque farmer’s market on Saturday morning and an local junk shop where I scored some antique Fiestaware.
Somehow this is our lucky month, because tonight we’re off on another date in honour of Danny’s birthday: a concert with Jazz legend Wynton Marsalis! It also happens to be opening night of the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the great Stevie Wonder is THE late-night event. We’ll catch him after Wynton; it’s going to be a fabulous evening of music under the summer night sky, rain or no rain.
Speaking of summer. we just can’t get enough of these summer rolls. Ever since I discovered that Noah will scarf them down, peanut sauce included, they’ve become a staple. Ideal for those steamy hot days when you don’t want to cook over a hot stove and your tummy is begging for a break from barbecued meat, these delicate summer rolls offer a fresh and flavorful alternative!
Here’s the recipe from the archives with a few step-by-step photos: Shrimp Summer Rolls.
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and to my local readers: Bon Festival!
Love your photos! The rolls are perfect for summer!
They look so tasty and healthy!
My days are also filled with swimming, red beet greens, Swiss chard, and rabbits (though the rabbits are baby wild ones—we won't, I don't think, be eating them).
Enjoy the hectic fun while it lasts!
Congrats on homegrown food 🙂 The best kind! Beautiful rolls as well. I love those. Hope things settle down for you a bit and that you get to relax!
Great photo! Lucky girl TWO dates in a month? Happy Birthday to your honey!
~ingrid
I find that I don't want to cook much in the summer, making blogging more difficult! But the rolls look delicious – something I'd love!
summer is very busy for us too; got to make hay while the sun is up and everything. I haven't given my daughter spring rolls like these but I think we shall try them.
What a beautiful presentation these make! Lovely!
These look gorgeous, I love your photos!
Ooh, I heard Stevie Wonder on the radio today and jealousy consumed me for those in Montreal!
Just where are you coming West? The whole family?
Looooove Wynton Marsalis! I got to visit Montreal several years ago for the day and fell in love. My mom actually grew up there (Greenfield Park) and always told such neat stories.
One more thing to add to your summer – have you checked out the new indoor skydiving wind tunnel there? My hubs is an instructor at the one here in UT and a friend of ours helped open that one. So fun! Happy Summer!
Summer rolls… gosh, it's been forever since I went in that direction. Great idea.
Can't blame you for wanting to get the most out of this fabulous time of the year.
Sounds like an eventful summer. Those summer rolls look so refreshing…almost as refreshing as your private beach on the lake…I just might be a little jealous of that! 🙂
The photo from your vacation is breath taking. I'm relaxed just looking at it!
Love your blog, a friend of mine of facebook linked to your baked fr. toast recipe… so here I am!
The photo is brilliant and those rolls look DIVINE! We must try them very soon.
where did you stay in the townships? we are looking for a short getaway…
i love those rolls but never ventured to make them — i think i will try this weekend!
It was so good to see you! I haven't been to GPPC in a while cause I've been attending the Open Door in West Island. How was the concert?
It's been a year since Jon and I have been dating, and I am planning to make dinner for him. I think he'll love the summer rolls… Any suggestions on a main course to follow the rolls?
Sounds like such a perfect way to spend a summer:D
Wow. loved those rolls. They look cocoons. So refreshing.