Signs That Summer Is Here

• Hot, flushed cheeks at the park.
• I pulled out the fan for Sage's nap today. "Our cold days are lost," she observed.
  
• At the Farmer's Market all the food was wilted....but we bought it anyway because it's fresh and organic.
  
• The first crop of organic peaches I just bought got dead ripe before we could eat them...which means it's time to make Dead Ripe Fruit Vinaigrette. Yum!
  

Dead Ripe Fruit Vinaigrette

About 1/2 cup very ripe fruit--strawberries, blackberries, peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines or tomatoes
2 cloves garlic (or 1 large one)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 to 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Salt, freshly ground pepper and a pinch of fresh herbs to taste

1. In a food processor or blender, puree the fruit and garlic. Add the remaining ingredients, seasoning with salt, pepper and herbs.

P.S. Did you know that many blenders can be used with a standard mason jar, or wide-mouthed mason jar? The blender whips it right in the jar! Here's how:

Step 1: Remove the base from the regular blender container.
Step 2: Screw on the base to the mason jar. Make sure it is nice and tight.
Step 3: Invert the jar and place on the blender.