The first day of summer 2012

I love summer and today is the official first day of the season that brings....
sunshine
     warmth
          flowers
               vegetable garden
                    strawberry patch
                        time at the lake
                              barbecues in the backyard with family and friends. 


It is just a low key and relaxing season.  Everything about summer says "slow down and relax."  Today is our first sunny day in a couple of weeks and we have been enjoying every second of it out in our yard working on our landscaping project, which I might add is very relaxing for both of us.  Today, several truck loads of soil gave us our workout.  Well mostly my husband got the workout :)  But, now comes the really fun part...planting flowers and shrubs.  

After the work was completed we enjoyed lunch out on the patio while admiring our project.  Truthfully, I think I spend more time admiring projects than actually working on them.  Lunch was a big salad made with fresh lettuce from our garden and an ice cold glass of sun tea. The salad has kalamata olives, avocado, and olive oil that are all rich in healthy fat which helps calm inflammation in the body and tastes amazing as well.  

Fresh Summer Salad

3 cups of torn lettuce (your favorite kind)
12 kalamata olives, sliced
1 avocado, sliced
3 hard boiled eggs, diced (I only use the cooked egg white)
3 ounces of shredded cheese (I used pepper jack for a little extra zip)
Balsamic Vinaigrette (1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar and olive oil whisked together)

Split all ingredients evenly between 2 plates.  Place lettuce on plate. Sprinkle the olives, avocado and egg whites over the lettuce.  Then sprinkle the cheese over the top.  Finish with Balsamic Vinaigrette. Enjoy!