We sure have been busy here in the Cottage kitchen, it is canning season. The real hot weather is coming fast so we are trying to harvest as many of our vegetables as we can before we loose them to the heat. The kitchen is a busy place, so when we are making our meal plan we want recipes to use garden vegetables and won't take very much time to prepare. This is a fun time of the year to make meal plans, so let's get to it.

It's the last Thursday of the month and that means we have our Top Ten Features List!These are the Top Ten Page Views from the week before and it is always exciting to see who YOU choose. Our summer temperatures have surely arrived and we are staying indoors or in the pool more and more to stay out of the heat. Our taste always turns to something a little cooler to eat and drink so I can't wait to see what you will bring to share with us today!

When the summer heat comes, we head for the grill. We love to take every opportunity to cook in the outdoor kitchen, keeping all that heat out of the house. In addition to keeping that heat out of the house grilling just brings a special favor that you can't get any other way.These are some of our favorite grilling recipes for summer and sure hope you enjoy them!

I was recently visiting with a friend and she was telling me about this awesome Banana Pudding. I asked her for the recipe and what she told me was "oh you know, those Shortbread Cookies and some bananas and pudding." Like so many of us, that's the way I often times have received a recipe through the years. So I have to say that this is my version of the verbal recipe that I received from my friend. I know one thing for sure, she was absolutely right the pudding is so rich and delicious. Our family just loved this dessert and we will be making it again and again.

Before I sit down to start my meal plan each week, I like to check my garden in the summer to see what fresh vegetables we will be able to use in our meal plans. I spend some time in the garden very early this morning checking to see what we can harvest in the next week to be used in our meal plans, now I am ready to take a break sit here on the porch and write this meal plan. I still hear the sound of my kids when they would come home from their school day and say Whats For Dinner, and I would always say it's on The Menu Board!

Welcome to Full Plate Thursday, it is good to surround ourselves with friends and family at this time in our world. During times of turmoil food becomes a very important part of the peace and comfort that comes to folks as we process and heal from the tragedy that may have been surrounding us. We have the greatest cooks that bring such fantastic food to our party every week and I count all of you as my friends and thank you so much for coming today.

This Southwest Salad has a spicy dressing that makes it a real hit.We love the combination of all the fresh garden vegetables that this salad has along with that special dressing. This is a great salad that will serve as a stand alone salad or a great side. I have taken this salad to many picnics, covered dish dinners and family dinners, the bowl is always empty when I bring it home. It goes without saying that this is one of our favorite salads.

When I was a young homemaker we would call a dish like this a one pot meal, and really that's just what it is. Our Crock Pot's and Slow Cooker's make it possible to have these wonderful one pot meals without having the oven going all day. I made this recipe from a recipe that my mother made and called a One Pot Chicken Dinner. This is a delicious recipe and a real comfort dish, with chicken, vegetables, rice and a thick topping of sauce and cheese.

For our meal plans this time of the year we are looking for recipes that are garden fresh, packed with flavor and easy. I sure don't want to spend the whole day in the kitchen when there are so many fun summer time activities to enjoy. This week I have a new tomato recipe from the garden on the menu that has turned out to be one of our summer time favorites.

Hello everyone, it is so good to see you today, come on back to the porch, we are gathering on the cool porch and we will enjoy watching the beautiful birds while we all gather. We had some wonderful grilled chicken, fresh buttered squash and fresh fried okra for lunch today and my husband said, "now that is comfort food and that's what we need today", it sure was good and I agree that sometimes we really need comfort food.I can't wait to try what you are bringing to share with us today!

This Lemon Ice Box Pudding Cake is a great dessert for any occasion, and has delicious layers of flavor. This is a very easy recipe and can be put together in a short time, which makes it a winner for last minute get together's. Although this is a great spring and summer dessert we serve it the year round as it is one of the favorite's requested here at the cottage. My family gets excited when they see this cake in the refrigerator, and then you may hear someone saying,"who had a slice of the cake?"

We planted a new Tiny Tomato in our garden this year and it's name is simply "Sweetie". It really has lived up to its name, it is one of the sweetest tomatoes we have had in a long time. They are great to eat right off the vine, and I couldn't wait to develop a recipe just for my Tiny Tomatoes.This galette is filled with wonderful caramelized onions and lots of cheese and fresh herbs to create a delicious Garden to Table recipe.

Come on out to the garden with me I am gathering some fresh vegetables for our special recipe today. We will also be planning our meal plan for the week and with the looks of these wonderful garden vegetables we will have some on our plate this week. Our family just loves fresh vegetables and I am very happy about that because they are sure plentiful in the garden this year.

Come on in we are gathering on the back porch today to enjoy some nice Iced Tea while all the guest arrive. We had a great 4th of July and now it is time to just sit, rest and visit with all of you for awhile.I really look forward to Thursday's because I know that you will be bringing the most wonderful recipes and meal plans along with great kitchen and garden ideas. Don't forget that we link any food related post. Now lets get in your baskets to see what you are sharing today and get this party started!

I love a sheet pan recipe that is so easy all in one pan. Recently I had a few fresh vegetables in the refrigerator that needed to be used, so I decided to put it all together and make a Roasted Sheet Pan recipe. I was just pulling it out of the oven to do the "taste test" when my friend called. When I told her what I was making she wanted the recipe and I told her all I had at that moment was my recipe notes. So at last here is your recipe Cece, we really love this recipe and I sure hope all of you will to.

Our Independence Day Celebrations are filled with flag's, parades, concerts, military honor guards, cook outs, hamburgers, hot dogs and fried chicken.  Our community has a wonderful parade that winds it's way through the tree lined streets where the neighbors are in the front yard's watching everyone's children and grandchildren walk or ride their bike in the parade, it truly is a Norman Rockwell scene of hometown.  Today I am taking a Quiet Time to  remember what this day really means to our country, our family and to me.  Many of our family through the years have served and are presently serving in the military to help ensure that we enjoy the freedom that we celebrate today.  Today I am so grateful for the freedom that we have and for all the folks who help maintain it on a daily basis.  American The Beautiful, From Shore to Shore, Let Freedom Ring  God Bless America! Peace and Joy Miz Helen

Happy Independence Day There is lots of excitement here at the cottage, our community will be having the annual 4th of July parade this Saturday, it is always so much fun. Along with the parade we have a bake sale with so many great foods from all the bakers in our area. We will be having some family and friends to help us celebrate this weekend and stay over for part of the week. I have been working on my meal plans so that we can really enjoy our special time. It is a very festive and enjoyable time to celebrate freedom and to be grateful for it!