Heigh Ho! Heigh Ho!

A giant summer storm, the best kind, rolled in as I prepared Bacon Wrapped baked chicken burgers.  Sauteed cabbage with Balsamic Vinegar, bacon and sweet onions for a side. 

I haven't quite cracked the code for making lettuce burgers the most convenient to eat.  In the end, it's easier using the lettuce as you would flour tortillas, tearing off a piece and scooping your bite.  It depends on the lettuce but Romaine is sturdy and resilient.  I've shaped the burgers into logs, which could have worked better here.  There is something to the presentation of a giant burger though, so it's been a challenge to honor the institution yet make it easier to devour with lettuce as opposed to buns.  I have no problem continuing this important burger work.

Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose

These super awesome rainclouds blanketed the area leaving just a small stretch of blue skies with sunshine in the distance.  Everything began to turn dark really quick and you could smell the rain coming with the breeze in the air.

Don't you LOVE when that happens!?

It's like magic and sorcery and nature mixed with danger and excitement.  The storm gave the neighborhood that quiet low ceiling feeling.  I tend to get a bit wound up during a storm.  Feels like it ignites something primitive in me, like an ancient monkey gene that never got turned off.  This is similar to my full moon fever but way more pleasurable.

I was flipping through a magazine at PathMark and found this tip for a new salad.  Everyone is doing weird things to vegetables, cutting them oddly, peeling stuff into ribbons, and other produce manipulations.  This recipe replaced the bulgar wheat with grated cauliflower!  Great idea right?!  I loved it and of course you can add just about any herb, tomato, whatever.  I put some marinated artichoke hearts and a small avocado. So good and perfect with a spicy pork chop and side of edamame.

One warning: when you're grating, the cauliflower goes everywhere so it's mad messy, be prepared.  You have to just go with it and clean up afterwards.

1/2 head of cauliflower
bunch of parsley, chopped
bunch of mint, chopped
1 or 2 tomatoes chopped
1/2 English cucumber chopped
splash of red wine vinegar
small jar of artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
small avocado, diced
squeeze of lemon or lime, s&p
mix with spoon, let sit 5 minutes before serving & chill