In fact, we grilled everything, starting with the appetizer. Asparagus wrapped with pancetta and grilled to deliciousness.

This is one of those dishes that makes me lie. If I tell the kids they won’t like something, they keep pestering me until its either gone or I give in. So I lie. I have learned that if I tell them something has alcohol in it, they don’t bug me as much since they know they can’t have alcohol.

However, my kids are not stupid, and I knew that if I used that excuse with the asparagus, it wouldn’t take them anytime at all to see through it.

So I just didn’t tell them when it was ready, and saved it all for the adults.

And if this makes me a bad parent, well, I’m in good company.

‘Cause Anna didn’t tell her kids about it either.

I know-it’s July and who in their right mind bakes bread in July. Well, who in their right mind ever said I was in MY right mind! But if you could smell it baking, you would forget any criticism that you have of me and beg, BEG for a piece slathered with real butter and then you would coyly ask if I still had some of that strawberry jam that I made a couple of months ago, and then you’d pout when I said I didn’t cause Austin and Ryan gobbled it down, so you’d “settle” for the triple berry that I do have, and you’d be in heaven.
Especially if you were Farmer Paul.