(Today, I’m also at Great Expectations. I’ve got a Perfect Summer Dinner Recipe calling your name!)

It’s summertime. Which for all intents and purposes, is the time for laziness. If you’re of that vibe, which I totally am.

However, there are somethings, that one should not be lazy about.

Paying the Bills. Don’t be lazy about that. That could cause some issues.
And mowing the lawn. Pay attention. I don’t want you to lose your toes.
And diving in the pool, try to take a few seconds to focus. Or else things could go array.

My sweet lovely Shelbi. My sweet crazy lazy diving Shelbi.
Who can swim circles around me. Who can swim the length of the pool, in no time flat.
Who can side stroke, back stroke, crawl, butterfly, breast and elementary back stroke.
Is having some issues with diving.

It’s like she says, I WANT TO DIVE.
And then in the very next second her mind veers off into, BUT I’M KINDA LAZY, AND I DON’T REALLY WANT TO STRAIGHTEN UP.

And Kaboom! a distorted fetus like image plunges into the water, making a loud splash, a big THUNK, and a nervous GASP! from this onlooking mother.

I couldn’t stand it any longer, so on her request we headed to the pool to see if we could get this laziness under control. And I am happy to report, we did.

And now she dives like this.

http://youtu.be/7mUpSCF3oFs

And this.

http://youtu.be/SWNxJd9DkyA

And laziness lives again, in only the appropriate places.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Now if you asked me a few months ago, I would have said “There is NO room for laziness in GOURMET cooking.” Which is why, I DON’T DO IT.

But. . . . .

Then I found this.

The Lazy Gourmet: Magnificent Meals Made Easy. I smiled, and I thunk. . . .THAT IS SO UP MY ALLEY.

But would they really be gourmet meals? And could I really be lazy? And would they taste yummy?

And you may not be surprised when I say YES TO IT ALL. Check it out. Olive and Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade, White Bean Spread with Parmesan and Mint, Seared Sea Scallops with Mint and Pea Puree, Pomegranate Roasted Chicken and Figs and Ginger (uses bottled pomegranate juice), Chicken with coconut milk, chiles, and basil. I could go on and on.

Hints and tips abound in this book, with tons of recipes to help any Rookie Cook or Lazy Gourmet Wow! their crowd. There are no pictures, which is a little downer to me, since they help to inspire and nudge. But their is a wealth of recipes, all that are ‘simple, fresh, seasonal, and doable’, which completely make ups for the lack of photography.

Truthfully, I’m loving this book. Cause it helps me to be fancy AND lazy.
A combination I didn’t know was possible.

Another combination bringing together two extremes. Sour, Tart, and Sweet and Creamy.
Creamy Dreamy Lime Ice Cream. No Ice-Cream Maker Required.

I feel like a whole new world has just opened up to me.

Lime Dream Ice Cream
adapted ever so slightly from The Lazy Gourmet, by Robin Donovan & Juliana Gallin
The next time I make this (and oh, there will be a next time) I’m going to crumble up Nilla wafers and garnish with whipped cream, and make it sort of a Lime Pie Parfait. Hello! Can you say Heaven? Yes. You. Can.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup fresh lime juice, about 8 limes
3/4 cup sugar, granulated
Zest of one lime (adds a bite, I think I’ll leave it out next time or use 1/2)
1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Directions:

1. Using a small saucepan, heat lime juice and sugar over a medium low heat. Simmer and continue to cook until the sugar dissolves. This should take 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and place in refrigerator to cool.
2. Add cream and zest(if using) to the lime juice mixture. Pour into a shallow baking dish, and place into the refrigerator. After 45 minutes, stir the mixture to break up the frozen bits.

Put back into the freezer, and repeat this process for every 30 minutes-1 hour, until the ice cream is frozen, which should be around 4 hours.

3. Serve in a bowl, with some vanilla wafers, sugar cookies, or shortbread to temper the sharpness of the lime.

The authors suggest trying lemon or orange juice as an option to change the recipe up. Yum!

PS- If you’re not in to super tart, slowly add the lime juice, and then taste. You may not need the entire 3/4 cup of juice, if you’d prefer a slightly muted effect.

Disclaimer: I received this book in order to review. No monetary compensation was given. All opinions are ONLY my own. Nobody else’s. Not Ron’s, Bob’s, Sue’s, Mary Ellen or Tamesha’s. Cause that ain’t my name.