THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Then followed that beautiful season... Summer.... Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Hubbard Lake Sunsets _________ JUICY LUCY (STUFFED HAMBURGER) ~ A fun burger ... adapt to suit taste ... all are delicious 1 1/2 lb. choice ground beef 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 tsp. garlic powder heavy sprinkling of dried thyme, dill, chives and favorite seasonings dashes of Worcestershire Sauce to taste dashes of Tabasco Sauce to taste 4 slices of American, Swiss (cut slices into 4 pieces) or crumbled blue cheese 4 split hamburger buns (lightly butter or olive oil each half) Gently combine ground beef and seasonings. Form into 8 patties. In 4 of the patties, create a hole and stuff with cheese. Top with remaining patty, pinch edges and tightly seal. ( Williams- Sonoma has a fun hamburger press ) Grill on high about 3-4 minutes/side. Serve on grilled bu...

... On The Summer Solstice ... "Whatever is dreamed on this night, will come to pass." William Shakespeare - Acknowledging the Magic of This Time A Mid-Summernight's Dream Gerbera Daisy Iceland Poppy Zinnia Solstice, from the Latin for sun stands still, in astronomy, either of the two points on the ecliptic that lie midway between the equinoxes (separated from them by an angular distance of 90°).At the solstices the sun's apparent position on the celestial sphere reaches its greatest distance above or below the celestial equator , about 23 1/2° of arc. At the time of summer solstice, about June 22, the sun is directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Cancer .In the Northern Hemisphere the longest day and shortest night of the year occur on this date, marking the beginning of summer. At winter solstice, about December 22, the sun is overhead at noon at the Tropic of Capricorn ; this marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. For several days before and ...

... On The Summer Solstice ... "Whatever is dreamed on this night, will come to pass." ~ William Shakespeare ( A Mid-Summernight's Dream ) ~ Summer solstice (Hubbard Lake, MI)

" Solstice , from the Latin for sun stands still, in astronomy, either of the two points on the ecliptic that lie midway between the equinoxes (separated from them by an angular distance of 90°). At the solstices the sun's apparent position on the celestial sphere reaches its greatest distance above or below the celestial equator , about 23 1/2° of arc. At the time of summer solstice, about June 22, the sun is directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Cancer . In the Northern Hemisphere the longest day and shortest night of the year occur on this date, marking the beginning of summer. At winter solstice, about December 22, the sun is overhead at noon at the Tropic of Capricorn ; this marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. For several days before and after each solstice the sun appears to stand still in the sky, i.e., its noontime elevation does not seem to change from day to day." Solstice information courtesy of ~ ( http://www.infoplease.com/spot/sol...

~ A nother pretty face ' Sunray ' ( Lilium ) "In June and July, just when the sun would have its day without a border, out come these bright yellow mimics, faces jubilantly upturned, eight to twenty to a 2-foot stem. A very few dark spots mark the center of the flower, and its petal edges have a random curl. ' Sunray ' produces numerous secondary buds, which extend its blooming season considerably." A BOOK of LILIES (Mark Smith) _________________________________ GRILLED FLANK STEAK with MORAN SAUCE ~ Steak, one of the ultimate staples for summer, comes flavorful and succulent when prepared properly. This 40 year old recipe will fill the bill for fun summer dining. * 1 1/2 lb. flank steak 1/2 cup chopped red or sweet onion 4 cloves minced garlic 1/3 cup red wine 1/4 cup soy sauce 1 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp. fresh minced ginger (1/2 tsp. ground) 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper Combine onions, g...