Fireworks and a Big Storm

A Quick Fireworks Show—and an Even Quicker Dash to the Car

How was your Fourth of July weekend? Ours was pretty quiet, but we still managed to get out and enjoy a little holiday fun.

On the Fourth, we headed over to watch the fireworks at Sesame Place in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Instead of dealing with the crowds inside the park, we joined hundreds of other people who had the same idea—parking in the shopping center across the street. Everyone unloaded their lawn chairs and lined the edges of the parking lot, settling in for the show.

Right around 8:58 p.m., the first fireworks lit up the sky. It was a beautiful display, even if it only lasted about 10 minutes. By 9:10, the grand finale had ended, and we were folding up our chairs and making our way back to the car.

Big Storm Blowing In 

As it turned out, our timing couldn't have been better.

About five minutes later, while safely tucked inside our car, the weather changed almost instantly. The wind began howling so fiercely that we actually wondered if a tornado was headed our way. (Thankfully, it wasn't!) The trees were bending and thrashing, their branches rustling so loudly they almost drowned out everything else. Lightning flashed across the sky, turning night into day for brief moments, and within minutes the rain came pouring down in buckets.

The drive home was a challenge. Visibility was terrible, and everyone on the road slowed to a crawl. Fortunately, home was only about 10 minutes away, so we made it safely

The fireworks may have been the main attraction, but Mother Nature had a dazzling finale of her own waiting for us.

Did you get to see the fireworks? How was your weather? 

Easy Vegan Potato Salad With Fresh Pesto

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If you're looking for a fresh twist on traditional potato salad, this easy vegan potato salad is one recipe you'll want to make all summer long. Instead of a heavy mayonnaise dressing, tender potatoes are tossed in a homemade basil and cilantro pesto that is bursting with robust flavor.

It's light, colorful, incredibly delicious, and comes together with very little effort.

Once you've made the pesto (which keeps for at least two days in the fridge), the rest couldn't be easier. Simply quarter your potatoes, boil them until fork tender, drain them well, and gently toss them with the pesto while they're still warm. The warm potatoes soak up all of those fresh herb flavors. 

It's a great way to eat more greens without even thinking about it. Every spoonful is packed with fresh herbs that add both flavor and nutrition.

Like What you say? 

Fresh basil is naturally rich in antioxidants and contains vitamins A and K, which help support healthy vision, bones, and your immune system. Its bright, slightly sweet flavor gives the pesto its classic taste.

Fresh cilantro adds a refreshing citrusy note that pairs beautifully with basil. It's a good source of vitamins A, C, and K and provides antioxidants that help protect your cells from everyday wear and tear. Even if you're not a big cilantro fan, it blends beautifully into the pesto without overpowering the other flavors or you can substitute parsley which is also nutrient dense instead of cilantro.

Potato salad is perfect for picnics, barbecues, potlucks, or an easy weeknight dinner. This recipe is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and tastes just as good the next day, making it a wonderful make-ahead dish for busy summer weekends.

Recipe for the pesto:  (follow link to previous post for the recipe)

Ingredients for the potato salad

1 and 1/2 cups of pesto 

3 pounds of red potatoes, quartered and boiled until fork tender  

Your choice as to whether or not to peel

optional: 1 cup of diced celery 

Directions: 

Remove potatoes from pot of boiling water with a slotted spoon and place in a large serving bowl. While the potatoes are still hot, spoon generous amounts of pesto over the warm potatoes.

My Notes: 

1. Have you stopped eating hot dogs because processed lunch meats, such as hot dogs, salami, bologna, corned beef, pastrami etc. are now classified as a category 1 carcinogen (same as cigarettes)? If so, try my carrot hot dogs and pile on the sauerkraut, mustard and ketchup!!

2. This vegan potato salad recipe is also gluten-free

 

IN MY KITCHEN - JULY 2026

What's In My Kitchen This Month? 

Lots of produce from the local farmers market. 

The farner's market has officially opened for the season, and I couldn't be more excited. There are about eight local farmers who participate—including three certified organic farms—it's the perfect place to stock up on fresh, seasonal produce.

There is simply no comparison between vegetables that were picked that morning and those that have traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles to reach the grocery store. Freshly grown and picked produce is bursting with flavor, and because it's so fresh, it also retains more of its nutrients and lasts much longer.

The market is held every Saturday morning, nestled in the countryside about 20 minutes from my house. I never know exactly what I'll find. Every week brings something new as different fruits and vegetables come into season.

This week's haul included crisp cucumbers, leafy greens, bok choy, celery, cabbage, fresh herbs such as cilantro and dill, zucchini, dandelion greens, onions, and red potatoes. 

Of course, bringing home all that fresh produce means I'll have to spend some time prepping it and cooking it. 

I like to wash everything as soon as I get home. Some weeks I'll prep individual salad jars for easy lunches. Other times I simply wash and dry everything before storing it in reusable produce bags or containers. Spending a little time upfront makes healthy eating much easier during the busy week.

One thing I discovered this weekend was that my deck makes the perfect produce prep station! Instead of covering my kitchen counters and floor with dirt, leaves, and water, I carried everything outside and worked on my outdoor patio table. It's easier to hose down the deck than have to wash the kitchen floor. 

I washed, sorted, and trimmed my vegetables while enjoying the fresh air, and when I was finished, cleanup was incredibly easy. No muddy kitchen floor to mop afterward!

There's something satisfying about opening the refrigerator and seeing it filled with colorful, fresh produce that's washed, prepped, and ready to use. It inspires me to eat more vegetables, try new recipes, and make the most of everything that's in season.

I made a potato salad with pesto using the potatoes and herbs which I will be sharing the recipe soon.

New Serving Spoons

 Do you shop at your local farmer's market? When you get home, do you wash and prep everything right away, or wait until you're ready to use it? 

Joining Sherry at Sherry's Pickings for her monthly IN MYKITCHEN blogger's share. Anyone can join in . 

June's Strawberry Moon Explained

I happened to run to the supermarket around 9:00 last night when I looked up and caught sight of June's spectacular Strawberry Moon. I was thrilled to be able to snap a quick photo before heading inside the store. Glowing low on the horizon, the moon looked like a giant ball of fire lighting up the night sky.

Despite its name, the Strawberry Moon isn't actually pink or shaped like a strawberry. June's full moon gets its name because it's strawberry harvesting season, not because of its color. Because it rises so low in the sky, it can often appear golden, orange, or even fiery red, making it one of the most beautiful full moons of the year.

The name Strawberry moon originated with the Native American tribes, particularly the Algonquin people, who used the full moons to keep track of the changing seasons. The June's full moon signaled that it was wild strawberry season.  Thus they called the June moon, Strawberry Moon.

                                                       

This year's Strawberry Moon was especially interesting because it appeared unusually low in the sky for many people in the Northern Hemisphere. When the moon is close to the horizon like this, it often looks much larger than it really is thus creating a fascinating optical illusion known as the "moon illusion." Depending on weather conditions, it can also take on golden, orange, or reddish tones as its light passes through more of Earth's atmosphere.

If you missed the June Strawberry Moon this year, you'll have to wait until next June for another chance to enjoy this beautiful annual event.