We had a couple of busy days getting Matthew ready to go on a day of RAGBRAI…the Register’s Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa. This was the 50th year of bicyclists dipping their tires in the Missouri River and then spending seven days riding 500 miles east across Iowa to dip their tires in the Mississippi River.
This year there were 20,000 registered riders for the week, 10,000 day pass riders, and an estimated total of 65,000 riders on Wednesday, the 55-mile ride from Ames to Des Moines.
Despite the 96-degree temperature and 100+-degree heat index, Matthew completed the ride. He joined up with the Iowa United Methodist Conference Team in Ames. He and his riding buddies, Pastor Nate Nims and Liz Winders, left Ames at 7:15 am and crossed the finish line at 5:15 pm.
Here are some highlights…
We did find some time to be in the kitchen…
Monday in the Kitchen with Matthew: Our first BLT’s of the summer with potato salad and fresh dill.
Friday Pieday: Pizza alla Granato…a thin crispy crust topped with a red sauce, grated Parmesan, provolone, pancetta, fresh parmesan and cracked pepper.
Saturday on the Grill with Matthew: Honey-Chipotle Shrimp Foil Packets with Zucchini & Cherry Tomatoes.
Sunday’s Creation: P & B Pizza…a thin crispy crust topped with a rustic Basil Pesto, Parmesan, mozzarella, Prosciutto, creamy Burrata and baby Arugula dressed with garlic olive oil & fresh cracked black pepper.
And then, what to do with a 3 lb 12 oz monster zucchini? It was all hands on deck Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Two days of baking yielded:
-6 dozen mini double chocolate zucchini muffins
-3 dozen chocolate chip walnut zucchini muffins
-8 dozen oatmeal raisin zucchini cookies
-5 dozen chocolate chip oatmeal zucchini cookies
(Lesson learned…remind my ‘gardener’ to check the zucchini daily!)
Till next week,
~Peggy Palmer-Johnson