For years, I lived in a lakehouse. I loved it year-round but most of my friends tended to visit during the summer. As with a beach house, much of the entertaining time is spent with outdoor activities. So, cooking time is minimal. If one is renting a lakehouse, food items need to be transportable and cooking utensils may be limited. Consider chilled summer soups made from honeydew, watermelon or cantaloupe melons. Chilled soups can be assembled the night before. Relish trays of pickle varieties, marinated artichokes and olives can also be pre-assembled. It is very appealing to offer a classic summer sandwich on a whole loaf of unsliced bread. The flavor enhancer is the balsamic vinegar and grilled peppers. From years of lakehouse entertaining, stargazing is always encouraged. Those city friends may need a brush-up lesson on what constellations to observe. I enjoy making summer astronomy desserts consisting of pudding topped with blueberries positioned to mimic a star-studded night’s view such as Orion’s Belt, Canis Major, Cassiopeia, The Big Dipper, Andromeda, Aquila, Perseus and Hercules. It’s fun science sharing and it creates some very interesting conversation! For some extra stargazing fun, mark your calendar for the Perseids Meteor Shower on August 11 and August 12. May your wishes come true – Que tous vos souhaits se réalisent! Kelly McBride Loft ©

The Classic Lakehouse Sandwich
Split a whole loaf of fresh bread lengthwise.
Sprinkle balsamic vinegar on the deli meat selection. This can be a combination of turkey, ham, salami, etc. Consider smoked deli meat selections, too.
Just before serving, spread the bread with mayonnaise and/or Dijon mustard. Add lettuce and tomato. Top with Swiss cheese. Add the balsamic flavored deli meat.
Now add chopped grilled peppers (from a jar is faster) and sprinkle with chopped black olives. Cut the whole loaf into individual portions for smiling adventurers.