Where did the month of July run off to? I'm certain that spring was just here a week ago, and June left yesterday, so I have no idea why August is banging rudely on the door as though it's just played a round of Fuzzy Duck.

Of all the desserts that are in a constant orbit around my thoughts, ice cream would be right out there with Pluto. No, maybe not that far...My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizza's...Neptune, ice cream would be Neptune. It's not that I dislike ice cream, it just has some tough competition in the form of cupcakes, bars, and cookies. Plus, ice cream is such a tease. As soon as you've built up a true craving for more spoonfuls or licks, it's gone, and all that's left is a vicious circle of guilt and misplaced frustration over wishing you could have more, and knowing that you shouldn't.

There is this little unspoken pact that I have with...myself? I'm not allowed to complain about the weather for most of the year (but come winter, the gloves are off.) I'm almost always cold, ergo summer's counterpart and I are not always on speaking terms. But seriously July, a little break from the hell-fire inferno you've blasted us with wouldn't kill you. At least take things down to the double digits, please?

In the fruit family, blueberries are like the wild, free-spirited cousins who breeze into your life about once a year in between trips around the globe and beg you to take advantage of their brief stay...as opposed to bananas, who spend their days in a dusty bowl or waiting patiently at the bottom of a desk drawer.

Brown butter has to be is one of the best things in the entire world. It makes me happy just thinking about it, it makes other people happy when they smell it from another room, and it's the best thing to happen to a cookie since the invention of chocolate. Just like Jamie Bamber is the best thing to happen to Law and Order since the beginning of Law and Order. (Bet you never thought it'd be possible to link Jamie and butter together.)

Does anyone else get stage-fright when it's their turn in line at a coffee shop? As soon as I'm up, I can't remember the name or size of the drink I wanted, even though I had it all rehearsed as I was waiting. There is always a pregnant pause when I'm asked for my order, and I always end up saying something stupid by using ambiguous adjectives like 'medium', and 'cappuccino'. What makes it even worse is knowing that I used to work in a coffee shop. I'm guessing it's empathy pains, or karma.

I hope that everyone had a great 4th of July. Don't you hate having to jump back into the week after having a free Monday? It's like being forced to wear a wet, wool sweater.

Because man cannot live on beer and brats alone (at least not for too long), here are some refreshing ideas to make your long weekend more memorable.

Have a safe, happy 4th of July!

Limoncello Cream Cheese Tartelettes
Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Chocolate Almond Frosting
Brûléed Key Lime Tartelettes
Lemony Almond Cookies