How are you getting along with this hot weather? I know if I was a kid again I’d be hanging out at the pool. I suppose I could still do that, but it’s too darn hot to even change my clothes to do that and I don’t even like getting into a hot car even though I know the air will soon kick in. It has been a long time since we had to stay cooped up because of the hot weather. This weirdly hot weather has a lot of people, especially newspaper writers freaked out and they have come up with all kinds of theories. They have me thinking, Is this global Warming? After all the weather really hasn’t been normal since March.

I checked with the weather channel to see what they had to say about this heat wave. I was looking forward to a scientific answer, but instead all I heard was it’s almost surreal, this is really very unusual and it’s caused by the jet-stream, air masses turning tropical, but no real explanation, except this hot weather is very different than most summers. This makes me think the weather channel really has no explanation except ideas on how to stay cool.

Years and years ago, way back in cave-man days they lived in caves to keep cool and they actually had sunscreen. Then it was impossible to go down to the local drugstore and buy sunscreen, so they devised their own. Like the elephant, who have very sensitive skins, they dusted themselves with dirt to protect their skin. I’m very thankful for sunscreen; I would hate to dust myself before going out in the sun. There are numerous varieties, however, what is most important is the SPF factor which should be 15 or higher.

One of the most important things to remember is to protect children from the sun. Adults and older children can certainly tell someone when they are feeling bad from too much sun, but not younger children. Infants younger than 6 months should be kept out of the sun to protect their sensitive skin. Babies under 12 months should also have limited sun exposure. After one year there can be more sun exposure, but never forget the sunscreen, or no one should forget sunscreen. This very hot sun shine is especially more dangerous.

If you are like me when it gets too hot outside I like to stay inside. Also I have to admit when it’s this hot I stay out of the kitchen as much as possible.

This recipe won’t heat up your kitchen and is the recipe Linda Rickert gave to me and my daughter took with her to Germany. However, Linda, called and now I have it and tried it out and I can say it is delicious. If you have never tried pesto, now is the time. There are many pesto recipes and I think the basil leaves are what gives this recipe its flavor. My daughter-in-law has a herb garden so I know where to get the basil. Just remember to wash the leaves throughly in cold water.

FRESH BASIL PESTO

2 cups fresh basil leaves,

packed tightly into the

cup

4 large garlic cloves,

peeled and chopped fine

1 cup walnuts

2/3 cups of good olive oil

1 1/4 cups Parmesan

cheese

* Combine the basil, garlic and walnuts in a food processor and chop by pulsing the machine.

* Slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream while the food processor is on.

* Shut off the machine and add the cheese, salt and pepper (ground Pepper is best) to taste. Pulse again until well blended.

This makes a good one cup. This is good on crackers, or on any toasted bread. Linda said she toasts Mike’s buttered brown bread, puts the pesto, tomato and cheese and warms it up in the frying pan. I tried it on a baguette hard bread and it was a complete supper on a hot day. You can freeze this pesto in baby food jars and take it out when you need it.

“Don’t forget to lather on the sun screen.”