Mini-Vacation: Brown County Indiana

Our family decided to take a mini-vacation this summer at the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park.  We spent the week enjoying the beautiful park, hanging out in the lodge, playing in the water park and just relaxing! We enjoyed the fireworks at Brown County High School football field~members of the Southern Indiana Pipes and Drums played, the kids marched around the track with the Lions Club Lion (ok, broke into a run, but started out marching...), then the fireworks! The fireworks reminded me so much of the fireworks in Bloomington when I was a kid~loved going to the old stadium to watch~it was a fun time with our little family. :)
~Tracy

Additional note:
We enjoyed breakfast at the lodge restaurant (or brunch as it often was for us!) & also ventured into Nashville. For pizza, we visited Harvest Moon ordering different  toppings than "normal" and our youngest found out she really likes pineapple after all :)  We also love Casa Del Sol, which has now moved into town. (Web info isn't updated ...you can now find them in Coachlight Square~worth the trip!)

Pickles! 1st attempt

We have been blessed with so many cucumbers in this season's CSA basket.  I felt this was the year to try making pickles (we have so many, why not?).  

This decision came just before reading our CSA letter that comes with each basket~that week's letter had a recipe for icebox pickles~Yay! I wouldn't need to search online for a recipe ;)

The kids were able to help and the pickles are yummy.

Here's the recipe from our CSA: 
(my changes/preferences in italics)
1 cup vinegar (rice wine/cider vinegar mix) mostly apple cider vinegar
2 T soy sauce  used reduced sodium soy sauce
2 T sugar
2 T toasted sesame oil
pinch of red pepper flakes
several cucumbers sliced
sliced onion  used several green onions
maybe sliced beets  omitted

In a medium non reactive bowl, whisk together seasonings, oil & vinegar.  Add cucumbers and onions.  Toss to combine.  Keeps well in fridge for up to 1 week.

Enjoy!
~Tracy