Home accessories: Foodie Friday -- July 18th

Welcome to the July 18th Foodie Friday, where good food is always on the menu.

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Just when summer heat got too hot to handle, middle Tennessee was blessed with cool, springlike weather. It was the perfect time to weed and mulch and take stock of the garden.

Some plants are thriving and some are puny.

My huge lavender bushes succumbed to last winter's bone-snapping weather, and my new crop was hidden by a volunteer pumpkin vine.

I keep thinking it will engulf the house, Grey Gardens style, but Will adores it.

Here's a look at last year's lavender crop.

Lavender Peach Salad

Lemony Lavender Vinaigrette will get you through a long, hot summer.

You can find the recipes HERE.

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Last week's most-viewed recipe at Foodie Friday was a quintessential summer side dish: Grandma's Potato Salad, submitted by Meatloaf and Melodrama. The texture is perfect, and the time-honored ingredients will please the pickiest palate.

The second most-viewed recipe came from Home Is Where the Boat Is, a do-not-miss, stunning tablescape, along with a delicious tomato tart and tomato gorgeousness. Mary's centerpiece is one of my favorites.

Picture Perfect Cooking's "Favorite Fruit Dip" brought the third most-viewed offering to the party. Her recipe is the perfect ending to a summer meal--fresh and refreshing!

Be sure to check out other popular posts, including Grandma's Summer Camp at Miz Helen's Country Cottage. Here's a darling photo, an instant smile-maker. What a cutie!

Don't miss Wives with Knives' "Old Fashioned Apple Pie," including a tutorial for a two-crust fruit pie. Just look at it. Oh, my! Flaky, browned to a perfection, and garnished with pastry leaves.

You can find last week's Foodie Friday recipes HERE. It's an awesome collection.

Are you contributing a recipe to this week's Foodie Friday?

If so, locate the blue Inlinkz icon in the lower, left-hand portion of this post. Click on the icon and follow the directions. After you complete the process, you will see a red "x" beside your name. This allows you to delete your link if you made an error; the red "x" is visible to you only.

You can read a complete guide to this linky party HERE.

If you'd like to share your food photos--or photos of other FF participants on Pinterest, join the Pinterest foodie board, Consuming Passions. Leave a message on the most recent "pin" if you'd like your name added to the list.

Every Friday, we are joined at this big, virtual table--thank you for stopping by today. I'm grateful to all of you who spend your days cooking. I'm grateful to old and new friends who contribute recipes every week. I'm grateful to friends who leave a comment. I'm grateful for the silent folks, because you are brought here by your love of all things culinary.

All participants' photos will be pinned to Foodie Friday's Pinterest board, Consuming Passions.

The Foodie Friday Link-Up

Have a great weekend.