Try This!

Take This!

According to Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Amy Kassouf, the antioxidant vitamin E can benefit skin, especially during the summer when skin may be getting more sun rays than at other times of the year. Topical vitamin E can enhance moisturization and may reduce sun damage from ultraviolet light (although this does not mean you can use vitamin E instead of sunscreen). Of course, eating more foods with vitamin E is a good idea, but you can also take a supplement (no more than 15 mg a day).

Make This!

Ditch the hot kitchen and opt for a quick and easy pasta salad for a light meal. Louisville native and chef Tim Smalley shares his recipe for this delicious Italian Pasta Salad.

• 16 ounces bow tie pasta

• 2 cups red wine vinegar

• ¾ cup sugar

• 1 tbsp minced garlic

• 2 tsps crushed red pepper

• 4 ounces basil (chiffonade)

• 1 cup, halved, cherry tomatoes

• ½ cup Dijon mustard

• ½ cup oregano

• 4 cups grapeseed oil

• Salt

Bring water to a boil, then add a liberal amount of salt. Pasta water should be very salty and taste like the ocean. Once the water is boiling and seasoned, add the bow tie pasta. Cook for 8-9 minutes or until pasta is al dente. Drain and cool.

In a blender, add the red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, crushed red pepper, garlic, and sugar. Turn the blender on medium and slowly drizzle in grapeseed oil until the vinaigrette reaches desired consistency. (Tim prefers it just thick enough to coat the pasta; he also adds a whole egg for a creamy consistency, but that is optional). Add salt to taste.

Heat a saute pan, add oil, and add the halved cherry tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the tomatoes are blistered (the skin starts to crack).

Add the vinaigrette to the cooled pasta. You may not need to add all of it, depending on your preference. Then add the blistered tomatoes and the chiffonade basil and mix. Enjoy!

Do This!

When the summer days are sweltering, there are outdoor events in the evenings that you can enjoy for not a lot of money. Here are some to consider:

Now through August 6: Free Kentucky Shakespeare in Central Park, 8pm kyshakespeare.com/season/sicp

Now through August 11: Jammin in Jeff at the Jeffersonville, Indiana Riverstage, 7pm jeffparks.org/jammin-in-jeff

June 21: Commonwealth Brass Band at Locust Grove, 6:30-9pm locustgrove.org/participate/events

July 8: Louisville Astronomical Society at Curby, Indiana (1 hour from Louisville), 8pm louisville-astro.org/event-5026509

By Carrie Vittitoe

Summer 2023 / Today's Transitions