In honor of America's birthday - the wedding of a family friend - and for the sheer fact that I had not been home in 1.5 years, I recently made my way back to the West Texas town of El Paso. In addition to my sister and her boyfriend coming in from California, my dog, Lucy, and their dogs, Alfie and Zoey, also made the journey. It was quite a reunion!

Because I'm an idiot honest citizen, I paid American Airlines' $250 round trip "pet fee" for Miss Lucy to be able to fly beside me (as opposed to stowage). And, while we've flown together once before, I must say that my lil' princess was remarkably quiet and well-behaved.

By the way, did you know that you can walk your leashed pooch inside of airports? No? Me neither!

Believe it or not, the 100+ degree heat was actually much more bearable than the 80-90 degree temperatures in NYC. Why, you ask? Because El Paso has virtually no humidity.

Having arrived close to noon, Mom and I stopped by Cafe Italia and fetched some freshly-baked, wood-fired bread, plus a log of handmade mozzarella. Next, we went to a nursery that was selling just-picked tomatoes.

For lunch, I made individual insalata caprese "stacks" using sliced tomatoes, sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper, a small drizzle of each-thick balsamic and olive oil, a fresh basil leaf, a buttery slice of ripe avocado, mozzarella cheese (at room temperature), and finished off with a few minced pieces of garlic. We used the gorgeous wood-fired bread segments to sop up extra oil and vinegar.

...And for dessert, a "Texas-sized" bowl of cherries.

I watched with admiration as Ofelia, my adoptive grandmother and the woman who taught me how to cook, gathered ingredients and slowly prepared dinner.

Post-dinner, we drank pomegranate margaritas and shot off fireworks! In the front yard, of course.

Lucy and her cousin, Alfie (and Zoey - not shown), had a great time playing in the grass. Chasing their tails. And swimming in the pool...

Lucy loved the long, lazy days spent chillaxing in refrigerated air...

...and getting lots and lots of attention!

In fact, all three of the pups were included in this year's family "Christmas card" photo!

While I spent my "me time" cooking, swimming, sunning, and catching up with old friends and family, my sister and her beau did some sightseeing...

I tried to catch the bride's bouquet...and lost out to an 80-something year old woman. Who was probably married. Or, at the very least, married at some point in her *long* life.

In honor of my sister's belated birthday - and to pay tribute to our recent holiday in Hawaii - I made a Haupia (Hawaiian coconut pudding) cake. From scratch.