Bacon Broccoli Salad

July in the South tends to slow everything down and bring people together. The days are long, the air is hot and afternoons are spent on shady porches, covered docks and around backyard tables. There’s always someone sitting a little closer to the fan or parked just inside under the cool blast of air conditioning, trying to escape the afternoon heat.

Even with the temperatures climbing, folks still show up for those backyard cookouts, lake days and family reunions. No one seems to mind the heat when there’s good food on the table, cool drinks within reach and fun conversations that stretch long after the sun sets. It’s what summer looks like around here – simple and slow.