Dog Days
August 25, 2023
What can be better than the long hot days of August? Taking the time to soak them all in…long afternoon shadows, nature’s bounty, simple pleasures. Here are just a few simplequietmodern later Summer favorites.
A trip to any farmers market or farm stand bursting with local goodness. Fresh corn to use in a roasted corn salad, Kirby cucumbers for pickling and heirloom tomatoes for that simple tomato sandwich or BLT. Maybe some figs to serve up with blue cheese to start or fresh local melons sliced up to end a perfect summer supper.
A refreshing outdoor shower after a long walk on a secluded rocky beach followed by a smart fresh cherry old fashioned while relaxing in from of an early evening fire.
Fresh locally grown seasonal flowers from hydrangeas to hops, bright dahlias to my personal favorite’s, white Michigan gladiolus.
photo: Food52
photo: Remash
photo: Loll
Unless otherwise indicated, photos: gp
Cooling Greens
August 20, 2017
This August heat has inspired me to reach for anything green from the season’s bounty, switching up my weekly shopping trip which seems zeroed in on auto-pilot. Let’s see what this exercise has produced.
From the top:
It started with this green spider orchid from Trader Joe’s inspiring the rest of my selections.
Locally grown Honeydew melons are just the break I needed from Watermelon.
These Green Zebra heirloom tomatoes will switch up that Summertime BLT or Caprese.
Local fresh herbs…it doesn’t get better. Basil for a Pesto Pizza on the grill or maybe a Pesto Potato Salad…Parsley and Mint for a Chimichurri to compliment anything grilled.
Zucchini have gotten a bad rap by showing up on your desk or doorstep by the bagful. Take full advantage by grilling them up with some onions, peppers and tomatoes or knocking out a batch of Zucchini Muffins.
Photo: gp
BLT – B + C
July 30, 2016
Now that Summer tomatoes are starting to pop up I’m craving a BLT. A guilty pleasure to be sure, particularly with my favorite bacon from Whole Foods. While I limit my bacon intake to twice a year, a sandwich in the Summer and with pancakes on a particularly cold and snowy Winter morning, I’m left wanting more. Then a friend reveals her secret for a BLT without the B. Cheese! That’s right. Cheese. I had to give it a go. So I baked off a couple of slices of provolone dusted with a bit of grated parmesan until they were golden at 375 degrees. Pulling them from the oven, I let them cool a few seconds and flipped, returning to the oven to brown the reverse. I kept an eye on them, as this went quickly. While they cooled, they crisped up, giving me time to set up the toast, lettuce, tomato and mayo. I assembled as I would my favorite BLT and Boom! Done. And good. I’m not missing the Oink.
I was so excited with that successful result, I decided to treat myself another Summertime favorite, a Vernors Float. A single scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with the oldest soda in America, Vernors Original Ginger Soda, kept it short and sweet.
Photos: gp
A Bushel or a Peck
August 23, 2015
Tomatoes, corn and summer stone fruit. Now that we’re well into August they’re ripe for the picking. Is there anything better on a hot summer day than a BLT for lunch or dinner? How about the simplicity of corn on the cob or maybe a new riff like a charred corn salad? Or, savor peaches and plums in a pie or crostata…maybe whip up something new like a plum caramel to serve over ice cream. The early gifts of summers harvest are waiting at a farm stand near you. Sounds like a little road trip to the country is in order.
Top to bottom:
Bushels of heirloom tomatoes waiting to meet up with bacon and lettuce on a nice chunk of ciabatta.
Sweetcorn by the truck load. While corn on the cob is nice, this Charred Corn Salad with Lime, Chili and Tomato knocks it out of the park. Really, I can’t stop making this. Photo via Food52 http://food52.com/recipes/17913-charred-corn-and-avocado-salad-with-lime-chili-and-tomato
A handful of late Summer plums, a little sugar and a vanilla bean is all you need to whip up a batch of Plum Caramel…simple. http://food52.com/recipes/37359-creme-fraiche-plum-cake-with-plum-caramel
All photos ( with the exception of the charred corn salad ) by gp
The new BLT
October 6, 2012
Bacon Arugula & Tomato…what could be wrong with that? It’s simple, it has bacon and it has Arugula! The best possible ingredients are key. Take advantage of the abundance of heirloom tomatoes that are showing up on your desk or doorstep, treat yourself to some Whole Foods thick sliced bacon from the meat counter and switch out the lettuce for a handful of organic baby Arugula. Stack it up on a nice chunk of Ciabatta, add a touch of mayo and a pinch of coarse salt and ground pepper and you are done, done and done. A glass of Prosecco… ( or even cider) and well, you’ve got the perfect Sunday lunch… or a great reward for raking the yard.
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