The summer may be the easiest season to eat seasonally because there is such a wide variety of fresh food available to most of us. For me, fresh summer produce makes it easy to remember to eat seasonally because the foods of summer have given me indelible memories and tastes; sweet, juicy fresh-from-the-vine tomatoes, sugary sweet watermelon and white corn, and stone fruit, like plums and peaches. There is no other season quite like it.
No matter what I am doing or where I am going, summer fruits and foods always take me back to when I was a kid and when life was simpler.
And, since we only have fresh summer fruit for a short time, I want to make sure that I enjoy it while I can and that I support our small, sustainable farmer s.
With that in mind, here are a few simple ways to reconnect with the foods of summer and to slow down and enjoy them.
Make your own ice pops while summer stone fruit is here. Peaches, plums, nectarines can all be added to watermelon juice or lemonade to create a cooling and refreshing treat. Or, you can make them with berries inside, add concentrated or fresh fruit juice, along with organic fruit and yogurt and make smoothie pops.
Add some fresh vegetables to your dinner menu or have a picnic highlighting seasonal foods. A few fresh vegetables and a food processor make delicious chilled summer soups, tomatoes, corn and cucumbers taste great this way.
Grill fresh veggie kabobs and include some peaches and plums to add a touch of sweetness to your kabobs.
Go and pick fresh fruit or berries. If you don’t have a local farm or farm trail, how about picking from a friend or neighbor’s fruit tree? Or, if you are on vacation, check for local farms near you or near your vacation spot.