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Red Corn and Yellow Tomato Galette

Red Corn and Tomato Galette

The Summer of Yellow Tomatoes

“ I remember that the Gabilan Mountains to the east of the valley were light gay mountains full of sun and loveliness and a kind of invitation, so you wanted to climb into their warm foothills almost as you want to climb into the lap of a beloved mother. They were beckoning mountains with brown grass love.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

We are in the grasp of our Indian Summer. Mercifully, we finally have sunshine with mid-day warmth. I have ripening tomatoes but the fog wore down my zucchini plants. Seriously who has problems growing zucchini? My Early Girl tomatoes are just now starting to ripen and don’t understand the definition of early. If they had a plane to catch they’d never make it on time! But I have lots and lots of yellow tomatoes! And yellow tomatoes pair perfectly with sweet red corn. READ MORE . . .

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Corn Bread with Hatch Chiles

Hatch Chile Corn Bread

Dreaming of New Mexico

“There is so much to tell about the western country in that day that it is hard to know where to start. One thing sets off a hundred others. The problem is to decide which one to tell first.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Hatch chiles are a once a year treat not unlike the fleeting delights of cherries or apricots. An authentic Hatch chile must be grown in the Hatch Valley in southern New Mexico. The Hatch Valley blazes with sun 350 days a year and yet has cool nights. This unique terroir or climate and geography encourages the flavor development in all the chile varieties grown in that region. Hatch chiles are of many varieties and can be mild, medium and hot. READ MORE . . .

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Savory Summer Hand Pies

Savory Hand Pies

Summer Longing

“I don’t know whether you notice it, but it seems like every other word you say is California. Do you really want to go?”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Living along the central coast of California is nothing less than divine. Except, except we really don’t have a summer. We have fog. By August there are rumblings of fall. I become anxious. Summer is like a fad sweeping the northern hemisphere and I’ve missed out on the latest trend. I long to complain about endless sunshine and a kitchen too hot for baking. Dinner on the patio without wearing a sweatshirt is just a fantasy. Actually leaving the house to go anywhere without a light jacket is just plain foolish. If by chance it is sunny, the fog can return at any time. Our summer vocabulary is studded with “when will the fog burn off” and “when will the fog roll back in”. I live in a place where a day above seventy-five is considered hot. We tend to melt at anything above eighty-five. It may be August, but I’m still longing for summer. Any day now our Indian Summer will arrive and wrap us in late season sunshine. We’re ready. READ MORE . . .

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Purple Bell Peppers

Stuffed purple bell peppers

Summer Sunshine

“Late in the summer Lee came in off the street, carrying his big market basket.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The best summer cooking revolves around as much glorious fresh sweet corn as possible. Piled high with summer vegetables our dinner salads have been graced with the addition of corn barely cooked in butter. A scoop of fragrant corn melts into the salad greens and no dressing is needed to compete with the blast of summer sunshine that adorns our dinner plates. There have been no complaints regarding my interpretation of salad for dinner. But if you must add dressing to your salad, a vinaigrette with a very light touch of vinegar leaves the sweet corn plenty of room to shine. READ MORE . . .