Best Summer Treats Ever!

With July 1st comes the official start of the summer season (even thought it really started last week).This is one of the best times of year. Fresh fruit and veggies abound.Every weekend holds th e prospect of a yummy picnic or barbecue. There's delicious boardwalk and carnival treats not to mention contests at local fairs. It's one fun foodie week after another.

One of the best treats of the season is a good old fashioned tomato sandwich. All you need is just fresh, sliced tomatoes mayo and white bread. The best bread is a good sandwich white like Pepperidge farms or Arnold's and then liberally slather on mayo. Add thick slices of beefsteak, sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper and you have sheer heaven. It's a lovely combo of juices mixing with creaminess. Another sandwich treat is a good old fashioned off the grill hamburger , complete with fresh sliced onions, ketchup and lettuce. Of course ribs rank right up there as well. There's nothing like them barbecued, shining with a thick patina of homemade sauce.

Summer has a lot of sweet goodies too. This i s the time of year to take advantage of what's left of the strawberry and blueberry seasons as well as cherries. Of course summer is all about that perfect watermelon wedge, drippy,cool and perfectly sweet.It'sa refreshing respite when temps hit the nineties. Vacation time isn't vacation time without boardwalk or fair goodies. There's the sheer fun eating cotton candy and candy apples along with frozen custard in a cake cone. Another treat (especially here in New Jersey) are boardwalk candies, fresh made in candy shops thatare a mainstay of the Jersey shore . Happiness is a molasses pop or a haystack or a whole box of saltwater taffy made from recipes that have lasted over one hundred years.

This is the season for fun times and fun food. It's just great to kick back with a perfect burger to a fresh made cone of cotton candy. Enjoy the warm weather and starry nights along with some of summer's fun treats!

November The Start Of Chestnut Season

Today is All Soul's Day , a big holiday throughout Catholic Europe. it;s when people eat chestnuts as a way for remembering loved ones past. the steam rising out of th e hot shells represents the souls who still linger over over. Another reason why the nut is so popular right now is that it is the season for them. Chestnuts ar e now popping up all over the US as well.

Chestnuts have long been a part of our diets. Early Europeans ate them and they're mentioned d in even Greek and Latin texts. Native Americans ate them as well, although not the same kind. There are three different kinds of chestnuts the Asian, European and the North American and each have several different subcatagories. Each nut is about t he same calorie wise as a handful of almonds or walnuts. They are th e only nuts to contain Vitamin C. Chestnuts have a high sucrose and starch content somethings earning them the the whole plant the nickname of the bread tree.

You can roast chestnuts on a perforated pan on a l ow flame. This is the best way to enjoy the meaty texture and slightly milky sweet taste .You can also put chestnuts in stuffing as well. A better idea is a chestnut souffle with a brandy sauce for a really elegant fall dessert. The most famous recipe is the Mont Blanc, sweet chestnut puree over a meringue base. it is then covered with freshly whipped cream. This is the perfect holiday party dessert, . Mont Blanc is the most beautiful and camera ready dessert to serve to impress guests.

This is the day and month for chestnuts. Eat them freshly roasted or in an elegant dessert Either way they are a true autumn treat!

Summer Foodie Check List

Summer 2010 is officially here. It's a time when you should be cooking and eating lighter fare. Summer is also a time to clean out the fridge and just pare everything down to basics. I always find that it's best to keep the things you 'll need like eggs and milk along with some other foodstuffs.

What to have in your fridge/ pantry:
Bottled water/ soda. / juice - you'll need cooling thirst quenchers for these hot days.Also good to have cold bottles ready for trips
Eggs - you can always make an easy frittata or even scrambled ones for an easy hot meal
Milk - for iced coffees or you can make an iced milk dessert
Bread - us e this for sandwiches again-or simple toast for breakfast
Cold cuts. These are versatile. make for a quick lunch sandwich or julienned for a chef salad.
Mixed salad greens, This is a no brainer. The base for any salads
Tomatoes, broccoli, peppers - not only good in a salad and omelet but also makes for good snacks.
Mayo - for sandwiches , and a base for salad dressings
Barbecue sauce You can use this straight onto grilled meat s or as a marinade.
Any fresh fruit. Use s a snack, part of a salad or crushed and infused with a vinegar.

These are what a summer kitchen should hold. Live off the basics until the cooler weather sets in . It makes for easy and simple meals and an uncomplicated diet.

Hot Weather, Hot Meals?

Is it so wrong to cook during these steamy late Spring and early summer days? A lot of people would say so, sticking with sandwiches and salads. Some would even abandon the kitchen for the grill outside. I say stuff all of that and use your stove during these hot days. There's nothing wrong with cooking during hot weather.

That being stated you can make simple meals like stove top grilling as opposed to the oppressive roasting, baking or broiling. A stove top grill is wonderful for having that barbecued taste indoors without all that carcinogenic charcoal. You can also use your George Foreman grill to grill burgers and dogs along with chicken breasts and steak cuts.. Another idea is using the microwave to make even quick stews and bakes. the last will come out moister and whatever meat you add won't have that dried stringy texture over baking i a n oven can give.

Another idea is using a wok or a fry pan. Wok cooking is not only fun but its 'a also fast. Another plus is that it lets you be creative with the season's bounty and you can have fun stir frying fresh broccoli. cauliflower and onions. Fry pans are a blessing because they allow you to fry up a quick steak or chicken breast after a hard or long day at work. Afterwards just add more butte r, margarine or oil to fry up some accompanying veggies like tomatoes or onions.

Use the kitchen this summer. There's nothing wrong with dong some quick cooking to get a nice hot meal. Even when the temps hit the nineties, treat yourself to a well cooked steak, chicken and home cooked sides.

The Party Days Of August

It's the height of summer and also the height of party giving. With summer get togethers you can throw away the formalities and loosen up. You can throw a big do but it can be just as relaxed as a casual get together.

What works? Grilled food. Hamburgers and hot dogs may seem like the easiest but you can also have kabobs and fillets too. You may also want to go with a cold plate such as Italian cold cuts served with cheese and fresh (however make sure you do this in a well air conditioned kitchen otherwise it can get too hot) This works for baked ham or chicken. Have simple sides such as cold potato salad or macaroni salad. Building a barbecue pit in the backyard and having a Southern style get together is another fun idea.

How do you end a perfect get together? Some would say ice cream but I think I'd rather go for a sorbet of different ices. You can buy buckets of ice at your local Rita's. Another idea is to layer ice with fresh cut fruit for a refreshing meal ender. If you're intent on serving cake then go with the lighter fare. Angel food cake whipped cream and strawberries are a lovely way to end a party. You can also have store bought meringues too. These are light and airy with the right amount of crunch.

A summer gathering should be fun and casual. You don' t have to make a big effort to give a lavish party. Ease up! It's August!