Summer heat calls for little exertion. It invites lazy days lounging under a canopy of shade with icy drinks clinking in perspiring glasses. Simple food, fresh and easy, requiring little preparation, is the way to roll.
Luckily, this bountiful season produces an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruit at their peak, stand-alone delicious and requiring little manipulation to enjoy. The tables and stalls are stacked and lined at farmers markets with a cornucopia of fresh delights. If you have a garden, it can be tempting to stand in the middle of it, munch on its goodies, and call it lunch.
Fresh corn and tomatoes are two summer headliners. Ears of corn, shucked at the bin, steamed, grilled, or boiled, then slathered in butter—a classic treat. Tomatoes dominate in all their colors and shapes—heirlooms, Early Girls, cherries, and Romas. They’re the bright stars of fresh salads, salsas, cool soups, and sandwiches. It’s easy to indulge and a refreshingly un-guilty pleasure on a steamy, sultry day….