When summer tomatoes are at their peak I indulge in a french tomato tart - perfect ripe tomatoes on a tart base (spread with mustard to keep it from getting soggy with the tomato juices), topped with fresh goat cheese and herbs and baked. Serve with a simple green salad and chilled rose.

Last night, we had:

Marcella Hazan’s zucchini alla parmigiana (new favorite zucchini recipe)
Bucatini with Sungold cherry tomato sauce
Side of meatballs for kids, prosciutto for DH and me

It was a fantastic use of summer produce and tasted amaaaazing!

Summer squash pasta. Get a bunch of summer squash, cook it down in olive oil with lemon and basil till it’s all jammy, add bucatini and finish with Parmesan

+1 to a bunch of PP suggestions

Others…

Pasta alla Norma - grill the eggplant instead of frying

Dinner salad - grilled chicken or shrimp over tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh mozz, white beans, hearts of palm, radicchio, mixed greens.

I just made ratatouille and it was so amazing

Look up the NYT recipe for one pot spaghetti with cherry tomatoes and kale. I make it with spinach. It’s so good and so easy and you can even top it with any sort of protein you want (I think shrimp would be delicious but we often just have it plain).

Tostadas, rice, beans and guacamole

Crockpot French dip sandwiches, fruit salad

Ginormous Cobb salad with homage garlic croutons

Seasonal ingredients to incorporate: tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches, zucchini, corn, watermelon.

Seasonal cooking methods: grilling, cold / room temp dishes. No oven, minimal stovetop.

Appetizers / salads:
Caprese
Chopped tomatoes and cucumbers with feta and mint
Canteloupe and prosciutto
Garden salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, red onion

Main dishes:
Grilled anything! Chicken, steak, pork chops, fish, you name it.
We love grilled skewers (thin sliced chicken, round steak, pork tenderloin) - quick to cook and fun for the kids to eat.
Fajitas or fish tacos
Burgers - plain or mix in bleu cheese

Sides:
Grilled or boiled corn (or microwave it!)
Make a peach salsa or corn salsa to add onto anything. Peach salsa on grilled pork chops is fabulous!
Grilled zucchini with mint and parsley

Tomato bruschetta and grilled bread. Maybe add a little burrata cheese.

Ratatouille with garden vegetables

Peach and blackberry crisp.

Chicken souvlaki, tzatziki, Greek salad.

Texas Caviar!
Peach Gallette!
Cherry pie and blueberry mojitos!

A slice of heirloom tomato sprinkled with salt, served on a bed of mayo slather atop a slice of wholegrain toast.

Gazpacho
Zucchini fritters
Corn on the cob
Cherries with ice cream

Flank steak on the grill
BLTs with home grown or farmers market tomatoes
Peach cobbler for dessert, or watermelon and cantaloupe

fish tacos- tilapia seasoned with mix of salt, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder.
Topped with the following shredded cabbage, cilantro, sliced jalapeños, avocado and squeeze of lime.

Corn on the cob with grilled bbq chicken thighs and simple salad

Mediterranean lamb burgers with lettuce, tomato, tzatziki and side of grilled zucchini, summer squash, eggplant.

We are in a rut and I want to cherish the end of summer (how is it August already??). I’d love ideas for seasonal dinners. Thanks.