Last week, I visited the small town where I grew up in South Carolina. This visit was a tasty trip down memory lane. That Saturday morning, my Mom, Aunt and I, went to the farmer’s market to see what we’d have for dinner. We got there early for the best selection. We bought fresh picked summer sweet corn, yellow squash, field peas, okra, tomatoes, onions and watermelon.
We brought it all back and prepared it for later. This experience was not unlike the summers of my childhood when I remember sitting on the porch shelling peas and beans, shucking corn (fearing the appearance of a silk worm) and peeling peaches by the bushel. The finished meal was the best I’ve had in a long time. I wish you could have tasted it – because the food was so good. Fortunately, you can create tasty memories of your own. This ong weekend, consider shopping your local farmer’s market for the best finds of the season. When you get your produce home, spend a little time on the porch, deck or in the kitchen preparing it for a quick meal or to enjoy later in the year. - Shuck corn only when you’re ready to cook or freeze it. Sweet summer corn is perfect grilled, roasted, boiled or even raw. Shave it from the cob and package it in freezer safe bags to enjoy throughout the fall and winter. - Shell your peas. Cook some. Blanch the rest and freeze them for the winter. - Look for tender, small okra pods about 3 inches in length. Enjoy okra in tomato based soups, gumbo or sautéed with tomatoes and corn. - Cut fresh squash and sweet onions and sauté them with a little oil, salt and pepper for a wonderful vegetarian feast! These work well roasted or on the grill too. - Try a fresh blueberry or peach cobbler for dessert. Both fruits are plentiful right now. Both freeze well. If you’re not in the mood for cobbler, eat them fresh with a dollop of cream (or yogurt) or stew them down with a little sugar and enjoy with fresh made biscuits. This is old fashioned cooking straight from my grandmother’s kitchen but I’ve never had better. Obviously, the foods I’m naming are southern favorites. Be sure to select the best options in your area of the world. Even if you’re not the best cook, a fresh harvest will give you a lift from Mother Nature’s helping hand of flavor.
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