Sunday, August 12, 2018

Open season

I mentioned "creative cooking season" in my last post, referring to the constant scramble to find tasty ways to use the bounty coming from the garden – especially summer squash. Here are some of my latest makes:
Smashed green bean salad

Greek salad

Chocolate orange zucchini cake

Truth be told, every season is "creative cooking season" here, as I strive to utilize what is IN season or on sale (usually one and the same) as the mainstays of our menus. In other words, I don't shop around my menu, I build my menu around what is readily available at the best price at any particular time. During the summer, that means free garden produce.

We don't have peach trees, though, and we do love our fresh and frozen peaches. This year the small orchard on our hill is closed to the public, so the hunt was on. I couldn't find a reasonable (in distance or price) source for the Canadian Harmony variety we love so much, so I followed the recommendation of a friend to a farm not too far away. There I scored four boxes, three of Finnicum Red and one of HUGE 007 peaches. My MIL wants half a box of the Finnicums; the 007s aren't as ripe and should last long enough for my parents to enjoy later this week.

I'd better start blanching and peeling at . . .

10 comments:

Theresa said...

Greek salad looks delish! I made a Greek Panzanella this weekend myself and we enjoyed it with some fresh corn on the cob and berries on ice cream for dessert. The peaches went the first day home....

Susan said...

I would love that smashed bean salad, as I have about three pounds of beans staring me in the face. It's fun to work around your ingredients, as you really have to get creative! Oooh, peaches!

MiniKat said...

The bean salad and cake made me ravenous! Then you HAD to mention fresh peaches. *sigh* Here's hoping my appointment doesn't take forever so I can find something hopefully as delicious. ;-)

Mama Pea said...

Everything coming from your kitchen looks delish! Why are all the new recipes I find to try with our bountiful garden produce "oven dishes?" It remains so hot and uncomfortable here that I sure don't wanna turn on the oven! :o(

Retired Knitter said...

AAAHHH! That cake!! *sigh*. Can you tell I am dieting??? :-)

Jeanne said...

Those are beautiful recipes! Good job, Michelle!

C-ingspots said...

What all do you put in your Greek salad Michelle? It looks tasty! We have had more zucchinis this summer from our 2 plants than I've ever grown! Tomatoes are coming on, but seem to have tough skins and our onions are terrible. Just not growing? I'm not wasting much more water on them and we've got a few cucumbers so far and they are delish!! Thanks for the peaches!! Big ones!

ViolinJenn said...

Care to share the name of the orchard where you found the Finnicum red peaches?

Michelle said...

ViolinJenn, Finnicum Farm in Grand Island, OR!

ViolinJenn said...

Thank you! :)