How to Flourish in the Kitchen this Summer

How to Flourish

in the Kitchen this Summer

When creating a dish, ask yourself what is my objective in the kitchen today? Is it to learn a new healthy recipe for my family? Is it thinking outside my routine of cooking? Or, is it to wow my guests for an upcoming gathering? When we know what we are aiming for, it’s easier to execute.

Some ingredients require a bit more care than others. So if your goal is to make a simple dish, think of fresh seasonal ingredients that don’t require a lot of time, and patience to prepare. It’s pre-tomato season in June, but the first green beans, tender baby carrots, French radishes, and tiny new potatoes, set the stage for simple summer recipes. They fit quite nicely laid over gem lettuces, bunches of herbs, drizzled with a warm mint vinaigrette. For maximum flavor add the dressing over warm vegetables like green beans, new potatoes or steamed baby carrots. No matter what combination you come up with, cooking with the summer’s bounty will paint a colorful table for the eye. Speaking of color, strawberries are in season, but not for long. If you want to experience a juicy sweet strawberry picked at its peak, head over to the market for a basket of organically grown strawberries. Add them to a savory salad to balance out the flavor profile. Can you see where I’m going with this? Get that large Italian platter ready, and invite some friends over for a simple garden party… It’s a wonderful opportunity for a memorable gathering in the garden. We called it the backyard, in Brooklyn. Don’t miss the chance to try the multitude of local seasonal ingredients that are spotlighted during the summer months at our farmers markets here in Asheville..

If you are a curious cook, and love to eat, join me on my new Radio Show, “A Taste for All Seasons” where we explore the world of food, with the philosophy of eating with the seasons.

And… as always I will be sharing some Cooking Tips, Seasonal Shortcuts and Kitchen Essentials, that will make your life easier in the kitchen. It airs on the last Saturday of every month at 11 am, on WPVM FM 103.7 in Asheville, NC.

If you miss it: Visit WPVMFM.ORG for all shows, as we cook our way through the seasons. To your continued good health

Laurie Richardone

A Taste for All Seasons

By Laurie Richardone