Garden vegetables are finally starting to ripen and my CSA boxes are bursting with summer deliciousness! I was so stoked to get 4 ears of corn and some banana peppers in my box last week- summer staples from my childhood. Back when I was younger, my family used to live for farm stands and tomatoes fresh from the garden. My mom used to grow mainly cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, and banana peppers, but I think now that my brother and I have moved out, she just sticks to tomatoes.
I was feeling rather nostalgic today and craving something home style for dinner. I didn't want anything elaborate, but I did want something familiar. I think my dinner selection sums up pretty well what my family would eat every night July-August.
And ya know? We never, ever wanted anything else.
Hot dog with banana peppers, corn on the cob, tomato salad, and cottage cheese.
Followed by Grandma B's signature dish: green beans and potatoes with bacon, cooked in the pressure cooker.
I have so many fond memories of eating dinner at my grandparent's house and having this dish. I can remember it like it was yesterday, everyone sitting around her round wooden table and digging into fresh tomato salad, spooning out steaming green beans and potatoes, dolloping out cottage cheese, passing the bread and butter. The kitchen is rather small, so whomever was sitting near the fridge could literately reach behind them, open the door, and grab some pop from the fridge without even getting up! Not only was the food amazing but it was also so fun to share stories and laugh with my family.
The main point is, everything was so fresh, simple, and delicious and so, so comforting. I could literately eat this exact meal every night for the rest of my life.
My grandma is such a fantastic cook, her dishes are famous in the family and often requested at holiday get together's. One time I tried to sit her down and get the recipes in writing only to find out she doesn't measure anything and just throws in "a handful of this, a dollop of that". Oye! My mother is slowly mastering many of her dishes through trial and error, her oyster dressing, macaroni salad, potato salad. Oh and my mom also brings some amazing summer dishes to the table! I crave her fried zucchini this time of year, and her cucumbers and onions are so refreshing and can go on just about anything.
So, so good.
I think I'm going to fully embrace the fruits of summer by making and enjoying my family favorites more often- I think I'm hanging up my spatula for the summer so I can just nosh on fresh vegetables.
Family summer must-haves:
Tomato salad
Corn on the Cob
Cottage Cheese
Hot dogs with banana peppers
Green beans & potatoes with bacon
Fried Zucchini
Mom's Cucumbers and Onions
Now I'm super curious to know, what is everyone else eating this summer?
I love summer fruits and veggies! Especially this year with my CSA--it's so fun to get a box each week.
ReplyDeleteSummer always makes me think of my family's spicy cucumbers--sliced thin with vinegar and chili powder. Let them sit for about 30 minutes (that way they're still crisp). Delicious!
Oooh which CSA are you using? You're in the 'burgh right?
DeleteYup, I'm in the 'burgh! I'm using Kretschmann farms http://www.kretschmannfarm.com/ I've been really happy with them and love that the drop off site for my neighborhood is 1/2 a mile away! They have extras you can buy (cheese, coffee, beef, etc), so we're also buying the mushroom box each month, which has been fun. Who are you using?
ReplyDeleteWe are using Penn's Corner, our pick-up location is also less than 1/2 a mile away. Theirs is just mainly vegetables in the summer although in the spring and fall they add extra goodies like eggs, popcorn kernels, cheese, and flour. I opted for the vegan boxes though because I just wanted lots of veggies! They also have a bi-monthly farm stand where you can buy extras like the cheese, coffee, beef, eggs, etc plus more veggies if you want. The mushroom box is a super cool idea though- I'd sign up for that too!
DeleteThat looks like the perfect summer meal. Have you ever tried roasted corn on the cob?
ReplyDeleteIt was super delicious and I felt like a kid again when I was eating it! I don't think I have... got a good recipe? :) I love corn any way it can be made!
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