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Despite the pandemic daze I often find myself in, being cooped up has reignited a flame in my cooking life, using seasonal ingredients in imaginative ways. My over-grown garden of veggies nudged my palate to explore new tastes and combinations that permeated further into Italian bread, stone fruit, and a deep dive into wood-fired oven cooking.
My garden is delivering cucumbers, zucchini, and basil in abundance as I anticipate the ripening of my favorite member of the garden club, the San Marzano tomato. Eating zucchini every night can be tiresome. Still, I find great pleasure in a sliced zucchini, drizzled with lemon olive oil and grilled or zucchini tucked into foil packets of shallots and basil, to be topped with fresh fish, and ready for the BBQ.
Fragrant, juicy peaches have been my obsession, making peach cobbler, peach and cucumber salad, peach ice cream, and peach with ricotta on toast. I love peaches and wish the season lasted longer!
Bread baking is still part of my life, now using olives or walnuts in the dough and also learning to make focaccia. Our last batch of focaccia with rosemary was so good, it was as if an angel from heaven descended and anointed its spongy texture, and salty, herbal taste. Irresistible.
My friend, Chris, has a stunning wood-fired oven in his backyard, and after baking pizza one night, I convinced him that we could make a complete meal in the oven the next night while the fire was still hot. Lemon chicken, Italian white beans, summer veggies, and focaccia sizzled side by side. I felt like I was back in Italy, my other love.
Here’s a sampling of what Chris and I have been formulating and happily eating. Perhaps one of these photos will inspire you to capture the mid-summer harvest in new and delicious ways.
My favorite fish dinners this summer.
A great French tradition – Ratatouille!
Plums and apricots in a frangipane base. So delectable!
My bread learning curve – French Country and Focaccia.
Cocktail of the month: Aviation
My favorite – Caprese.
Breakfast of champions! Sourdough waffles with apricots and cherries and honeyed ricotta on homemade bread topped with peaches and thyme.
Peach magic. Peaches, cucumbers, rice vinegar, mint, and basil complement pork tenderloin.
Wood-fired dinner extraordinaire.
Essential tools of the kitchen.
Delight in each day!
“When I pass a flowering zucchini plant in a garden, my heart skips a beat.”
— Gwyneth Paltrow
Ciao for now!
GORGEOUS!! What an inspiration to garden, harvest, and feast! Your photos are always so mouth-watering. Would love the recipe for “Plums and apricots in a frangipane base” sometime. Beautiful summer post, keep it coming.
My mouth is watering!! So beautiful Mayr. k
Tu me manque…..
dearest cuz mary:
as usual your blog and pictures give me a kick in the butt to get moving. My sour dough is in the fridge and weather is cooler so I can turn the oven on again. Making pickled beets, garlic pickles, and raspberry jam has kept me busy and not really missing being outside (pandemic) My challenge this week will be making collard greens/purple kale – first time so we shall see…….. I am lucky to have a garden so my beautiful produce comes from imperfect produce and a local small company that shares their bounty since restaurants have closed – a great way to help small producers to stay in business and it gives me a challenge to try new items…………… sending my luv to you and hope the riverside fires are not near your mom………………..
You are a poet with words and a chef who makes one want to eat at your table. You inspire me to try new approaches to the summer harvest. Outstanding photos!
Mommabird ❤️
mommabird: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Marys’ talents are of course because of your nurturing her in the luv of nature – food – and furbabies…………..luv you – sending hugs
It all looks so delicious! Wish I lived closer to pick up the leftovers.
Dear Mary,
Every aspect of your creations smack of !! The colors, flavors, arrangements, the passion you pour into it all. I loved how your post showed your ability to funnel life and passion and energy and the gift of coming together at the table, in spite of this pandemic.
Grazie,
Linda
Wow! You are on fire, girl!
This reminds me of one of my favorite restaurants that I miss so much, Industrial Eats, in Buellton. My sister lives there (in Buellton) and practically at the restaurant (pre-pandemic). It is an amazing sort of communal (remember that?) dining place with fabulous local meats and cheeses, produce, beers and wines, breads and sweets (and amazing ice creams) with all the cooking done in two wood-fried ovens that you can sit in front of and watch the cookery happening. Fun road trip.
Wow. Beautiful. Yummy.
Thanks!!!! XXOO
Industrial Eats sounds fantastic! Road trip when things open up? Love cooking in the outside oven! XXOO
Thanks Linda! It’s been a fun summer cooking extravaganza. I have lots more recipes coming up – my fig tree is exploding! XXOO
Me too! Thanks so much! XXOO
Thanks Mom. You have always been so supportive and inspiring. It all started with those gourmet dinner parties you threw when I was young. I’m so glad I inherited your palate for food! XXOO
It sounds like you are making delicious goodies this summer! Garlic pickles? I wish I was your neighbor!! Keep on cooking my dear cuz! XXOO
Thanks my Bonnie! A lot of my food is French-inspired from our trip!!! XXOO
Thanks Jolie! You inspired this post!! I love taking photos of food to remind me of good times and good friends. More to come…. XXOO
Gorgeous photos and words, Mary. You’ve inspired me to grill veggies more often. I’ve been obsessed with cucumbers from the garden for weeks. Didn’t plant squash this year. I made chicken parmigiana and eggplant parmigiana last weekend. Not up to your standards for ingredients and techniques, but darned good anyway. You’re educating my palate. Have done more creative cooking these past 4 months than I have in years.
Bravo!
OMGoodness, these dishes are to die for!! Each one is different and special!!
So glad you are back at it. Enjoyed the read so much. Just Love It! Bro
Thanks so much Brother Bob! I hope you are inspired while isolating up in the mountains! XXOO
Thanks Tina! What else is there to do but cook and eat??? Enjoy your summer! XXOO
Thanks Maribeth! It’s been fun exploring yummy summer foods in new ways. Let’s get together soon and share recipes! XXOO
Luscious, mouth-watering photos as usual. I miss your cooking and baking! I guess I’ll close my eyes and imagine…
Wow! All these meals look delicious. You are so talented Mary. Inspiring!