season's bounty

i am not a summer person - i don't tolerate the heat and humidity very well.  i much prefer the blooming rebirth of spring and the slow decay of autumn.

however, if there is one thing that i love most about summer, it is this:



local peaches, beets and tomatoes.  i just ate one of those peaches and it was so juicy.  i got a couple hives on my tongue from it - i have oral allergies to some fruits and vegetables - but to heck with it.  i'll tolerate the itchies and hives just to nom a luscious peach.




green and yellow beans, red leaf lettuce, cherries, black raspberries and blueberries on the top shelf.  yellow squash, green zucchini, cauliflower, and broccoli on the bottom.  mom brought me the broccoli - someone gave it to them, and they don't eat it (for shame!) so i (gratefully!) inherited it.

the big container is cantaloupe.  the kiddos devour that.  they eat pretty much any fruit or vegetable.  the boy, on the other hand, not so much.  he used to - when he was the kiddos' age - until he got weird and went totally "white diet".  i hope someday he'll discover again how delicious fruits and vegetables are.

i plan to roast the beets - i never cooked with beets before, but they sound so yummy.  the cauliflower i'll roast (i love LSQ's caramelized cauliflower recipe) and i'm toying with roasting the broccoli too.  i'll either saute or roast the zucchini and squash.  i'll probably make creamed beans with butter and milk.  i can eat that dish in one sitting, it is so good.

i also got a few homemade treats:



i splurge on the whoopie pies - these are my absolute favorites.  the sugar cookies are for the boy - he wanted iced ones, but i figured he could have half a cookie with a smear of leftover cake icing on it.  the carrot chips are for the little ones - i've never had them but they sounded fun.

i am grateful that i live in an area where fresh local produce is available.  i like supporting local farms and growers.