glorious summer!
Welcome to the Summer Collection of Recipes!
Summer has always been my favorite time of the year, and I wait with baited breath each year for it’s arrival. Observing the light reflected off the water, feeling the warmth of the sun, sitting in the cool shade under a big tree are iconic East End experiences. But the colors of summer, found not only in the flowers and beaches, but in the food, are what make this short season intoxicating for me. How lucky am I to live in such a place?
Like my parents before me, I start planning my meal for the evening early in the day. I head to the farm stand to see what they have, and I begin to create a masterpiece in my mind. They say you eat with your eyes first. Perhaps that is why so many of us snap a picture of our meals before we eat them. I believe that all parts of the meal should be a pleasure, including planning and creating it. Look at that trip to the farm stand as an opportunity to explore, and not as a dreaded errand!
Sharing the food I create is the best part. I love looking for a perfect bowl or platter to compliment the salad or grilled chicken. I like simple tables, almost always outside. A bunch of zinnias or even a handful of herbs in a jar, some candles and a pretty table cloth. I am not one for elaborate tablescapes, as I feel the food is the star. All those bells and whistles take away from the vibrant colors that are found on the summer plate.
I have no professional training, and have learned from growing up in a house that celebrated food and tradition. I have been lucky enough to work with several brilliant East End caterers over the years, honing my taste buds even further. The rest is just forty plus years of experimenting and creating in the kitchen.
Here are some family favorites that I have created over the years. All of these recipes rely on my farmstand to be what they are meant to be. As with any recipe, you may like to add or subtract, use more salt or add a dash of hot sauce! Feel free to put your own spin on what I have given to you. My most earnest hope is that you will look at putting the meal on the table as an artistic adventure, and derive as much joy as I do, cooking for your friends and families.
Enjoy!
xo Nina
