Fall is officially here and Summer 2025 gardens in our area will be done in a few short weeks. We have eaten very well this summer and savored all of our favorite seasonal treats. I don't like to buy many veggies from the grocery store because the flavor is just not there so I always stock up on the ones I can by either canning, freezing or dehydrating. The things that do not store well will be missed until next year.
In no particular order, here are my 5 favorite summer vegetables.
1. Tomatoes. I love them sliced as a side, in salads, BLT's, pizza, sauce, salsa...SO many ways to eat them and so delicious.
Tomato, basil and mozzarella with a bit of olive oil and baked or grilled on a good piece of bread or a pizza is heaven.
I have eaten my weight in BLT's this summer (well every summer) and I'm not sorry about that at all. This is one sandwich that I am most excited for every summer.
2. Zucchini. I love it roasted, made into 'fries', fritters, zucchini bread and of course tomato pasta sauce, and so many other ways.
3. Cucumbers. Cucumbers are such a great side by themselves, but they also pair very well with tomatoes, red onions and peppers. They are delicious in a salad and who doesn't love pickles. Every year I make a few batches of dill pickles and bread and butter pickles to enjoy during the fall and winter.
This dill pickle appetizer is an all-time favorite. Culinary Adventures with Lori: An appetizer and a score at the farmers market
4. Peppers of every kind. I always grow entirely too many peppers and too many different varieties, but I just can't help it. Cutting into a garden pepper versus a store pepper is a huge difference in the smell and the taste. This year the tabasco peppers went wild. This is one plant.
Bell peppers I like to slice up and freeze for various dishes through the season. Jalapeno peppers I freeze whole for poppers or to dice up in dishes. I also dehydrate a LOT of peppers. One of my favorite things is making jalapeno pepper jelly. A little cream cheese, pepper jelly and crackers and you have a really good appetizer.
5. Summer squash. I love roasting it by itself or with zucchini with parmesan cheese. It's a great dish.
So there are my 5 favorite summer vegetables. What is your favorite summer vegetable?
Past posts of various 5 favorites...
https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2023/01/5-favorite-kitchen-helpers.html
https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2023/07/5-favorite-salad-dressings.html
https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2023/01/5-favorite-cookbooks.html
https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2023/03/5-favorite-sandwiches.html
https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2022/12/5-favorite-pies.html
https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2023/02/5-favorite-restaurants.html
https://culinaryadventureswithlori.blogspot.com/2024/11/my-top-5-food-nos.html
Mine is definitely zucchini because it's so versatile. Savory or baked goods! I use them every week. Unfortunately, I think we've had two in the garden this year. Just not much luck. Runner-up is definitely tomatoes.
ReplyDelete1.Tomatoes, though I am drowning in them at the moment. I am cooking a pot of tomato sauce every day and still have about 30 on the counter.
ReplyDelete2. Cucumbers. I love them and eat one every day.
3. Bell peppers
4. Summer Squash
Tomatoes hands down - can do so much with them. Then zucchini - same reason!!
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love tomatoes! There's nothing like a garden fresh tomato. I like the rest too except I've never liked squash.
ReplyDeleteHome grown tomatoes are out of this world - that's when you realize just how terrible the perfect plastic supermarket tomatoes are!
ReplyDeleteI like all of these. I think tomatoes and cucumbers are my favorites though
ReplyDeleteLove it, love it, love it all. Love me some home-grown produce. It really is THE BEST! Wishing you a fun weekend ahead with a great big side of Halloween Boogie Boogie 🧡🎃🕷️🕷️💜🍂🕸️🤍👻
ReplyDeleteTomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, red peppers, and zucchini are mine.
ReplyDeleteGood for you that you know how to preserve your garden gems. I love most summer vegetables including tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, bell peppers etc. I no longer grow a garden and even find belonging to a CSA to much work for me- so I depend on the local markets for farm fresh produce. One of my sons is just learning to grow a garden and I was gifted zucchini, lettuce, and oregano during the summer. Hoping for more variety next summer as he learns how to garden.
ReplyDelete