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.
ReplyDeletei guess when you say peppers, it is what aussies call chillies? i.e. those hot (often red) little bombs:) I love cukes and capsicums!
ReplyDeletesherry