Summer may be drawing to a close, but the season’s gorgeous produce is still going strong. Eating seasonally and locally is an easy way to break out a mealtime rut because it forces you to get creative with the menu. Planning a pool party bash, backyard BBQ or dinner with your honey? Check out this latest installment in our Farmers’ Market Guide and you’ll be drooling in no time.
1. Figs: Fig season is fleeting, so snatch up as many as you can while it lasts. These beauties are great for roasting and work well in both sweet and savory dishes. They’re also incredible straight off the tree. Try this refreshing melon and fig salad if you still need some convincing. (via Not Without Salt)
2. Yellow Peaches: Fresh, grilled, tossed into salads or baked into a tender pie crust, peaches might as well be the mascot of summer. Thankfully August is usually the best time to get them, so pick some up to nurse your end-of-summer blues. We’re obsessed with this grilled steak and salad recipe. Fire up that BBQ! (via Brooklyn Supper)
3. Blackberries: If you’re lucky enough to live near some blackberry bushes, get out there with a bucket and get to picking. If not, race to the farmers’ market as quickly as you can. Blackberry season won’t last forever. May we suggest this blackberry camp cake, or perhaps a blackberry BBQ sauce to get you motivated? (via Bon Appetit and Local Milk)
4. Melon: You’d be hard pressed to find a more refreshing fruit than melon. Chill in your refrigerator until you’re ready to slice that puppy open and you’ve got yourself a refreshing treat — no other ingredients necessary. If you’re feeling slightly more ambitious, we like this watermelon tonic with mint and cucumber. (via Food52)
5. Tomatoes: Although it isn’t hard to find tomatoes year-round, eating one in season is VERY different. If you’re lucky enough to be friends with someone who grows tomatoes, you’ll know what we’re talking about. If not, look for them at your local farmers’ market. You’ll often find special heirloom varieties that the big supermarkets don’t carry. This heirloom tomato tart is a show stopper recipe and your new go-to for entertaining. (via Williams-Sonoma)
What are you cooking right now? Tell us in the comments, below!