Seasonal Sundays (Week 25) Mid June

Break out the fans because much of the country's going to be in the hundreds (hundreds!) much of this week. So in addition to the usual motley collection of June-ish recipes, this week you don't want to miss "What to Eat When It's Too Blazing Hot to Cook" and "what to make with those pretty little zucchini" that show up in grocery stores for just a few weeks about now. And if you do turn on the oven, make it count: yes, blueberries for sweet treats!

~ Skip Straight to the Good Stuff ~

Welcome to Seasonal Sundays ...

Father's Day is upon us, signifying the half-way point in the year, there's no getting back January, February, March, April, May and now June.

In my journal, I like to take note of "June in Hindsight" – it's interesting, what I remember most, especially when I take the time to compare the hindsight to the day-to-day notes I make most days. It's a view with some perspective ... and try it at the end of the year too.

I know Father's Day celebrations are all over the board but I do have a few ideas for you, Father's Day.

But! And!!

This year Father's Day falls on Juneteenth (a mashup of June and 19th) – that's the new national holiday commemorating the day in 1865 when some quarter million enslaved people in Galveston, Texas first learned that, in fact, two whole years earlier, they and others in enslavement had become free people, thanks to decades of rebellion and resistance which led to the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Since Juneteenth is a new federal holiday, some folks will get a new day off work!

There's lots more here about Juneteenth, including some "red foods" that are traditional.

About the Photo By Popular Request, a Little Insight into the Top Image: We're fascinated by the wild flowers at our favorite haunt in the country, a wild spot in the far north reaches of the Ozarks. These are native coneflowers (echinacea), a cousin in the daisy family and last week we found them in abundance across a dolomite glade, an open rocky almost barren clearing found throughout the Ozarks. During winter most years, we burn the glades, a conservation move to protect the distinct glade ecosystem from invasive plant species. And when we do, we get a real show of wildflowers the next year!

More about Missouri glades from Missouri Department of Conservation for anyone who's intrigued.

Made Me Think ...

FUN WAY TO DOWNSIZE YOUR PHOTOS ON YOUR PHONE Is your phone loaded up with photos you don't much care about? Mine too, especially screen shots. But it's a daunting task, sorting through so many.

This works on an iPhone, sorry, maybe someone can test it on an Android and let me know?

Just open the photo app, search on today's date, June 12 – and just like that, magic! Every photo taken on June 12th, no matter the year! So clean out just today, or maybe today, yesterday and tomorrow.

Keep it up and wow, what a difference.

Plus it's fun, a personal photo timehop!

Though really ... I could've done without the reminder that one year ago today, we heard a ruckus in a little shade garden, only to find an e-n-o-r-m-o-u-s black snake with its head inside a small birdhouse, its body wrapped around the wire that kept it hanging, birds of several species dive-bombing in a futile attempt to save what was inside, so futile, once we'd chased the big guy off, we couldn't tell if that was bird eggs or baby birds. :-(

Nature is brutal.

A LEGACY OF GIVING An online "friend" died recently after a brief illness. (I'm not sure which is sadder "after a brief illness" or "suddenly" or "after a long illness".) We'd been friendly for many years, also a Facebook "friend," one of a handful I've never met in person. I appreciated her photography. She liked my recipes. That was that.

And last week, St. Louis lost its one and only real fishmonger to another Costco, a husband-wife team who for years, have brought fresh fish to our city, smack dab in the middle of the country and a looonnng way from fresh seafood.

In both situations, the memories people shared of the two women were so many and so similar. Both were "givers" and their many, many kindnesses were clearly fondly and long remembered.

Yep. Makes me think. Has anyone else been similarly moved?

BORGEN & OCCUPIED If you like complicated international intrigue, let me recommend these two series on Netflix, one from Denmark, the other from Norway. No binging! You'll want these to last!

WORDS WORTH A THOUSAND PICTURES Thursday's testimony from Caroline Edwards, Capitol Police officer and granddaughter of a soldier who fought and survived the brutal battle in Korea's Chosin Reservoir, was spare and unsparing. Like her grandfather and the U.S. Army at Chosin, Edwards and fellow officers were outnumbered and outmatched. The crowd devolved into a mob and hand-to-hand combat. "They [Capitol Police] were bleeding. They were throwing up. I saw friends with blood all over their faces. I was slipping in people's blood." She was injured and knocked unconscious by a bike rack turned into a battering ram while nearby the crowd shouted "U-S-A! U-S-A!".

KEY TAKEAWAY "Yes, memories fade. Yes, the shock recedes. But these things happened. Here is proof. Believe your eyes. Believe your ears."

READ FOR YOURSELF Make America Remember Again from the Atlantic, should be no paywall if you're either a subscriber or haven't been on the website > 3x in last 30 days. I do recommend a subscription, the Atlantic is doing incredible long-form journalism.

WATCH FOR YOURSELF Watch in entirety the first hearing on June 9th. Give yourself an emotional break after the 12-minute video at the end of the first hour. It's very emotional, reliving it again.

Hearing #2 is Monday, June 13th, 10am EST, 9am CST. C-Span will air in entirety. CNN.com will stream the hearings, no subscription required. The January 6th Committee itself also live streams. Hearings #3 and #4 are on Wednesday, June 15th and Thursday, June 16th, same times, same places.

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PICK ONE

Pick One is for those of us overwhelmed by life's unending choices. If that resonates, then check out this one recipe and then call it a day. It's one that I think could make the most difference, the one I hope will become a regular in your kitchen, as it is in mine.

• THE RECIPE Hibiscus Tea with Ginger & Vanilla My caffeine-free coffee substitute, served over ice in summer.
• WHY THIS, WHY NOW Hibiscus tea is just so festive – and it fits all three "hindsights" for this next week, the heat, Juneteenth and even a special tea for Father's Day.

What's New?!

Wondering about a recipe from the last while? Check Recent Recipes from Kitchen Parade and Recent Vegetable Recipes from A Veggie Venture.

• THE RECIPE Salmon with Crispy Crust Moist, flaky fish topped with a golden bread crumb crust.
• ANOTHER TAKE Salmon with Pesto Zucchini Noodles & Warm Tomatoes Simple-simple summer food.

Compliments!

Dang spammers. I've had to turn comments off again, thanks to spambots leaving hundreds of spam comments a day, what a scourge.

But I miss hearing from y'all!

So if you've made a recipe from Kitchen Parade or A Veggie Venture this week, feel free to drop a quick email via recipes@kitchen-parade.com. I especially love to hear about your adaptations.

Kitchen Parade's June Favorites

• THE RECIPE Magical Breakfast Cream From "French Women Don't Get Fat".
• ANOTHER TAKE Simple French Eggs Simpler than omelettes, light, airy, delicious.

• THE RECIPE Chicken Burgers with Fresh Spinach, Feta and Garden Tzatziki Sauce Summery Greek-style chicken sandwich with chunky Greek tzatziki.
• ANOTHER TAKE Jerusalem Turkey Burgers with Zucchini Moist, flavorful burgers specked with grated zucchini and fresh herbs.

• THE RECIPE Spiced Pickled Red Onions A game changer for tacos, salads, eggs and more.
• ANOTHER TAKE Quick Jalapeño Pickles No canning required.
  

A Veggie Venture's June Favorites

• THE RECIPE Classic Seven-Layer Salad Classic, just lightened up.
• ANOTHER TAKE Seven-Layer Strawberry Salad with Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing A show-stopping salad.

• THE RECIPE Asian Greens How to cook leafy greens with Asian-style taste.
• ANOTHER TAKE Jubilee Greens How to sauté leafy greens like spinach, chard, kale & more.

• THE RECIPE Cauliflower "Potato" Salad Especially for low-carb eaters.
• ANOTHER TAKE Mom's Potato Salad All the tricks for great potato salad.

What to Eat When It's TOO BLAZING HOT to Cook

• THE RECIPE Cold & Creamy Cantaloupe Soup So simple and yet ... somehow so unusual, so comforting.
• ANOTHER TAKE Fruity Gazpacho A starter, entrée or dessert!

• THE RECIPE Chipotle Chickpea Salad A fresh, summer salad with a smidgin of heat, substantial enough for dinner.
• ANOTHER TAKE Celery & Chickpea Salad A captivating salad, crunchy celery, creamy chickpeas and tangy feta.

• THE RECIPE Greek Chicken Dagwood Sandwiches A towering sandwich, summer style.
• ANOTHER TAKE Chicken Burgers with Fresh Spinach, Feta and Garden Tzatziki Sauce Summery Greek-style chicken sandwich with chunky Greek tzatziki.

Especially for Small, Young Zucchini

• THE RECIPE Zucchini Carpaccio
• ANOTHER TAKE Golden Beet Carpaccio

• THE RECIPE Simple Zucchini Ribbon Salad For extra tenderness, use small, young summer squash.
• ANOTHER TAKE Zucchini & Carrot Ribbons A quick sauté and pretty jumble.

• THE RECIPE Spiral Zucchini Noodle Salad with Homemade Catalina Dressing Fresh, healthy, summery.
• ANOTHER TAKE Zucchini Spiral "Noodle" Salad A sexy, seductive zucchini-noodle salad.

Be Still, My Blueberry ♥

• THE RECIPE Blueberry Cake Simple and rustic, topped with jammy blueberries.
• ANOTHER TAKE Peach Blueberry Cake Country-rustic and delicious!

• THE RECIPE Blueberry Cheesecake Pie Cheesecake topped with homemade blueberry pie filling. No bake!
• ANOTHER TAKE Blueberry Sour Cream Pie Berries puffed in light, sweet cream

• THE RECIPE Blueberry Sour Cream Pie Berries puffed in light, sweet cream,
• ANOTHER TAKE Blueberry Cheesecake Pie Cheesecake topped with homemade blueberry pie filling. No bake!

Vegetable of the Month: Green Beans!

• THE RECIPE Fresh Three-Bean Salad
• ANOTHER TAKE Succotash Salad with Green Beans, Lima Beans, Corn & Tomatoes


• Falling In Love with Green Beans: Favorite Recipes
• A-Z of Vegetables: Green Beans

This Week's Summer Salad

Turns out, I've been turning out one one summer salad after another since the beginning, almost twenty years ago now. No wonder that Favorite Summer Salad Recipes will keep all of us (me included!) inspired all summer long. Here's a sample.

• THE RECIPE Quinoa & Black Bean Salad Transport straight back to Deep Mexico!
• ANOTHER TAKE Ina Garten's Tabbouleh Salad It has a secret ingredient!

This Week's Soup

• THE RECIPE Cold Cucumber Soup
• ANOTHER TAKE Chilled Carrot Soup with Honey

Lunch at the Kitchen Table

• THE RECIPE Cold Shrimp in Creamy Dill Sauce with Capers Shrimp in a "creamy" dill sauce that tastes much richer than it is.
• ANOTHER TAKE Summer Seafood Chowder Shrimp and scallops in a milky broth, with barely cooked tomato, corn and my favorite vegetable this summer, okra.

Snack Before Supper

• THE RECIPE Estonian Deviled Eggs It's got a secret ingredient!
• ANOTHER TAKE Deviled Eggs with Tomato-Herb Relish Easy but dramatic presentation of everyone's favorite deviled eggs.

Summer Easy: Less Cookin', More Livin'.

More than a decade ago, I started collecting a certain style of summer dishes that espouse my summer motto, Less Cookin', More Livin'. These are Kitchen Parade's most simple, most fresh, most memorable and most summery recipes, all in one place. I hope you love 'em all! See Easy Summer Recipes!

• THE RECIPE Lemon Mint Cucumber Water
• ANOTHER TAKE Thirst-Quenching, Low-Cal, Low-Alcohol Drinks Two for summer, one for winter.

The Dinner Bell

Seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, the dinner bell rings. If we're gonna eat, somebody's gotta cook, some nights fuel, some nights a feast. Let's make it good, a welcome end to our days.

• THE RECIPE Minnesota Sloppy Joes Sloppy joes made from scratch in the crockpot.
• ANOTHER TAKE Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes A little bit spicy, many rave reviews.

• THE RECIPE Greek Feta Chicken with Curried Rice Just six ingredients and a WW favorite.
• ANOTHER TAKE Honey Mustard Chicken Just five ingredients, fast and simple.

• THE RECIPE Sweet Potato Curry with Red Lentils, Roasted Peppers & Spinach Stovetop or slow cooker vegan supper or side.
• ANOTHER TAKE Curried Red Lentil Soup

Good to Know

• THE RECIPE Healthy Smoothies A Smoothie Lover's Take
• ANOTHER TAKE Rethinking Fruit for Weight Watchers

Put an Egg on Top aka "How About Eggs for Dinner?"

Why should breakfast get all the eggs?! If eggs for dinner were a club, I'd be president, chief marketing officer, resident evangelist, public advocate and ... hey, wanna join my club? Start here!

• THE RECIPE Spinach Quiche with Red Pepper & Feta Pretty red & green for holiday brunches or year-round comfort food.
• ANOTHER TAKE Light Tomato Basil Quiche Make-ahead, light and healthy.


• THE COLLECTION Easy Egg Recipes A collection of thrifty egg recipes.

Something New to You? A Challenge!

It's one thing to know what we like. It's another to get caught in a rut of repetition. Every so often, I may offer a challenge to try something that just might be new. The challenge is yours to accept – or y'know, not – but I hope to pique your palate!

• THE RECIPE Grilled Vegetables in Foil Who says a grill is just for meat?
• ANOTHER TAKE Grilled New-Potato & Zucchini Kabobs With easy beef kabobs, on & off the grill in 20 minutes.

Meal Prep

• THE RECIPE Bloody Mary Salad A jello salad with kick.
• ANOTHER TAKE Tomato Soup Vegetable Salad An old-fashioned salad makeover.

Summer = Simple Smoothie Season

• THE RECIPE Strawberry Milk Not a smoothie, almost a milkshake.
• ANOTHER TAKE Strawberry Ice Cream No-cook ice cream with big strawberry flavor and pretty pink color.

Finnish Food

• THE RECIPE Finn Crisp with Marmalade & Cheese A typical Finnish breakfast.
• ANOTHER TAKE Swedish Rye Bread Slightly sweet, densely delicious.

Mexican Food

• THE RECIPE My Guacamole Restaurant-style guacamole, our house recipe.
• ANOTHER TAKE Homemade Guacamole with Tomatillos

Most Useful Recipes, Just One Per Year

When a blogger loves every single one of her published recipes, how in the world does she pick just one favorite? It's stunning, honestly, how each year one Kitchen Parade recipe stands out from all the others that year for sheer usefulness. So that's why I created this collection of best recipes, just one per year, Best-Ever “Most Useful” Recipes 2002 – Present, just one recipe per year from Kitchen Parade. Here's a sample.

• THE RECIPE Easy Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas Quick way to get a green chile fix.
• ANOTHER TAKE Easy Green Chile Egg Casserole No bread! Just eggs, green chiles, bits of cheese and a surprising ingredient, cottage cheese.

PS Who's noticed? I'm big on highlighting "usefulness". To mark A Veggie Venture's 15th anniversary in 2020, I took a hard look at the first 365 vegetable recipes from the first year to select just 15 which, all these many years and recipes later, remain ever so useful. You'll want to dig into this collection, 15 Favorite Vegetable Recipes, Still Useful After 15 Years.

Lookin' for Love

We're all proud of our best recipes that family and friends (and the Internet!) just love. But what about the recipes we love but are, ahem, so far under-appreciated? This recipe is just that, it could use a little extra love!

• THE RECIPE Citrus Slices with Orange Flower Water, Spices & Chocolate Shavings A simple summer dessert.
• ANOTHER TAKE Savory Orange Slices A simple and surprising orange salad.

• THE RECIPE Sautéed Broccoli Slaw So simple, surprisingly delish!
• ANOTHER TAKE Mighty Perfect Cabbage & Broccoli Coleslaw Bigger effort, big results.

Soups & Salads Especially for June

In June, regional food differences really begin to appear. Florida and California have been dripping with juicy tomatoes for a couple of months while here in the middle of the country (Missouri, specifically St. Louis), we're still pinching suckers off our tomato plants and restlessly tapping our feet in anticipation. That's why I spent an entire year collecting favorite salads and soups for A Veggie Venture. And what a collection it is! Here's a sample.

• THE RECIPE Nana’s Cucumbers with Sour Cream My grandmother's old-fashioned Eastern European cucumber salad, a summer tradition.
• ANOTHER TAKE Cucumbers in Vinegar Summer Easy at its very easiest.


• JUNE's COLLECTION Seasonal Soup & Salad Recipes for June Tons of ideas!

Feeding a Sugar-Conscious Sweet Tooth

You too? We're cutting back on sweets without demonizing dessert, usually with smaller batches, smaller servings, shareable desserts or fruit desserts in addition to limiting frequency. But some times?

• THE RECIPE Two-Bite Brownies Moist, chocolate-y brownies, just two bites big. Served, if you like, in a festive watermelon boat.
• ANOTHER TAKE Perfect M&M Cookies With red, white and blue M&Ms or red and white Smarties

Trending

My Top 10 Recipes are predictable, hello Should Cooked Pork Be Pink? and (Sloooow) Baked Potatoes (How Long to Bake a Baked Potato). But every week, seasonal recipes catch the internet's attention and start to trend.

• ONE QUICK TIP How To Keep Green Onions Fresh for Weeks No special equipment, no time commitment.
• OKAY, ONE MORE How to Freeze Stock in Canning Jars No more leaky freezer bags!

• Vegetables 101 What Are Bitter Greens? Everything you'd like to know, including a comprehensive list and recipes.
• Vegetables 101 What Are Crudites? How to create a colorful Instagram-friendly platter of raw vegetables.

Don't Be a Stranger ...

I'd love to hear from you. Comment, send me a quick e-mail via recipes@kitchen-parade.com, dot-dash in Morse code, build a fire for smoke signals, launch a message in a bottle, send a Christmas letter, get the dog to yip, toss me a note wrapped in a rubberband, write a message in the sky, scratch a note in the sand, listen to a seashell, tuck a question into a plastic Easter egg, whatever.

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Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail via recipes@kitchen-parade.com. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. When you make my recipes, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below or better still, on the specific recipe's page.

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