Seasonal Sundays: Recipes That Inspire JOY (Week 35)

This week's "Seasonal Seven" recipe collection is jumpin' with joy, jam-packed with late-summer soups and salads and suppers and sweets and ... so much more. Everything fresh. Nothing hard. Recipes for one or two. Recipes for a whole convention hall small gang. Let us unite around tables these next weeks ...

~ Skip Straight to the Good Stuff ~

~ PIN This ~

Welcome to Seasonal Sundays ...

Hey, all. Thank you for following Kitchen Parade, for checking in on these Sunday recipe collections. It means the world to be welcomed into your InBox and RSS readers and most of all, your kitchens. So thank you, thank you. And if you like this week's recipes, perhaps you'll share this newsletter with a friend or social circle? If you forward this message, others may subscribe for free right here. Thank you!

Four evenings and many hours of TV all added up to a huge sense of J O Y. Yes ma'am. It's been an uplifting week (to say the least) for democracy warriors.

So many positive gigantic enormous feels, right?

Gratitude? Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe.

Patriotism? USA! USA! USA! We've reclaimed the American flag!

Laugh out loud? The little nieces, comma la, comma la, comma la. Tee hee, which side is left again?

Relief? It's not a dream! It's not a mirage! It's real!

Blown away at the bench strength? Gretchen Whitmer! Wes Moore! AOC! Raphael Warnock! Hakeem Jeffries! Jasmine Crockett! Pete Buttigieg!

Pride? That we've maybe finally figured out how to make bullies take it back, put Trump in his small place, own our sense of truth and values.

Optimism? That if we keep focused, stay smart, take action ...

Hope? ... then maybe, just maybe, we can save this country.

So JOY it is and that means this is an extra-special collection of recipes, ones that make me happy here near the end of summer, ones that I hope find a place on your tables.

LFG!

In Praise Of ...

• ... sooooo many hummingbirds this week! my sister suggested they might be "travelers" (and sure enough the BirdCast app confirmed that idea) especially since they were constantly checking for a feeder I moved last week ... so now we have four feeders some yards apart and wow, so much buzzing and flitting and flirting in the air! This is our fourth or fifth year with feeders, and traffic keeps growing! Want to know how we feed these wonderful creatures? All you need is a special inexpensive feeder, sugar and water. Here you go, see Hummingbird Food.


• ... "Calm Music for Kids" on Spotify, it's helps with my "morning job" with our 22-month old great-great-nephew, the house (not ours, his parents') just seems kinda quiet without something while we do breakfast, a book or two, dressing, morning play, but I keep it on during the drive to his daycare too, and most mornings, I hear him humming away back in his car seat ... so it's soft and calming but not insipid either, I really like it myself and some times put it on when I'm working


• ... Jane the Virgin on Netflix, all 100 episodes were fun, clever, heart-warming and often times silly but in a good way ... I am sorry there aren't another 100 episodes, just like I was with Offspring during the early weeks of the pandemic, and This Is Us (though I can't bear the last couple of episodes, just can't bring myself to watch these in some weeks now) and the wonderful Gilmore Girls. Hmmm. Call me a sucker for long-running family dramas with strong women. Anything else to recommend???

Democracy Matters

The country needs calm, thoughtful and assertive voices amid the chaos inflicted by a minority hellbent on taking/retaining generational power by strangling democratic principles and equal rights. None of us have to personally change the world. We just have to do our part. Pick one thing for the top of your To Do List every day this week.

How many of us feel a little DNC-skip in our steps even if we're simultaneously DNC-sleep deprived? What a tour de force! Here we watched gavel to gavel (wait, were there gavels? you know what I mean) and it was such an emotional roller coaster, the laughter, the tears, the horror (the women speaking about their lost pregnancies, their children lost to gun violence), the joy.

Some day, we'll learn the backstory. But for now, let's just heed Michelle Obama's words and Do Something. Do something!! DO SOMETHING!!!

This year, it's not enough to vote. (Yes, of course, do vote! But do more, between now and then.) This year, it's not just who becomes president, it's what kind of country we become.

If you're in "discussion" with someone about the "coup" against President Biden by Vice President Harris that some Republicans are claiming, read this Twitter thread from Josh Marshall, journalist and muckracker of Talking Points Memo.

If you're in the mood, take former President Clinton's suggestion to "count" the "I" statements in Trump's rambling word salads. Then spread the word ...

If you think it can't happen here (this is America, right?), Google "Afghan women 1950s" versus now when the Taliban says women may no longer sing in public, must cover their face entirely, cannot move about without a male guardian. Then tap your heels Skechers three times and repeat after me: We are not going back. We are NOT going back. WE ARE NOT GOING BACK.

If you missed it all (like, hey, are the Olympics really over? when were the closing ceremonies anyway?), let me recommend three speeches.

• Kamala Harris' acceptance speech, pitch perfect and already presidential ... she's tough, she's serious, she's warm, she's empathetic, she's fun, she's dignified ... she is HUMAN (52 minutes)
• Michelle Obama, listen but also watch the eyes of Black women in the audience (23 minutes)
• Adam Kinzinger, a Republican patriot (7 minutes)

And if you know anyone who's on the fence, who's just not certain, quote former Lt Governor of Georgia, Republican Geoff Duncan. "I think it’s important to reinforce the fact to Republicans around the country that just because you vote for Kamala Harris in 2024, doesn’t mean you’re Democrat. It just means you’re a patriot. You’re doing your duty as an American to step up to the plate and reclaim this country’s future."

---

---

THE SEASONAL SEVEN: Food That Just Might Inspire JOY

For this week's recipes, I aimed for recipes with summer flavors and combinations that ...

• ... shout summer celebrations, small and large, convivial and private
• ... mostly are either brand-new to Seasonal Sundays or haven't been featured for a few years
• ... make up my own bucket list for the next couple of weeks!
• ... ZERO pumpkin!

• THE RECIPE Warm Goat Cheese Appetizer with Mini Tomatoes & Capers Weeknight easy, worthy of an occasion.
• ANOTHER TAKE Herbed Ricotta with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes An easy summer appetizer including Pita Crisps.

• THE RECIPE Tomato Gazpacho Worthy of an occasion, a summer meal in itself.
• ANOTHER TAKE Chilled Zucchini Soup Shooters Tastes much richer than it is. Rave reviews!

• THE RECIPE Homemade Mayonnaise for BLTs Some times, a special seasonal sandwich is worth just a little extra effort.
• ANOTHER TAKE BLT Pasta Salad A fresh approach for a summer favorite.

• THE RECIPE Summer Corn Bread with Fresh Blueberries Warm corn bread studded with fresh blueberries.
• ANOTHER TAKE Tomato Cobbler with Cornmeal Biscuits & Goat Cheese Don't let summer end without putting this on a plate. Truly.

• THE RECIPE Baked Orzo Casserole with Eggplant, Olives, Goat Cheese & More Make-ahead pasta loaded with Mediterranean vegetables.
• ANOTHER TAKE Pasta with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes Once you start roasting tomatoes, easy suppers like this half make themselves. (PIN This)

• THE RECIPE Easy Apricot Jam with Rosemary Rustic and barely sweet, just five ingredients.
• ANOTHER TAKE Fresh Apricot Bars A showcase for orbs of apricot.

• THE RECIPE Blueberry Cake Simple and rustic, topped with jammy blueberries.
• ANOTHER TAKE Blueberry Sour Cream Pie Berries puffed in light, sweet cream.

What's Brand-Spankin' 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 Pesto Pasta Primavera Another Quick Supper, so many veggies, not much pasta. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Pasta with Zucchini Noodles, Ricotta & Basil Pesto A summery Meatless Monday vegetarian supper.

• THE RECIPE Easy Blueberry Vinaigrette A summer salad dressing, such lovely color. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Strawberry Vinaigrette with Chipotle Bright with berry color and flavor, spiked with a touch of heat. (PIN This)

• THE RECIPE Easy Sautéed Red & Yellow Peppers A simple, colorful side dish. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Peperonata with Potatoes The classic Italian side dish, rustic and colorful.

• THE RECIPE My Spice Rub Our house seasoning, an all-purpose blend and a "chef's kiss" for meats, vegetables and more. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE DIY Herb Blend for Homemade Herb Bread The twelve herbs I use for herb bread.

Compliments!

Please know, YOU really matter here. Your comments and email (my current address is in the FAQs) encourage and inspire and motivate and some times make me laugh out loud or turn a little teary. It's a good day when I can "see" what you're cooking, "hear" how a recipe worked out, "know" what you're loving. Thank you!

• FIFTY YEARS! "I'm 70 and I've been making them since I was 20, following my mom's recipe. Lots of times I change it up, cup of milk instead of yogurt, goat cheese, tumeric, etc." ~ Anonymous
• THE RECIPE Spinach Brownies A savory spinach square for a healthy grab-n-go breakfast. (PIN This)

• KIND WORDS! "... that filling is delicious! I could eat it all by itself. Was happy to know I could keep the skins on, 1st time making fresh peach pie so I was more than happy to omit peeling them. But they just kind of melted into the filling. So so good!" ~ Shirley
• THE RECIPE First-Prize Peach Pie The secret technique is no blanching and no peeling!

August: Reader Favorites

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

August: Lost Recipes

• THE RECIPE Herbed Goat Cheese An easy low-carb, make-ahead appetizer. (PIN This)
• ANOTHER TAKE Cheese Puffs (Gougère) A make-ahead appetizer, served hot from the oven.

The Kitchen Parade Almanac: Looking Ahead ...

• August 31st - September 2nd - Labor Day Weekend (Labour Day in Canada!)
• September 8th - Grandparents' Day
• September 11th - Patriot's Day, And the River Was Like Glass: A 9/11 Remembrance
• September 22nd - First Day of Fall in the Northern Hemisphere
• October 1st - Alanna's Unofficial First Day of Fall
• October 2nd - 4th - Rosh Hashanah
• October 11th - 12th - Yom Kippur
• October 14th - Canadian Thanksgiving
• October 14th - Columbus Day (also Indigenous Peoples' Day)
• October 31st - Halloween

Looking Back ...

THIS WEEK, YEARS PAST
• 2022 The Last Peaches (Week 35)
• What am I, European, taking August off these last years?

RECENT WEEKS
• Summer Sandwiches (Week 34) (PIN This)
• Summer's Best Tomatoes (Week 33) (PIN This)
• Dog Days of August (Week 32) (PIN This)
• Cool as Cucumbers (Week 31) (PIN This)
• Summer Sweet Corn (Week 29) (PIN This)
• Peach Season! (Week 28) (PIN This)
• Red, White (& Blue) (Week 27) (PIN This)
• Let's Beat This Heat (Week 26) (PIN This)
• No-Ordinary Green Beans for Summer (Week 24) (PIN This)
• Summer Easy (Week 22) (PIN This)
• Summery Spreads & Dips (Week 21) (PIN This)

Soups & Salads Especially for ... August!

• AUGUST's HUGE COLLECTION Seasonal Soup & Salad Recipes for August Take advantage of all that summer produce!
• LOOKING AHEAD TO SEPTEMBER Seasonal Soup & Salad Recipes for September It's back to school but summer's not over quite yet!

BUT REALLY, DON'T MISS
• Twice-Roasted Beets with Red Grapes, Cherries, Blueberries & Avocado Feta Cream
• Tomato & Zucchini Salad
• Summer's Tomato Soup

Good to Know!

• THE COLLECTION tomato recipes from Kitchen Parade
• JUST THE FAVORITES Never Take a Good Tomato for Granted: Twelve Favorite Tomato Recipes

Silly (But Fun?!) Food Holidays

• August 27th — Banana Lover's Day (Banana Nut Cake with Caramel Frosting)
• August 31st — International Bacon Day (Baked Bacon!)
• August 31st — National Trail Mix Day (Healthy Trail Mix)

The Best No-Recipe Recipe I Made This Week

Thin-Sliced Brie + Thin-Sliced Ham + a Sourish Jam (Sour Cherry, this time) + a Few Fresh Mint Leaves = Damn Good Grilled Cheese

I saw this on a food blog (sorry, can't remember/find which one to give credit, can anyone help?) and gave it a try. It's just a nod to summer sandwiches, to thinking outside the usual, the mint was a quite surprise hit.

Trader Joe's Test Kitchen

To my taste, Trader Joe's everyday pastas are too wimpy soft, that's saying something for someone who also is no fan of pasta cooked "al dente". 🙄

But! I do usually like the specialty pastas that show up every so often, this time a bag of "corkscrew" pasta called Fusilli Corti Bucati, imported from Italy. It's fun!

Here's what Trader Joe's has to say about it.

A Quick Peek Into a Real-Life Kitchen

Just so you know, everything's not all pretty pictures around here, in the background is a pile of dirty dishes. And just like many (all?) of us, come five o'clock, I too draw a blank about what to make for supper, despite so many recipes I so dearly love. Here's a quick peek from this week.

• THIS WEEK Carrots aren't especially summer-y but this recipe calls to me about this time every year. It's always ... so satisfying. Do allow some time for the flavors to meld.
• THE RECIPE Chilled Carrot Soup with Honey Bright with spices and a small kick of cayenne.

• THIS WEEK Still working on those beautiful beets from a bit back! This starts with roasted beets, then you add onion, vinegar, sour cream and most especially caraway. It's definitely open to shortcuts, like using Spiced Pickled Red Onions instead of separately cooking some onion.
• THE RECIPE Borscht Beets Russian-style beet salad with sour cream, fresh dill and caraway. Delicious!

• THIS WEEK I ordered a wedge salad out this week, it was good and all but really, where were the good tomatoes?! So two days later, I made big dinner-salad size plates with tomatoes from our garden. SWOOOOOOON. Not to be missed!
• THE RECIPE Wedge Salad with Homemade Low-Cal & Low-Carb Blue Cheese Salad Dressing A summer indulgence.

• THIS WEEK Usually, I make this easy (really!) tart with concentric rings of berries. But juicy peaches? Swoon. So good! PS For the first time, I added a shortbread crust to the recipe rather than suggesting readers fend for themselves with their own favorite recipe. Total joy, here!
• THE RECIPE Easy Elegant Fruit Tart with Shortbread Crust Here with peaches and grapes, it looks like a sunflower! (PIN This)

Something to Read

It's been awhile since I've recommended a book: mostly because all summer, I've been bounding from one book to the next, nothing really grabbing me, too much flaccid language and vapid characters. And The Goddess of Warsaw started off that way too: the cover predicted as much. But someway early on, the story of a Polish resistance fighter in WWII's Warsaw Ghetto (where Jewish people were crammed in before being shipped to extermination camps) grabbed my attention. Books set in WWII Europe are often difficult to stomach: here too. But we cannot look away. The generation with first-hand memories is nearly gone. We must be not just their legacies but their memories.

• THE BOOK The Goddess of Warsaw (affiliate link) by Lisa Barr


• NO TIME TO READ? How I Read 4X More This Year Than Last What I gave up, how I read so much, what I read.

Don't Be a Stranger ...

I'd love to hear from you. Comment, send me a quick e-mail (my current address is in the FAQs), 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.

• Any advice for Seasonal Sundays?
• Just one thing that would make it more useful for you?
• Anything else? Chime in, chat away.

---

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, you'll find my current address in the FAQs. 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.

---

© Copyright Kitchen Parade
2024