At summer's end I often find myself so overwhelmed by a supply of fresh produce from my husband and dad's gardens that it seems ridiculous to attempt to squeeze meat onto the menu. I need to cook bountiful meals of fresh vegetables from the summer harvest before they rot on the kitchen counter. It's very easy to become vegetarian at this time of the year and to turn the kitchen and grill over to summer's harvest, leaving the early season burgers and dogs behind.
The building blocks of a summer harvest feast in my region are tomatoes, corn, eggplant, summer squash, cucumbers, peppers and fresh herbs. Also on the list are summer fruits such as watermelon, cantaloupe and peaches. Use these as the primary ingredients for a dinner party this month. With the addition of pasta and grains, you can create a delicious and satisfying gourmet feast and nobody will notice that meat is missing.
Setting the Stage
Make your table look as sun-kissed as your menu by decorating with yellow and gold.
- Use a plain, white linen tablecloth as a fresh canvas for your other decorations.
- Choose bright yellow napkins. Tie each of them with a raffia bow. Tuck a fresh daisy under the bow.
- Choose your favorite as a centerpiece: a basket of dried, golden wheat; a bowl of fresh lemons intertwined with golden ribbon; yellow cherry tomatoes mixed with green laurel leaves in a tall vase; partially husked ears of corn in a rustic basket.
- Fill vases with large, fresh, yellow flowers such as daylilies, or my favorite, sunflowers.
The Menu
Bellinis - Add sizzle to your drinks by making peach puree from fresh summer peaches.
Grilled Eggplant Spread - This will use up a whole bunch of eggplants! Serve with pita wedges.
Panzanella - This recipe for Italian bread salad serves many functions including using up old bread, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Plus, you can even toss in some tuna for any die-hard non-vegetarians.
Wheat Berry and Barley Salad with Smoked Mozarella - The hearty grains and other flavorful ingredients in this salad should satisfy the cravings of the "meat and potatoes" crowd.
Rigatoni with Zucchini - A delicious and easy way to use up a few of those green monsters in your garden.
Watermelon Creme Supreme - A very elegant, but easy recipe that is essentially a watermelon trifle.
