Every September, I do my best to hang on to summer for as long as possible. I still go to the beach. My fridge is still full of summer produce. But then one day, the temps dip, and I find myself craving soup. Could it be that I’m actually ready for fall? That’s when I make this corn chowder recipe. I think of it as a compromise. It’s packed with peppers and sweet corn, two of my favorite summer veggies, but it’s also cozy and comforting—a perfect early fall meal. I made my first batch earlier this week, and it…

For me, Labor Day weekend is bittersweet. There’s lots to look forward to in fall, but if I could stop time and let summer go on forever, I totally would. It will always be my favorite season—I love the hot days, 9pm Michigan sunsets, and abundance of produce. …but since I can’t stop time, I figure I might as well say goodbye to summer in style. Tomorrow, I’ll be saying “cheers” to the end of the season by making one of my favorite summer cocktails, an Aperol spritz! Here’s why I love an Aperol spritz: It’s easy to make with…

I have one goal over Labor Day weekend: to enjoy ALL the summer produce! Though fall is just around the corner, tomatoes, zucchini, and my favorite—fresh sweet corn—are still in season, and I’m doing my best to make the most of them while I can. I’m planning a Labor Day cookout menu packed with summer veggies, and I’m kicking it off with this crowd-pleasing Mexican street corn dip. It’s inspired by the Mexican dish esquites, the off-the-cob version of elote. Creamy, tangy, spicy, and savory, it’s one of my all-time favorite appetizers! Here’s why I love this Mexican street corn…

We’ve been spending August at our cottage in Michigan, where we’ve had a steady stream of guests. My mom, my sister, close friends… Every time someone comes to town, we go blueberry picking! So…my fridge? Currently packed with blueberries. 😊 I love eating them by the handful and tossing them into salads. But this month, my favorite way to use them has been in this blueberry baked oatmeal. I’ve made it 3 times already, and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. Here’s why I love this baked oatmeal recipe: It’s super satisfying. Whole rolled oats, almond butter, pecans, and…

Everyone goes crazy for corn and tomatoes in August, but there’s one unsung veggie that’s at its peak right now too… Eggplant! I’m planning to cook with it as much as I can this month, starting by making my all-time favorite eggplant recipe: this eggplant Parmesan. The recipe is based on my mom’s, and it brings back all the memories I have of her eggplant Parmesan as a kid. Smelling the rich, cheesy aroma as she pulled it out of the oven, digging into the tender eggplant at the table next to my sister. I’ve been making this recipe in…

Hot days call for cold drinks! This summer, my iced strawberry matcha latte is the one I’m making on repeat. I first fell in love with this ultra-refreshing drink last August, and after Jack, Ollie, and I went strawberry picking a few weeks ago, it quickly re-entered my cold beverage rotation. Here’s why I love this iced strawberry matcha latte: It combines two of my favorite things: grassy, energizing matcha and peak-season summer berries. They make a surprisingly great pair. The strawberries add a tangy, fruity sweetness that perfectly balances the bitter notes of the matcha. It’s SO gorgeous. I…

When I host my family’s 4th of July cookout, I always serve fresh corn in some form. Sweet, juicy, and vibrant yellow, it’s one of my favorite summer vegetables (if not my favorite vegetable, period). I can’t imagine a July 4th meal without it. Corn salads have made appearances, as has simple boiled corn on the cob. But the corn dish that my family absolutely can’t get enough of is this Mexican-inspired elote recipe. Here’s why we love it: It’s so easy. I’m talking 6 ingredients and 30 minutes! Just make classic grilled corn on the cob, then add all…

The 4th of July is coming up this week, and I’m busy planning what to make for my family’s cookout. I still haven’t decided between these veggie burgers and these black bean burgers, between grilled asparagus and grilled zucchini, but I know one thing for certain: my go-to pasta salad will be on the menu. If you’ve been following for a while, you know that I like to share at least one new pasta salad recipe every summer. I love coming up with fun, flavorful combinations of veggies, herbs, a cheese, and a dressing, with a just-right pasta shape thrown…

On Mother’s Day, we make brunch. On Father’s Day, we grill! That’s how it is in my family, anyway. While we might sit down to a frittata or Dutch baby on Mother’s Day morning, by the time Father’s Day rolls around, the weather is wayyyyy too nice for an indoor meal. So my family gets together in the late afternoon for a cookout. My brother-in-law Josh is in charge of the mains (thanks, Josh!), and I’m on side dish duty. I like to change up the menu from year to year, but there’s one recipe that I make every single…