Summer brings so much to savour! From the fresh berries, the flourishing herbs, the tender garden greens, and all the garden goodness that is happening, to the simple pleasures of being outside so much and watching life buzz about us while we take a little time to relax and soak in some sun or sit in the shade. Though there are lots of things to pick, eat, and preserve, it is still not the crazy busy months of fall when everything needs harvesting. There is still time to savour the flavours and stretch my creativity in the kitchen to create meals that honour the season and the planet.
If you are lucky enough to have a little dirt and space to grow things, it is a very rewarding activity, in so many ways. It requires a little care and time, but that in itself is a valuable thing. It helps us appreciate the challenges of food production and the value of what is grown so that we are less wasteful. It stretches our imagination and requires that we be inventive in using seasonal produce! It provides us with a reason to get outside and appreciate all the beauty and life-energy that is happening around us. It takes us away from the lure of screens and couches, if even for a short time. It gives our brains a little rest from the barrage of information, entertainment and often depressing news of the world, and helps us focus on the basics. We may not be able to fix all the world’s problems, but we can get rid of some weeds where we are and help keep our own corner of the world growing and healthy.
There is so much to learn from nature: keep growing, even when it’s hard; always reach for the light; appreciate rain; beauty comes in so many different colours and shapes; some things take more time to grow than others; some things get sick and die while others flourish and it’s seldom within our control. What is within our control are the choices we make at every meal. Nature offers up thousands of plants to sustain us and keep us growing! We have a responsibility to the planet, to the trillions of animals who suffer and die needlessly each year, and to ourselves, for healthier bodies and happier hearts, to choose well, to make choices that are caring and mindful. It is a joyful summer task to create recipes that help us take those responsibilities seriously.
If you don’t have garden space, you can always enjoy summer flavours by visiting local farmers markets, shopping at local farms, or just buying as much locally grown produce as possible. If you live in a berry-growing part of the world, as we do, this is certainly a season to celebrate! Raspberries, strawberries and blueberries grow so well here in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley, so I have added a number of our favourite ways to use these to make some special desserts, such as Easy Apple and Blueberry Strudels, Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, Homemade Strawberry Shortcakes, or easy and quick Chocolate Dipped Hazelnutty Strawberries. You might also like the family favourite, Rhubarb, Strawberry and Apple Crumble or the Strawberry Rhubarb Cake I am making for our daughter’s wedding!
This recipe for a Summer Berry Skillet Cake is packed with lots of berry goodness and is so quick and easy to make! Make some and share with neighbours! Of course, just eating the fresh berries as they are is a wonderful treat in itself! Enjoy! Happy summer!
