Recipes for Summer

Peak vegetable and fruit. Sticky juices of ripe tomatoes and stone fruit greet the sticky humid heat of July and August. Freshness is key, partly to celebrate the perfection of summer produce and partly to avoid over-heating the house with the stove or oven. And yet we still can't avoid baking treats like rustic plum crostatas and cheesy summer squash galettes. Pair these delights with vibrant, fresh watermelon, tomato, and feta salad, or chilled cilantro-lime corn and bean salad with avocado. When possible, evoke the beach by nibbling on seafood like simple garlic shrimp with chilies or steamed mussels in a spicy curry broth. Don't forget to pass the frosty bottle of chilled rosé.