Tastes like summer!

Eating seasonally isn't just about supporting local farmers, or even healthy eating. It's more fun than that. Eating what's in season is about celebrating the flavors of the era, marking the time passing by, and tradition. If it sounds overly sentimental, you already do this, just not with food.

Pumpkins on the porch in autumn are a tradition. They mark a new era in the year, and it feels celebratory. Just like fireworks in July and holiday lights in December. Doing the same with food makes the seasons even more poignant. Biting into a ripe peach and getting a sticky chin is a rite of passage every summer. Have you ever attempted to eat watermelon in the winter? They are picked prematurely in faraway lands to ripen during long shipments by boat. And they're in such bad shape by the time they get to us, we can't buy them as whole watermelons. They are cubed and refrigerated. And though we pay out of pocket for the shipping and handling, the watermelon itself is spongy and tasteless. 

So if it's summer, eat like it! Grab a fresh watermelon from a giant cardboard bin and have a watermelon sugar high. Shuck fresh corn and throw it on the grill. Hanover tomato BLTs and caprese with backyard basil; it's the stuff dreams are made of.

I am a sucker viral recipes, made popular by flashy, 30-second cooking videos. My algorithm has been packed with incredible summer recipes. For instance, hot dogs are a summer tradition, but I was seduced into taking it up a notch. Cheesy garlic bread hot dogs with a garlic butter dipping sauce.  It looked too good not to try. Words cannot describe how craveworthy it was. We got the cheese pulls, and wiped every drop of homemade melted garlic butter from the ramekins. 

And make sure you're getting in your ice cream and milkshakes! They won't taste as good during other times of the year. It's a temperature thing. 

Local restaurants feel really special right now. Unlike big box stores with unchanging menus, local restaurants have relationships with nearby farmers, serving rotating seasonal dishes that will open your mind...and your taste buds.

It's pesto season, and this summer has been fortuitous for backyard herb gardens. At Dinamo in Orgeon Hill, they featured different types of pesto. A traditional basil recipe was served with gnocchi, while their potatoes and fresh green beans were smothered in a different type of pesto. The basil was mixed with fresh parsley and lemon, making a tart and savory flavor profile.

Go to your local farmers' market and pick fresh produce. Take a chance on something new. There's likely a viral video that will demystify it, and in 30 seconds convince you to turn it into an unforgettable meal. More times than not, it's completely true. Certain recipes and cooking videos become viral for a reason, and summer will be over before you know it. Let's make it taste like summer.