Typically winter squash isn’t ready until mid-October, but I get to enjoy it extra early since I grow this special variety in my garden.
While it’s too late now to plant it in your garden, put these seeds on your list for next year. Be on the lookout for it at the local farmers’ market too, its name is simple to remember, it’s actually called Early Butternut Squash. The sweet and tender squash will be ready to eat as early as August and the plant will keep producing through October. Make soup, add roasted chunks to pasta or make this crowd-pleasing foccacia recipe.
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- What to Do With Pumpkins idea #15: make Alton Brown's pumpkin bread.
Whether it’s for dinner, dessert or carving Jack-o-lanterns, nothing says fall quite like shiny orange pumpkins. We’ve got ideas for every day of the month.
1. Check out your local farm or farmers’ market for unique varieties like “Oz” or “Spooktakular”
2. Did you know? Pumpkins can be found in different colors, like orange, green and white.
3. Find out where the “pumpkin capital” of the United States is.
4. When you’re at the pumpkin patch – choose pumpkins with smooth, hard skin that are free of bruises or blemishes.
5. It’s not pumpkin season until you make Pumpkin Pie – try our slimmed down recipe.
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- Try cooking with fresh oregano, it's much different than the dried stuff.
Sweet and spicy fresh oregano is totally different than the dried version in your spice rack. Fall is the perfect time to enjoy this pungent green herb.
Oregano Basics
Greek for “joy of the mountain” Grecian brides and grooms would wear a crown of oregano leaves to ward off sadness. Found in Mediterranean countries for hundreds of years, oregano gained popularity in the U.S. after World War II when soldiers returned from Italian assignments singing its praises.
In addition to its historical culinary uses, these tender green leaves were also prescribed to treat a variety of ailments including toothaches, muscle pain and bacterial infections.
A close relative to mint, leafy oval-shaped, oregano has a fresh and somewhat piney flavor. There are over 20 varieties including the bold and spicy “Mexican” and the more traditional “Mediterranean,” which is more mild but still full of flavor.
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When tiny, cutie-pie eggplants turned up in my CSA box, they were a little small for eggplant parm, but that’s not where my eggplant options end.
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Grapes are in season right now. Get them fresh off the vine and try some of our favorite ways to prepare them.
When, Where, & What?
Grapes (Vitis spp, Vitaceae) are edible berries grown in clusters on small shrubs or vines. They grow best in temperate zones such as Italy, France, Spain, Mexico and Chile. New world settlers found that grapes brought over from Europe didn’t survive the winter cold and were prone to fungal diseases. They developed the hybrid varieties found in America today. Today California is the largest producer of “table grapes” – the kind for snacking.
There are thousands of varieties of grapes. Some are grown for wine production while others are grown to be eaten as-is. Concord grapes are used to produce grape juice, jams and jellies. They’re blue in color, with a thick, chewy skin and contain seeds. They’re sold as table grapes along with other varieties like Interlaken, Lakemont, Einset Seedless and Venus. Muscat grapes are turned into raisins while Riesling grapes are used to produce wine. Dana found fun varieties when she scouted her local farmers market including Mars and Juniper grapes.
Grapes are typically round or oval, smooth skinned and juicy. Some varieties contain seeds while others are seedless. Some are “slip skin” where the skin can easily be removed while other varieties have skin that is tough to remove. Grapes are divided into categories by color: white or black (or red). White grapes range in color from pale yellow-green to light green, while black varieties range in color from light red to deep purple. In the U.S., peak season for grapes is August through October.
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Turned off by this green herb’s anise flavor? Don’t discount tarragon just yet. This delightfully fresh and fragrant herb will find its way into your culinary heart if you’re just willing to give it a chance.
Tarragon Basics
This under-appreciated herb is a staple in French cuisine. It made our list of Top Herbs for Healthy Cooking because it’s easy to grow (it will last all summer and through to the fall) and its feathery leaves are just as tasty frozen or dried as they are fresh. It certainly does have an element of anise flavor but the accompanying sweetness will make even the most devout licorice-hater swoon.
Nutrition Info
In a tablespoon of fresh tarragon, you’ll find about 5 calories. There are also all kinds of nutrients including iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and B6.
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- We've got 30 ways to love sweet, tender, in-season corn, like this Grilled Corn Salsa.
It’s the peak of the season for sweet corn. Here are 30 ways to enjoy this summer treasure.
- Classic and straight up – on the cob with butter and salt
- Use our shopping tips to pick the perfect ears.
- Use a serrated knife to cut kernels off the cob — add raw kernels to to a salad for sweet crunch.
- After cutting off kernels, don’t toss those cobs – use them to flavor and thicken chowder.
- Make an easy summertime dinner –Fish Tacos with Chili Mayo and Grilled Corn
- Company coming? Make Grilled Corn Salsa and serve with tortilla chips
- Hit up the farmers’ market for the freshest corn. Local farmers will have all kinds of unique varieties available.
- Cooking Tip: when boiling corn on the cob, add salt and a splash of milk to the water.
- Add corn to your favorite pasta salad recipe.
- Add freshness and color to a stir fry.
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- Find hot cherry peppers and grill cheesy, spicy pepper "poppers."
Green peppers just don’t get the love they deserve! This time of year you’ll find all different kinds at the farmers’ markets including sweet bell, mild frying peppers and these little babies – sweet and fiery cherry peppers.
These tiny peppers just scream “stuff me.” They’re not as hot as jalapenos, but they still have a bit of heat. Try this grilled appetizer, a take on japaleno poppers made with seafood, cream cheese and salty Manchego. They make deluxe appetizers but only take minutes to make.
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- #7: Tomato Salad
Tomatoes find their way on to salads and sandwiches without much consideration, but they deserve more attention for tomato week. Here are 10 fabulous nibbles where tomatoes are the star.
1.) Serve sweet and spicy tomato jam with whole grain crackers (or slices of toasted whole grain baguette) along with shards of sharp cheddar cheese.
Recipe: Tomato Jam
2.) Look for locally produced dried tomatoes at your local farmers market – it’s a great way to hold on to that tomato goodness for months.
Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Skewers
3.) Cherry tomatoes are the perfect size for skewers. Watermelon (also in season now) may seem like an unlikely match up, but the combo of flavors scream summer.
Recipe: Tomato, Watermelon, and Basil Skewers
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- Don't you wish these guys grew all year long?
To refrigerate or not to refrigerate? When to peel and seed? Proper handling of fresh tomatoes is trickier than it might seem. Our readers asked tomato questions on Facebook and Twitter , here are our recommendations.
Shopping Tips
This is prime time for local produce so get out to your local farmers’ market or farm stand where colorful and plump tomatoes are abundant. Choose large tomatoes that are free of bruises and heavy for their size (heavy equals juicy). For smaller cherry tomatoes, look for ones that are brightly colored with tight skins.
Don’t look only for perfectly round or red tomatoes. Oddly shaped, bizarre-colored heirloom and other unique varieties are some of the tastiest kinds! Learn more about the various heirloom varieties.
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