Summer crunchies make a great salad, and we pair our salad, with, well, more salad, tomato and basil makes a great one while the peanut butter cucumber caterpillar is always popular with the youngsters. And, all of the above are absolutely perfect if you just happen to have no electricity! Using what is fresh and in season has been easy here with farmer's markets and stands as part of my daily routine. Our chopped salads lean toward cucumber, pepper, corn, onion and green beans, all predominant in the heart of summer. The red heirloom tomatoes have been delicious, and, although I admit I am not a tomato lover, my grandmother's tomatoes sliced with chopped celery and onions with her Pennsylvania Dutch vinaigrette which was really just vinegar, sugar and water is tough to pass up. Since her recipe is just too sugary for my nutrimommy approval, I make a healthier version with apple cider vinegar, water and an appropriate sweetener like maple syrup, date sugar, agave or brown rice syrup. That way I am still reminded of growing up in Pennsylvania...but we don't suffer the consequences. And, as for the many shapes of summer squash, from the spaceship-like ones to the bright orange zucchini shaped ones, I do have a gazillion and one recipes but I must admit, after standing over a pot of ratatouille all evening, I am starting to hope their season will wrap up soon.
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