Summer

Summer cooking has its own rhythm — the grill gets used more than the oven, dinner happens later, and the best ingredients of the year are at the farmers market right now. This is my full summer collection, built around the produce and the pace of the season.

On the grill, the Grilled Steak with Peaches and Onions is the recipe that defines summer cooking for me — peak stone fruit, hot grates, and the kind of caramelization you can only get outside. The 20-Minute Grilled Basil Pesto Chicken with Charred Tomatoes and Avocado is the weeknight version that keeps the grill going all season long. For sides, Summer Orzo Salad and the Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl are the two I make on repeat from June through August.

Summer dessert is cold, fruity, and non-negotiable. The Blueberry Ice Cream with Fresh Blueberries and Shortbread Ice Cream Sandwiches handle the heat, and the Butterscotch Peach Crisp is the one that makes the whole kitchen smell like August. For drinks, the Blackberry Gin and Tonic and Jenessa’s Cadillac Margarita are the two that make a Tuesday feel like a Friday.