We have (finally) entered the summer season and for some that means finding a sandy beach or a quiet forest to relax and keep cool. “Summer! A Cookbook: Inspired Recipes for Lazy Days and Magical Nights” has you covered for most of your eventualities. Whether that be the food and drink or all the essentials needed for comfort in the wild. This book is small enough to throw in your backpack or beach bag, but certainly is comprehensive enough to not leave you stranded for solutions.
As for the recipes, they are mostly things you would make beforehand and transport the finished product to your destination, unless you are rollin’ in a decked-out RV. A few exceptions: step-by-step instructions for a camp-side lobster bake, beach house lobster boil, and others make for great party recipes.
Included are even some selections for your favorite summertime beverages: various flavors of margarita and the author’s favorite beers. Watermelon Limeade and a few versions of iced tea, among others, are included for those not interested in alcohol.
These are not the boring dishes you usually see: hot dogs, burgers, baked beans, etc. Some examples of eye-catching offerings; grilled vegetable platter with harissa yogurt and chermoula, cantaloupe carpaccio with capicola, grilled peach panzanella with oil-cured olives were some of the selections I have added to my “to-make list.”
How have I never heard of chermoula before? (It’s similar to pesto, gremolata or even chimichurri.)
One strange observance: no pictures of the tantalizing recipes. There are some detailed illustrations, however.
The more I paged through this book, the more recipes I saw that I wanted to make. If you’re looking to impress at your next summer gathering, this book will most assuredly help, if you’re willing to do the work.
