What to Cook

Spicy Caramelized Squash With Lemon and Hazelnuts

As we enter the period where the farmers market is mostly just squash, lean into it by making this bright, spicy side dish.

Grilled Corn and Scallion Salad

The corn is very, very good right now, and you should make this corn salad to celebrate.

Lentils (Daal) with Fried Lemon and Garlic

While red, yellow or brown lentils/daal would work here (black and green will never fully achieve that porridge-like texture, so I would not use them here), I prefer yellow or red because I am superficial and I think those are the most gorgeous quick-cooking lentils.

Spicy Fried Chicken

This is a This chicken can just be "regular" if you decide to leave out the hot sauce and cayenne. Alternatively, it can be made "extremely hot" by increasing the amount of either ingredient (not sure? can always serve hot sauce on the side). description.

Coconut Banana Cream Pudding

Layer that pudding with limey bananas and whipped tangy yogurt, and top it with a festive maraschino cherry, and all of a sudden it’s like in the movies when the “nerdy girl” takes off her glasses, lets her hair down, and reveals that she was, indeed, “a total babe” this whole time.

(Cottage) Cheese Cake

This gorgeous, foolproof cake is a nice way to use any stonefruit that’s starting to pop up at markets (but it’s especially great with apricots).

Double-Crust Peach Pie with Honey, Ginger, and Lime

If you want a long weekend baking project, this pie is the best way to use up all the peaches at the market right now.

Charred Citrus Chicken

This is simply an excellent chicken, and is a very fun way to switch up your summer grilling routine.

Potato Salad with Celery and Mustard

This mustardy, crunchy, tangy, herby, wonderful potato salad makes an excellent plus one at any picnic/bbq/party all summer long. Don’t worry about it being out for too long—it gets better the longer it sits, but it will also surely get eaten quickly. 

Cucumbers with Red Onion and Sesame

If you want to switch it up, this cucumber salad is another great pairing for a Really Nice Fish—it’s bright, crunchy, a little nutty, and a lovely low-lift side dish.

Iceberg Salad with Onions, Capers, and Pecorino

This salad goes with everything, and is exactly how I like it (acidic, herby, and mostly iceberg lettuce).

Crispy Cutlets with Fennel Salad

This crispy cutlet, inspired by the New York City restaurants I love so much goes by many names, but all you need to know is that it’s chicken (or pork) and it’s crispy.