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Summer Fruit Salad
When the summer fruit is this good, treat yourself to an indulgent yet healthy dish that hits all the right sweet, slightly savory, and tangy notes. Champagne vinegar is my preferred way to brighten up a mix of stone fruit, buttery avocado and mango, and blackberries. With its delicate, crisp flavor, it lends just the right amount of acidity. Torn basil leaves add an herbaceous quality. Then I finish it with beautiful sea salt flakes. All the flavors benefit from that little touch. After all, summer is better with a reminder of the sea. Ingredients 2 large nectarines2 apricots⅓ pound cherries¾ cup blackberries1 mango1 avocadoHandful fresh basil leavesExtra-virgin olive oilChampagne…
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Pineapple Chamomile Iced Tea Sangria Mocktail
With a refreshingly light sweetness from pineapple and ripe stone fruit, this non-alcoholic chamomile tea sangria makes use of summer’s abundant fruit and herbs. A touch of sage balances the drink and is just the right ingredient to add clean herbal notes without overwhelming the pitcher. Lounge away the afternoon with a glass then sip another well into the evening, as chamomile tea is naturally caffeine-free with a mild floral quality that’s mellow and smooth. Spoon cherry halves and nectarine slices in each serving along with plenty of pineapple, and this mocktail makes blazing days quite welcome. Ingredients 5 chamomile tea bags brewed in 4 cups water then cooled1 cup…
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Grilled Nectarine and Arugula Salad with Feta, Pistachios and Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette
“Talking of Pleasure, this moment I was writing with one hand, and with the other holding to my Mouth a Nectarine — good God how fine.” – John Keats Smoother than a peach, nectarines are an ideal stone fruit for grilling – no peeling required. Juicy and sweet-tart, they become even more flavorful after a brief turn on the grill pan, with char marks signaling where the natural sugars have caramelized. For a summer salad, I top baby arugula with the grilled wedges. Feta adds lightly salted creaminess, and pistachios lend the right amount of crunch. When nectarines are in season, tomatoes are too, right in a summer garden or…
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Nectarine Sorbet
At its best, sorbet is simply fruit transformed. Crisp slices and whole berries are perfect in May and June, but by the last stretch of summer, I crave all sorts of icy but melty goodness. Late August calls for a lush cup of sorbet. This no-churn nectarine version will help to stave off the restless feeling that kicks in when we realize the days are getting shorter again. Flavorful and refreshing, it does not require any special equipment other than a blender, which you likely have on the counter already for cocktails (and mocktails!). Eat it icy or let it melt as you join me in an August wish: “If…
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