Tastes of Summer



It’s hard to believe July is here already, the beginning of the second half of 2020. The other night during our nightly walks, I pointed out the first lightning bug (also known as fireflies) to Cupcake and Chunk. Summer is now in full swing. My husband is starting to brine the meat for our Fourth of July barbecue, which will be limited to our family instead of going over to a friend’s house as we’re social distancing and trying to stay home as much as possible. My kids are playing in the sprinkler before they remember towels. Then they sprint upstairs to the linen closet, dripping water and shedding pine straw through the house. My basset hound looks for cool places to lay down in the dining room where I’m working, snuffling and mumbling as she seeks to get comfortable before her morning nap.
With the Fourth of July fast approaching, my husband and I are trying to make sure everyone has a taste of summer this weekend. He was excited when a neighbor yelled from a distance to please take some zucchini from her bounty as he loves it grilled or fried. For my younger son, summer tastes like watermelon. For my younger daughter, it tastes like coleslaw. My older son prefers anything barbecued while my older daughter likes toffee pie. Separately, it seems rather eclectic, but together it’s a pretty tasty meal.


With uncertainty such a part of everyday life at the moment, it’s comforting to me to think of ways I can help my family enjoy summer, whether it’s food or family board games or backyard activities.
Freshly cut grass, the smell of cobbler fresh out of the oven, chlorine from swimming pools, the aroma of your favorite food hot off the grill. All of these scents weave a spell of lightning bugs and grass crunching under bare feet and hammocks waiting for someone to read a book in them. What are your favorite smells and tastes of summer?

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Comments

  1. Definitely anything grilling on the barbecue, as well as fruit pies hot from the oven. Sounds like you and your family are in a very nice place for the summer, Tanya! Enjoy every second, right? Congrats on your new release and stay healthy!

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    1. Thank you, Janice. Fruit pies are some of my favorite desserts! And yes, I'm learning to enjoy every second. I hope you stay healthy as well!

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  2. My cooking already includes some summer foods. I'm not a fan of zucchini, but love zucchini bread. I made three loaves this week and my daughter loves it. Two of them are in the freezer, along with the banana bread I made. I'm going to get some barbecue ribs from the grocery store and make more potato salad.

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    1. Zucchini bread sounds delicious, and banana bread is one of my favorites. I love when I freeze banana loaves as they are either great get-well gifts or a reminder of summer if I pull them out and warm them up. Thanks for sharing your tastes of summer.

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  3. I love barbecue. If I can get near the water, I love the smell of the lake. Sleeping with the windows open, I love the smell of early morning in the summertime. And after my kids have been playing outside all day in the heat, I love the smell of the top of their heads - sweaty, sour, good ole fashioned dirt, and sunshine:-)

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    1. Those are wonderful smells! And I remember smelling my toddler's son after he played outside. Sunshine is a wonderful smell. My grandmother had an old-fashioned clothes line and I think that sunshine did come through. Thanks for sharing your summer smells! So much fun about the lake!

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  4. I grew up in Wisconsin where bratwurst on the grill and a link, juicy watermelon cooled in the horse tank where sure signs of summer......that and the smell of spent firecrackers, my dad was the biggest kid of anyone with those. Enjoy the little things!

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    1. My husband loves bratwurst!! That's one of his family's favorite foods to grill. And my younger son loves watermelon. That's his favorite food! Thanks for dropping by. Those foods brought a smile!

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  5. I love grilled veggies! Thanks for sharing, Tanya!

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    1. There's something about grilling veggies that captures simplicity and taste! Thanks for dropping by, Jackie!

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  6. Oh, I love fireflies. They aren't anywhere I've lived, so seeing them has always been a special treat. I've never heard of toffee pie, but now I'm intrigued! We grilled burgers and ate on the deck this week. Happy summer!

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    1. My twins and I saw fireflies last night on our walk! And yes, seeing them and the deer at the back of the subdivision made for a special treat. My daughter loves toffee pie - it's basically made with cream cheese, chocolate, toffee pieces with a bottom crust made with crushed Oreos.

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  7. Like you, I LOVE to watch the fireflies! I also love the sounds of the birds in the morning and a good old afternoon nap in the summer time.

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    1. Afternoon naps in the summer time are the best! (Okay, afternoon naps any time of the year are great, too!) But yes, there's something about Georgia that calls out for a good afternoon nap every once in a while. Thanks for dropping by, Jeanine!

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  8. Happy Canada Day, for all the Canucks on board. We've got a ribeye to BBQ today to celebrate.

    For us, summer always meant BBQing. My spouse firmly believes the BBQ is his domain, and I'm happy to agree since that means less cooking for me.

    Now, it's summer all the time, and I'm waxing nostalgic for winter food and aromas.

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    1. Happy Canada Day! My dad loved to cook ribeyes on the grill! I miss those. And my husband loves his grill, so I'm right there with you about letting him cook on summer nights. Come winter I'll be ready for hearty soups and chilis but for now, I'm enjoying the BBQ and fresh fruit! Thanks for dropping by!

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  9. I still can't figure out where the first half of the year went. I sure have been working a lot. I think a little summer break is in order, and I got a start on that when I saw my daughter for the first time since Christmas. She's a couple of hours away, and we've been apart from most everyone for months. On another important issue, I definitely think summer tastes like berries and melons!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Virginia! Yes, to paraphrase Dickens, it was the longest of months and the shortest of months! The first half did fly by. And I'm so glad you were able to see your daughter. My older daughter is coming over this Saturday, and I can't wait to see her. And I just had some strawberries with lunch. I love berries, and totally agree that summer wouldn't be the same without them. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. Love the scents and tastes of summer! Cherries are my choice....pies, cobblers, and just a fresh handful. My favorite scent...rain after the storm has passed. So relaxing. Thanks for reminding me of fireflies in my Kansas grandparents’ yards. Great summertime memories!

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    1. My kids love cherry season. I think we're on our third cherry pitter (or de-pitter). They love them fresh out of the bowl. Oooh, the smell after rain is soothing and happy at the same time. Thanks for dropping by, Sherida!

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  11. I love all summer veggies, but a tomato and cucumber sandwich says it most for me. The scent of the cut cucumber and the tang of the tomatoes (sometimes with bacon) says summer. Still waiting to make my first blackberry cobbler of the season and hoping for corn to come in soon, too.

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