I'd say cold dishes, as it's so hot and you just don't want to cook for a long time.

This summer I've been enjoying quinoa salads from "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone." They really hit the spot though I never seem to make enough.

To me, summer is farm-fresh corn on the cob. I can't wait until the local stuff is ready.

LOBSTAH!

Seafood (of near any kind) makes me think of summer - not 100% sure why except that I seem to be eating a lot more of it in the summer.

For me it's a tie between sweet corn and tomatoes. The Illinois sweet corn can be unbelievably delicious.

I remember the buzz in the air in San Francisco around the time when tomatoes were getting ready to flood the farmers market.

Rasberries. I used to pick them in upstate New York with my grandmother. We'd pick them and eat them right off the bush, and she'd dry some for the best tea ever.

second the corn and a new summer fave: garlic scapes!

This year I'm going to say tomatoes off the vine, since I am growing tomatoes for the first time! I have 8 heirloom varieties teasing me with their still small, green fruit...I'm crossing my fingers that I will succeed in this new endeavor!

Corn should definitely be on the list though.

Cherries. I love cherries and eat pounds of them each summer.

Peaches, because I grew up in South Carolina. Peach ice cream from Clemson U. dairy was the biggest treat of my childhood!

Blueberries, I used to pick them upstate with my grandmother too. My grandpa always said they should just weigh me instead of the pail. Then we made blueberry buckle with them. (which I'm making today) Also, amish strawberry rhubarb pie. I swear they make it better than anyone else!

Gazpacho. I made a big container of it today, and will eat it for lunch for a few days.

Does anyone else like their sweet corn raw? I brought home a dozen very fresh ears from the farmer's market yesterday, immediately shucked one and ate it. My boyfriend looked at me like I had just sprouted another head. But we used to do it all the time on my grandparents' farm!

I think it's the best way to enjoy corn, as it really lets you enjoy the sweetness and freshness. But maybe I'm just weird, too! :)

erin in indy,
Thanks for saying this - I've always wanted to eat fresh corn raw, but would stop myself after a couple bites, thinking that it wouldn't be good for me. Why I thought that, I don't know - I guess it's cause no one does it. But now that I know you do it, I'll feel free to go on!

But I'll say, the corn has to be really good quality to be able to eat raw - if it's old, then it tastes really starchy and has a yucky texture. Cooking makes it more edible.

Sweet Corn with a Juicy Tomato with just a hint of pepper on it is summer for me. Throw in a bushel of crabs with old bay seasoning, and I am in heaven.

cyn: gazpacho, gazpacho, gazpacho! Which, incidentally, will be my lunch & dinner every day this week as the boyfriend inexplicably purchased EIGHT ripe tomatoes for the two of us.

Oh corn, of course. I knew I left something really obvious off that list...

red raspberries. and bi-color sweet corn. mmm....

Nectarines.

All the yum of a peach, without the fuzz.

corn on the cob!!

yes, definitely, corn

Another vote for corn!

Erin in Indy,

I was just telling somebody how I used to walk through the cornfield shucking and eating the baby ears of corn. Gourmet for free! O.k. maybe it's stealing but I don't think they'll miss an ear here or there.

I'm going to try an appetizer of Mexican style elotes (cheese, cayenne, mayo) but with individual ears of baby corn.