What’s in Season For Summer?

Tomatoes are one of our favorite ways to add a sweet, tangy depth to any dish. One caveat? Tomatoes taste different when they aren’t fresh. While you can cook with the vegetable year-round, there’s something special about the way market-fresh heirloom tomatoes seem to burst with flavor when they’re at their peak. Picked some up and need to use them in a recipe? Our Roasted Cherry Tomato Tartine is a CDS favorite. When they’re in season, we love to enjoy them as a snack–just cut them open and top with flaky sea salt. If you’re looking for a delicious and flavorsome lunch in a pinch, we love a beautiful slice of lightly toasted bread (sourdough is a family favorite), high-quality mayonnaise, and sliced fresh tomato topped with flaky sea salt and lots of fresh cracked black pepper.

Simple and unassuming, radishes are an oft-overlooked health food powerhouse. Not only do they add a pleasant crunchy texture to whatever dish you use them in, they also happen to have a number of healing properties. Fiber-rich and filled with vitamins, they’re best enjoyed between April and September. Thinly slice and add to any CDS salad for a delicious nutrient boost.

In season for just two months, from June to August, corn’s high season is fleeting, but when it’s at peak, there’s nothing better. Stock up on as much fresh corn as you can, and freeze extra to save for when it’s out of season to cook as a sweet, buttery side to whatever you’re serving. Our favorite way to prepare it? Split corn in half and boil it. then put the corn in a large bowl, toss with a good-quality butter and a mix of fresh, finely chopped herbs (we love chives, parsley, and dill, but anything will do). Season with freshly cracked black pepper and sea salt. Bon appetit!

Summer isn’t summer without a few punnetts of berries. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and cherries are all at their best in July and August. If you have a bit of time on your hands, treat yourself to our Blueberry Upside Down Cake. If not, no problem: spend twenty minutes throwing together an Eton Mess, a British summertime staple that’s at its best with in-season strawberries.

You can’t let summer go by without indulging in at least one nectarine. These delicious fruits are the sweeter counterpart to the classic peach, and they’re only in season for three months of the year. And you don’t need to opt for any sort of fancy preparation to enjoy them; they taste best on their own.

Looking to supplement your seasonal bounty with products that taste good year-round? Mushrooms and potatoes are hearty, healthy, delicious staples that you can feel good about adding to your plate at any time of the year. Come summer, add a dose of herby delicious to whatever you’re serving with our Easy Herb Fries.