You Talkin' to Me?

You Talkin' to Me?
Originally uploaded by whatstepheats

I absolutely adore late summer. It's my favorite time of year, the time when everything comes to fruition.
This is the time of year when more than ever, so much is in season, coming forth from the fertile soil.
The students all come back to town, infusing the city with a new breath of life. The smell from area restaurants fills the air. Fairs and feasts celebrate the end of summertime, the fruits of the soil, and the beginning of a new time of toil and industry.

But the ocean still retains its warmth, soaked up over the summer's heat bearing down. The weather is still gorgeous-sunny-clear skies-perfect (well, ok, not every day is sunny, as I peer outside to the pouring rain). And the vegetables are more plentiful than ever.

Late August and September are times of harvest and homecoming.

Kenny, in his infinite generosity, has given me bags and bags of produce this past week!
One day there were tomatoes at my door; the next day there were carrots and peppers.
Some of the tomatoes got eaten fresh with just a drizzle of olive oil, some got stewed and subsequently frozen.
The carrots! Some were steamed and eaten for breakfast (we do that, deal with it). Some were grated and dressed very simply with olive oil, lemon juice, sugar, salt, pepper, and herbs a la David Lebovitz.

The Italian sweet peppers! Well, those were braised, with hot Italian sausages, potatoes, garlic, onions, and beer.

Cruelly, I treated them to the hot pot because one of them was giving me the business, as you can see. I've documented it photographically; I am thereby justified.