Hey Kids,

I know it has been awhile since I last posted, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to post about the finale of Chopping Block or not. After learning that the series will return on June 19th I decided to wait so as not to spoil it for anyone. In the meantime, I wanted to continue my adventures in blogging and realized it was only natural to blog about food and cooking. In the interest of expanding the site, I will be posting as much as I can about cooking, seasonal produce, new trends and anything else culinary!

Today’s topic: Summer Produce

Although my favorite season is Autumn, I can’t help but get excited at the idea of all the wonderful produce headed my way in the warm months to follow! Recently I took a trip to rehoboth and stopped at several markets on the way back. We picked up several different items, mostly sweet corn and tomatoes, however I was most surprised by a basket of tiny orange gems known as nectarines! I was really craving peaches, but the ones available were small and still a little shy of any aroma or color. (You can almost smell perfect peaches a mile away!) Somewhat disappointed, I continued to walk the muddy aisles of the outdoor market, when suddenly my nose embraced the gentle perfume of plump and juicy nectarines. I sniffed one closer and it might as well have been a yankee candle! I grabbed a small basket and happily bought it without even knowing the price. Moments later, my boyfriend Dan and I were standing on the side of the road in rural delaware with the juice of the most delicious nectarines dripping down our arms! When we got home, we grilled up the sweet corn and devoured our bounty! Nothing compares to produce bought directly from the farm! If you don’t go to farmer’s markets, I highly suggest you do! Not only are the selections fresher and tastier, but also usually cheaper than what you find at the grocery market because you’re not paying for transportation or any of the other overhead that comes with standard grocers. My only real advice is to bring your own reusable  bag!

Earlier today I took a short drive to Eden Center, a Vietnamese market near my house in Falls Church, VA. I’ve been feeling a little sick and wanted to make Tom Kha Ga, a sweet and spicy coconut and chicken soup. So I visited the exotic market cause I needed lemongrass and galangal, which I can find at Harris Teeter (my favorite regular grocer) however it is 3x more expensive there than at ethnic markets. (I always tell people who are interested in global cuisine to shop at ethnic grocers. They are usually much cheaper and have a wider variety. For example 2 stalks of lemongrass are about $4 at Harris Teeter, or I can get 3 stalks for $1 at the Vietnamese market. Spices are also great to buy at ethnic markets! I buy them whole and grind them as I need them!) Anyways, while I was shopping I happened to come across my favorite summer fruit…the elusive Lychee. Also spelled Litchi, they are small fruits with a tough red skin and a white edible portion and a shiny black seed in the center. They are easy to peel when ripe and I prefer to just eat them plain, although I often make Litchi sorbet towards the end of their season. The flavor is difficult to describe to litchi virgins, the texture is similar to a grape but the flavor is sweet and a cross between rosewater and subtle melon. (The ones I got had undertones of basil or gin…a very unique bunch!) Canned lychees are more easy to find, but pale in comparison to the fresh fruit. If you are lucky enough to find them, I encourage you to buy a few! They are a flavor that you may not instantly understand, but over time you may grow to appreciate. Everyone who I know that likes litchis gets almost as excited as I do in the early summer months! 

I still haven’t figured out how to include pictures in my blogs, so in the meantime, if you’d like to learn more check out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litchi

Also, I’m putting together recipes to include in the website so keep an eye out for those!

Thanks for reading,

MIkey