June 21, 2014: 7:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Summer Solstice, from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), the so-called longest day of the year. It’s the time to celebrate the sun and summertime and all that it offers: sticky, prodigious watermelons, velvety stone fruit, resolute zucchinis and bold, Rabelaisian tomatoes. Fireflies and fireworks and fire escapes. The opportunity to wear white linen shirts and buy too many ears of corn at the farmers market, or sit back and reap the rewards for your labors in the garden (resolute zucchinis indeed). This is the time of radiance and extroversion and plentitude. Don’t sit it out!

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Recipe: Mini Summer Berry Pavlovas with Strawberry Sauce

Happy weekend, y’all! What’s cooking? I’m traveling on an international flight tomorrow, feeling very glad for Emily’s tip about bringing bags, as I have some French vinegar and other treats to stash in my suitcase. Are you traveling? Or happily ensconced at home? What are your cooking plans? We’d love to hear all about them! Also, just in case you missed them, check out these fun posts from the past week.

• Salad on a stick.
• Now I’m craving sashimi!
• Beautiful bowls.
• I would totally wear this hat to the beach.
• Ten ways to use up leftover egg whites.

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Q: Many years ago, I think in the early 90s, I made jam using nectarines that I cut up and set in the sun for a couple of hours. It was probably the easiest and best jam ever. Now I can’t find the recipe/source and I tried Google, nothing. Can you help??

Sent by Earlene

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One of my favorite ways to take in local culture when I travel is through food, both by sampling local cuisine and cooking. I make a point to buy from local shops and markets, and try to stay away from larger stores that cater to tourists. Not only do you stand to find more interesting items at local stores, it may also be less expensive and above all it makes for a fun experience.

It’s great to research local markets and stores before traveling, but really, the best advice always comes from locals — talk to your taxi driver, a waiter, tour guide, or even a cashier at the grocery store.

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Here’s the last installment of the DIY wedding reception series I’ve been sharing with you this week (you can see all the posts here). Shopping for a big event like a wedding reception is not like a normal grocery run, and there are a few tips I’ve picked up to make it a little easier. These tips can be helpful for a range of parties, too — whether you’re cooking for 50 at a graduation barbecue, or 200 at a wedding reception.

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From Apartment Therapy → 10 LED Under-Cabinet Lights

“For under-cabinet lights, fluorescent, halogen and xenon are all popular choices, but if you are looking to go the energy saving route, check out these LED options below:”

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The angle: A mash-up of multicultural recipes, pen pal letters, and stories from students at Ypsilanti Community High School and Adams STEM Academy. (Proceeds benefit 826michigan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students with their writing skills.)

Recipes for right now: Tart Cherry Crumble, Tajadas con Pollo, Cantaloupe Creamsicle, No-Bake Yogurt Cake, Falafel, Cheese and Loroco Pupusas

Who would enjoy this book? High schoolers, teachers, culinary-minded fans of Found Magazine

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Ten good reads from around the food web this week.

• Math tackles a very big question: What’s the best way to slice a cake?— Faith
• PSA You can make a GIANT pancake in your rice cooker. — Ariel
• Looking to invest in a blender for juicing? Check out this review comparing two popular, powerful ones. — Christine
• Why smart people fall for diet scams. — Cambria
• Here’s the right way to get all the air out of your ziploc bag. — Ariel

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Q: What’s your question? I’ve just been prescribed a high-fiber diet. I’ve already started featuring lots of apples, whole grains, and all-bran cereal in my meals, but I’d like to find some high-fiber recipes that taste good enough for me to feed to guests/roommates.

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The angle: Classic Chinese dishes from the ladies behind Manchester, UK’s award-winning Sweet Mandarin restaurant.

Recipes for right now: Coconut Shrimp, Lettuce Wraps with Chicken, Aromatic Crispy Duck, Sweet Mandarin Barbecue Ribs, Spicy Double-Cooked Pork with Leeks, Salmon with Sweet Soy, Mapo Tofu, Beef Hor Fun Noodles

Who would enjoy this book? Chinese take-out addicts

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