Although I have several basil plants growing in my garden and in various pots on my back porch, I bought home a huge bunch from the farmers market the other day. Even in that open air, cacophonous market atmosphere, the intense smell of this basil hit me from 6 feet away and stopped me in my tracks. Vigorous and spicy, its leaves were thick and hardy, almost leather-like. This was field basil, grown in the intense heat of California’s Capay Valley where it was pulled up by its roots, bound into large messy bunches and stuffed into pails of water for market day. I wanted to bring home an armload but I stopped myself at just one bunch. It now sits in a vase in the middle of my kitchen table, its feisty presence a reminder of the intense, fleeting nature of life. Pay attention! it demands. And I do.

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4.52 / 5 Stars | 208 Reviews

by HOOLIE

“This is a gourmet, unique way to serve this fantastic summer fruit! The balsamic vinegar brings out the berries’ beautiful color and truly enhances their flavor. Great served with a simple pound cake, over vanilla ice cream, or simply by themselves.”

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Happy Saturday, folks! Is it super hot where you are? If you’re staying inside today to beat the heat, catch up on all the posts that had readers talking this week, including how to avoid bitter green juices, a crucial step for better grain salads, week one voting for Small Cool Kitchens, and 10 glorious salads to celebrate tomatoes and corn. Enjoy!

15. On Why I’ve Written 250 Weekend Meditations (So Far)
14. Lighten Up Your Favorite Summer Salads with Just One Ingredient
13. Recipe: Soba, Sesame, and Carrot Salad
12. Retro Recipe: Crunchy Cabbage & Ramen Noodle Salad
11. The Best Way to Eat a Salad? With a Pair of Chopsticks
10. Avoid Bitter Green Juices with Just One Simple Ingredient

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4.48 / 5 Stars | 49 Reviews

by JJHOME

“A simple but tasty chili recipe using ground elk meat as the base. Best served with Mexican style cornbread.”

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 Recipe: Soba, Sesame and Carrot Salad

Happy weekend, readers! What are your plans for staying cool and eating well this weekend? We hope we’ve inspired you to try a new salad (or two)! Tell us what’s cooking in your kitchen this weekend — we’d love to hear all about it. 

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We’ve been all about salads this week —  the only way we can deal with dinner once the temperature starts to climb! Happily, tomatoes, corn, green beans, and all sorts of other vegetables are at their peak right now so a good dinner salad is only minutes away. We have salad rolls with shrimp and creamy avocado, a cool soba noodle salad, a summery succotash that will make your mouth water, and many more salad-tastic ideas. Plus, see how to pack a perfect salad in a jar for easy lunches and how to make the world’s best croutons. Pour yourself a negroni and peruse your dinner options right here.

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Q: A few years ago I fell in love with a grain salad from my local Whole Foods. It had wheat berries (I think?), feta, kalamata olives, and tomatoes. I have recently moved cities and my Whole Foods does not make the salad. Does anyone have a copycat recipe for this salad?

Sent by Melissa

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Like this Small Cool Kitchens 2013 contest entry? Favorite it below!

Name:

Arpita

Location:

Brooklyn, NY

Square Feet:

67

Division:

Own

What makes your small kitchen so cool:

I grew up in Los Angeles and live in Brooklyn now. My kitchen has gorgeous Spanish Colonial tiles that remind me of California, but it also works with the space limitations of a NY apartment, incorporating floor to ceiling cabinets and compact appliances. The result is a mix of East Coast and West Coast, and I love it!

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One of my lunchtime favorites is the wrap: it a great way to mix up your salad routine and it makes a delicious and portable lunch!

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We’ve been eating mature shungiku, or chrysanthemum leaves, for years but just recently we tried the tender young microgreens and they’re delightful! Have you had these? 

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