The August heat has us hopeful for some cool relief in September. September celebrates many culinary treats, such as apples, chicken, biscuits, potatoes, rice, honey and my favorite bourbon. I hope you have taken advantage of the variety of fruits and vegetables available at our local farmers market, your produce box from the Farm to Table Co-op, or growing your own.

One of my best memories as a child was when I would get to go to my Uncle Lew and Aunt Janie’s house for a week during the summer. First of all, my uncle loved to fish, and we would go everyday to a pond near the house. Secondly, he would have a freezer full of ice cream I could eat. Third was the garden that my Aunt Janie had and grew the most wonderful things that she either fried, sautéed or just cooked in a bunch of butter or bacon fat. She loved to cook for us, and we always had a table full of food. I sometimes wonder if she would cook differently now. I am sure all those veggies would have tasted just as good grilled or roasted with just a bit of olive oil and been much better for all of us.

Across North Carolina, a lot of vegetables and fruit will be coming to the markets, such as apples, grapes, figs, and greens of all types. These are good for you, taste wonderful and add much needed fiber, iron and vitamins to your diet.

This month I had the opportunity to visit Richard and Iris Johnson, local beekeepers in West End. Even though I am a bit allergic to bees, it was quite an experience for me. Learning about how delicate the bees are and the many threats they face was amazing. The Johnsons explained the process as we observed their four hives. The best part of the visit was getting to sample the honey. Honey is a natural emulsifier, so it is great to use in Vinaigrettes. It is a natural sweetener that pairs well with many foods like salads, fruit, grains, yogurt, chicken, pork and fish. Also keep in mind that local honey is great for allergies. Hope you keep eating healthy and keep eating local.

Honey Vinaigrette

3 Tbs of honey, juice of one lime, pinch of minced ginger, 1tsp. finely chopped mint

Whisk all ingredients together and pour over a mixture of your favorite fruits.