sweet and spicy red pepper jam recipe | writes4food.com

Sweet-spicy red bell pepper jam.

What to do with the crop of red bell peppers from the garden or farmers’ market? Make jam, of course! Sweet and a bit spicy (you can up the spice level to suit your taste), this is the perfect accompaniment to a salty cheese like Manchego. Inspired by a dish we had on vacation earlier this year. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!

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summer vegetable casserole with cheesy breadcrumb topping recipe | writes4food.com

Summer vegetable gratin.

This Summer Vegetable Casserole recipe is the perfect summer-to-fall transition dish, to make while summer produce is still abundant and the weather cools off enough to where you’re OK with the idea of using the oven to make dinner. We love it as a main dish with a sliced tomato salad, but it’s also a great side for grilled chicken or steak. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!

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Caprese salad with homemade ricotta.

If you’re tired of sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella — the classic Caprese salad — try it with freshly made ricotta cheese instead. Homemade ricotta? Absolutely! Super easy and fun. Start with high quality dairy (we love Snowville Creamery products) and let heat and acid work their magic! Get the recipe for homemade ricotta cheese on writes4food.com!

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zucchini and cheddar pizza recipe | writes4food.com

Summery zucchini and cheddar pizza.

In last week’s Cincinnati Enquirer, I shared this recipe for Zucchini and Cheddar Pizza, part of an article on what to do with all. that. zucchini. besides zucchini bread. Sooooo simple: shredded zucchini, shredded cheddar, pizza crust, breadcrumbs + some quality time in a hot oven. Get the recipe on writes4food.com!

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Fun ingredient of the week: figs.

Please pardon a little garden-success boasting here, but you have to see these figs! We’ve discovered how easy and rewarding it is to grow figs: the tree itself is a beautiful accent on the patio, and just last week it exploded with dozens of fat, ripe fruits. Figs, meet your new BFF: prosciutto. Get inspired to try growing a fig, and get a simple recipe for figs and prosciutto!

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recipe for smooth tomato gazpacho | writes4food.com

Creamy tomato gazpacho.

It’s gazpacho time, people! Time to use all those tomatoes, cukes and bell peppers threatening to overtake the yard (or is that just my yard?). Time to toast up some croutons to go on top. Time to not really cook at all, but still feel like you’re eating like royalty. Get my latest gazpacho recipe!

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Awesome summer corn recipes.

Around here, we’re knee-deep in corn season, and these hot days are producing fat, juicy, sweet ears ripe for the picking. I’m a corn-on-the-cob girl all day long, but sometimes I want to enjoy it in different ways, raw or cooked. Here’s a roundup of my favorite corn recipes, just right for summer. Enjoy!

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easy food-processor gazpacho | writes4food.com

Mom’s quick gazpacho.

This stretch of otherworldly hot weather has me craving my mom’s gazpacho: cool, savory, unfussy, utterly satisfying. All I have to do is gather some fresh summer produce and plug in the food processor; it does all the work and the kitchen stays nice and cool. Make this at least a day before you plan to serve it; the flavors really develop over time. Get the recipe for Mom’s Quick Gazpacho!

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homemade spiced cherry tomato jam recipe | writes4food.com

Spiced cherry tomato jam.

You may ask yourself, “tomato jam?” And I say, “yes! Tomato jam!!!” Fantastic with sharp cheddar and chevre on a cheese board. This excellent Spiced Tomato Jam recipe is a gateway to both jam-making and home canning: It yields a small batch, cooked without pectin, that’s easy to manage if you want to give canning a try. (Freezes well, too.) Get the recipe!

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