What's In Season: Peaches

Is there anything more intoxicating than a ripe peach? The scent alone is sensory overload. And that's before you bite into the tangy, sweet flesh, letting the juices dribble down your chin (there's just no ladylike way to properly enjoy a peach). Since last week I've been keeping a bowl of them on my kitchen table. And I'll probably keep that bowl full right up until this delicious part of summer ends. Peaches are in season late July through early August. So go fill up your fruit bowl now!

Pairs well with:

• Raspberries, blueberries and blackberries
• Herbs, such as basil, thyme, lavender and cilantro
• Bourbon
• Honey
• Vanilla

What to make/eat:

1. A classic lattice-top peach pie

2. A rustic cobbler. Try adding blackberries or blueberries into the mix.

3. Cut peaches in half, sprinkle with turbinado sugar and grill. Drizzle with honey, and top with ice cream or mascarpone.

4. Make an old school Peach Melba: simmer halved peaches in water, sugar and a split vanilla bean. Serve the poached peaches with vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce (blend fresh raspberries with sugar and a bit of lemon juice).

5. For a spin on raw peaches, slice and then macerate with the finely chopped herb of your choice.

How to Beat a Heat Wave

It seems like just yesterday I was fantasizing about summer. Well, the wait is over! It's as hot as it's ever going to be. In a few days I leave Scandinavia behind, where it has been perfectly cool and lovely...to come home to New York, where it's blazing hot. Ugh. I really don't think I'm ready for the city heat.

But...my plan to beat this year's summer heat wave is with ice cream. Or gelato. Or sorbet. Or granita (with a little booze mixed in for a fun slush!). You get the idea. Just like me, I suggest you eat lots of it this summer, too.

What's your favorite hot weather treat? I'm always looking for new ideas (and excuses to eat sweets!).

Baking with Herbs

Summer is not just ideal for baking with fruit, it's the perfect time to experiment with fresh herbs. Visit any farmer's market and you'll see the selection is bountiful–and cheap! I love using herbs in my desserts–they are the perfect floral or spicy counterpart to something sweet. Run your hand through the woody stalks of a rosemary plant, pinch a plump basil leaf between your fingers. Let the unique fragrance of each herb open your mind to the creative possibilities!

Some pairings to get you started:

Basil: apricots, blueberries, citrus, honey, nectarines, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, vanilla, watermelon
Lavender: almonds, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, citrus, honey, peaches, pistachios, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, vanilla, walnuts
Mint: blackberries, chocolate, citrus, mango, raspberries, strawberries
Rosemary: apricots, citrus, figs, grapefruit, honey
Sage: blueberries, cherries, citrus, pears, pumpkin, walnuts

Some ideas to get you started:

• Macerate blackberries with fresh mint
• Steep whipping cream with dried lavender
• Infuse cherry compote with sage
• Roast apricots with rosemary and honey
• Grind dried lavender with sugar
• Top your strawberry shortcake with thinly sliced basil

What's your favorite herb? What dessert does it inspire you to make?

Pie Season

Are you ready for pie season? Because it's just around the corner.... Yes, I love autumn pies–apple, pumpkin, and pear. But really, I'm obsessed with spring and summer fruit pies. The minute strawberries and rhubarb start hitting the farmer's market, I know that cherries, blackberries, and raspberries aren't far behind. And don't get me started on stone fruit!

Because the seasons can be short for each fruit, it's good to know when to get your bake on. Here's a sense of what's in season and when:

May/June- Rhubarb, strawberries, cherries
June/July- Apricots, plums, blueberries
July/August- Blackberries, raspberries, peaches, nectarines

Until my cookbook arrives on book shop shelves, here are some of my favorite pie and tart cookbooks to get you inspired (most of which are recommended by Junita at Stack of Cookbooks):

Dreaming of Summer Desserts

Winter has finally arrived in New York. Sure, it's a few months late, but that doesn't make it any less painful. On cold and bitter days like today, I can't help but fantasize about summer. And of course my thoughts lead to food! Here's an image from a BBQ I was at on the North Fork of Long Island. Freshly picked raspberries, coconut layer cake, and a cherry pie... a smorgasbord of summer pleasures. Memories of this festive party, and these classic summer desserts, are almost enough to warm me up.

How are you surviving the winter? Are you dreaming of your favorite summer standbys or are you embracing the cold?