IMK August 2025

Take a peek at what's been going on IN MY KITCEN- I'm joining Sherry and other bloggers at Sherry's Picking for the monthly IN MY KITCHEN share. Why not follow the link join us? 

Summer’s Bounty & a Breath of Fresh Air

Summer is in full swing, and it shows in the abundance of fresh produce everywhere. After a big storm rolled through last night, the weather has taken a dramatic turn. This morning greeted us with a crisp 64 degrees, and we’re only expecting highs in the 70s—a refreshing change from the sweltering 100-degree heat just two days ago.

Zucchini from my son's garden. 

This delicious jar of za'atar is from the Museum for Tolerance in California.  They sell Middle Eastern products in their gift shop. Do you use za'atar? It's a spice from middle eastern cultures that has become popular in the United States in recent years.  We love sprinkling za'atar on sliced tomatoes. Here is one of my recipes using za'atar on crunchy baked (GF) tortilla chips  with za'atar for an appetizer! 

za'atar, a blend of spices, is usually gluten free-
but some brands add roasted wheat.. You must read the ingredients to be sure. 

Cabbage, Soup, and a Pleasant Surprise

My son gifted me a beautiful whole green cabbage (oy- more cooking), so I decided to make a hearty cabbage sauerkraut soup. Despite the summer heat, both my husband and I really enjoyed it—comforting, tangy, and full of flavor. The next day, I ate the leftover soup cold, and to my surprise, it was tasty chilled!

Canasta At My House

I hosted our weekly canasta game one afternoon at my place—just four of us women. We played around ny kitchen table. I set out a few light snacks including a large bowl of fresh red grapes that I added after snapping the photo. No one seems to be snacking much anymore, and they travel with their own water bottle-so as usual, everything was left over- but you still have to offer!!! (I ended up putting it all away).

We are enjoying salad since the weather has been HOT and HUMID!! I like salads with or without lettuce such as the one below with hearts of palm, avocado, red pepper and black beans with the traditional cucumber and tomato and red onion.

Garden-Grown Oregano 

Last season, my son planted a small oregano plant in his garden. This year it came back bigger and stronger than ever. I harvested a generous bunch and set it aside to dry for use in the fall and winter months. After a simple rinse, I laid the sprigs out on a screen to air dry. Once fully dried (about 3 days), I’ll strip the leaves from the stems, crumble them by hand, and store the fragrant oregano in a jar—perfect for soups, sauces, and entrees later in the year.

Hydrangeas from my yard. 

They were light blue last year from the same bush, and this year a beautiful bright pink???

A Trip Down Memory Lane in the Catskill Mountains in Pennsylvania. 

I recently came across a book (that my friend Sharon shared) based on the era when the Catskill Mountains was a popular vacation scene. It brought back so many memories. As a teenager growing up in New Jersey, my parents and I would spend a week each summer getting out of the heat at a hotel in the Catskill Mountains. 

Last week, we took that 2 and half hour drive to visit my grandson at his sleep away camp ( on visiting day) which is in the Pennsylvaia Mountains. It was my first time back there in many many years, and it felt like stepping into a time capsule.

I remember hotels such as Brown’s, Stevensville, Concord or Kutsher’s—classic all-inclusive resorts nestled in the beautiful mountains and  filled with activities, amazing food, and top name entertainment. In fact, many comedians got their start in the Catskills such as Jerry Lewis, Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, Woody Allen, Billy Crystal, Joan Rivers, etc. These types of mountain resort hotels have now faded in the Catskills, replaced by cruise ships and other modern vacation trends.

Did anyone else vacation at those Catskill resorts? I'd love to hear your memories!

Summer fresh green beans from my friend's garden. 

This is a tasty green bean and almond salad. 

My friend Vicki gave me 2 cucumbers from a mutual friend's garden. Cucumber salad is always one of my favorites in the summer.

We have been enjoying summer cherries which have been sweet and delicious from the markets ( although expensive)