Summer Staples

There are several dishes that are absolutely essential eating in the summertime in the south. One is green beans, another is squash & onions. Last night we had green beans and I confess, not a single item in the dish came from the garden. Everything (except the salt and pepper and chicken bouillon came from the Kings Drive Farmer’s Market.

This is one of those dishes that are better kept simple. The green beans were young, tender and stringless. There was also okra, new potatoes and salt and pepper and chicken bouillon. We use the bouillon instead of bacon in order to avoid high cholesterol. The okra is cut and soaked in a solution of ½ vinegar and ½ salt water for about 30 minutes while the beans are being snapped. The potatoes are quartered to make them cook faster. We don’t cook the beans very long; but some people like them really limp. Cook yours the way you like. Salt and pepper is the only seasoning we use.

Squash and Onions are so easy. Just chop them up and stir fry them. Salt and pepper is all you need here too. Either of these great dishes can be embellished. Either one of them makes a great starter for a vegetable or vegetable beef soup or stew. Another great summer dish is succotash. We will leave that for another day.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/