For those of you who bookmarked this blog to read my take about restaurants about town, please bear with me. I don’t dine out as much at this time of year because  cooking with the abundant fresh produce is too hard to resist.

Summer is a great time to be adventurous in the kitchen (or outside).  Why not bring the flavor of the grill to a conventional Caesar salad? Brush romaine lettuce leaves with olive oil, grill for two minutes (one on each side), plate, drizzle with your favorite Caesar salad dressing and sprinkle with homemade croutons and Parmesan shavings. For a fun appetizer,  don’t chop the leaves– lean them against the side of a bowl and eat with your fingers.

Fruit is great on the grill, too. Peaches, plums, pineapple, and even watermelon all get a bump in flavor from a few minutes above the coals (or gas briquettes). Caramelizing occurs as the sugars from the fruit are released, and the result is scrumptious!  Top with a scoop of  ice cream and you’ve got a light and appealing dessert. It’s impressive enough to serve to friends, but easy enough to make for your family on a week night.