Cool, crisp cucumbers are one of the simplest pleasures of summer, especially when they’re tucked into a creamy herb-filled sandwich for lunch on a warm afternoon. This cucumber salad sandwich combines the freshness of cucumber with tangy feta, lemon, and soft herbs for a light but satisfying meal that feels equally at home at a...Read More

Few things capture the feeling of summer quite like an ice-cold agua fresca made with perfectly ripe watermelon. This refreshing watermelon-cucumber version is light, cooling, and wonderfully hydrating, with fresh lime adding brightness and cucumber bringing a subtle garden-fresh flavor. Popular throughout Mexico and the Southwest, agua frescas are simple fruit-based drinks designed for hot...Read More

There’s something especially refreshing about the combination of crisp cucumber and ripe kiwi during the warmer months. This bright green relish is sweet, tangy, and just a little spicy from fresh jalapeño — a lively topping that feels equally at home beside grilled seafood, summer vegetables, or tucked into a backyard cookout spread. Unlike traditional...Read More

There may be no vegetable more refreshing than a cucumber on a warm California day. Crisp, cooling, and incredibly versatile, cucumbers have been cultivated for thousands of years and remain one of the most beloved staples of summer kitchens and farmers markets alike. Though often treated like a vegetable, cucumbers are technically a fruit —...Read More

These Buttery Apricot Crumble Bars are a sunny twist on classic shortbread—perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, or an afternoon treat with tea. Dried sweet-tart apricots are slowly simmered into a fragrant filling, then layered between buttery shortbread and finished with a golden crumble topping. The result is a bar that’s rich yet refreshing, with a...Read More

There’s something almost magical about apricot season. Brief and intensely anticipated, apricots arrive at the farmers market like little bursts of summer sunshine — fragrant, delicate, and impossibly juicy when perfectly ripe. California has long been famous for its apricots, with orchards once stretching across much of the Santa Clara Valley and Central Coast. Today,...Read More

Glossy, dramatic, and endlessly versatile, eggplant may be one of the most misunderstood treasures of the summer farmers market. Known in Europe as aubergine, this member of the nightshade family shares its botanical roots with tomatoes and potatoes — though technically, it’s a fruit rather than a vegetable. Eggplant also carries a surprisingly colorful history....Read More

There may be no fruit more closely associated with spring in California than the strawberry. Sweet, fragrant, and intensely seasonal, strawberries arrive at the farmers market just as the days begin to warm and the first signs of summer appear. What many people don’t realize is that the modern strawberry is actually a relatively recent...Read More

Once your ginger bug is active and bubbling, the real fun begins. This lively starter becomes the foundation for a wide range of naturally carbonated drinks—simple juices transformed into bright, effervescent sodas with just a little time and patience. The process is beautifully adaptable. You can work with whatever is in season—fresh berries, citrus, stone...Read More

There’s something quietly magical about a ginger bug. With just fresh ginger, sugar, and water, you can cultivate a living starter that transforms simple juices and herbal infusions into lively, effervescent drinks. It’s an old-fashioned method—part kitchen craft, part science experiment—and once you have one going, nearly any flavor you love can become a naturally...Read More