Here are five effortless techniques or easy recipes to make the season last and last and last.
2. Infuse sugars, too: Savory isn’t the only way to go with summer’s fresh herbs. Sugar is invaluable in a baker’s kitchen or a mixologist’s bar, especially when it has a special herby twist. Infuse sugar much the same way you do with salt, and don’t stop with herbs. Add dried organic rose petals, culinary lavender, and even citrus rind (remove using a zester being careful to avoid the white pith) to take a sugar to the next level. Whichever way you go, be sure to grind the sugary mix to the right consistency for the intended use. Grind a lime sugar that’s meant to go into a cookie batter, or leave the cane sugar as is if rimming sweet cocktails. To get started, try this Rose Sugar sprinkled over a cream-cheese frosted cake or as a floral rim to a gin cocktail.
4. Quick pickle all that produce: Pickling employs just a bit of vinegar, spices, herbs, and a great imagination to conjure up winning spice-vegetable combinations. Cucumber pickles are a staple, but try some new things, too, like these Pickled Radishes or snap peas for a tart crunch that tastes like early summer. They also make great gifts; make a huge batch of zucchini pickles and slide them into any lovely jar with a thoughtful note for those who need a bit of sunshine on a cloudy day. By the way, don’t stop at vegetables; pickling fruits is a trend that’s sticking around. Try these Pickled Cherries, for instance, and elevate a ho-hum salad all through the cooler months.
5. Steep spirits and infuse cordials: Long after the heat is gone, summer fruit can stick around in all sorts of stewed spirits. Simply mix together your favorite ripe fruit, a little sugar (honey or maple syrup work, too), and a choice spirit. Stir and then sit back and wait days, weeks, or months for it to infuse into something toast-worthy. My Rhubarb Cordial, for instance, only takes three ingredients to make something pretty and pretty special. Cherry Liqueur, on the other hand, requires a few more ingredients, with its bouquet of spices and two different spirits, but no more work, and it’s sure to have you raising a glass to the sweetness of summer all year long.
