Category: Summer

Slow Summer Sipping: Fine Aged Rums That Deserve More Than a Cocktail

Any old rum might be fine for a fruity summer cocktail, but some rums are like fine whiskey: You really want to think twice about mixing them. Such sipping rums are aged and often blended from rums aged for different lengths of time or in different conditions, taking on great character. Use a snifter, let…


Local Scoops

Tiny but mighty: New Mexico piñon nuts are intensely packed with flavor. My sister, Kristin, and I grin with appreciation as we sample the piñon ice cream at Katrina’s, a bright, compact little sweets bistro in downtown Albuquerque. The confection not only genuinely tastes like the pine nuts—a subtly sweet butteriness—but it also carries hints…


Local Scoops: Ice Cream With a Sense of Place

Tiny but mighty: New Mexico piñon nuts are intensely packed with flavor. My sister, Kristin, and I grin with appreciation as we sample the piñon ice cream at Katrina’s, a bright, compact little sweets bistro in downtown Albuquerque. The confection not only genuinely tastes like the pine nuts—a subtly sweet butteriness—but it also carries hints…


Cool Beans: How to Use These Cheap and Delicious Nutritional Powerhouses in Summer Dishes

When your grocery budget is tight, there are always two things you can count on: beans and rice. These stalwart champions of tiny grocery budgets are affordable, accessible, and nutritious. Beans make a versatile ingredient that can stretch a pound of ground beef into a pot of chili that feeds a crowd. Add a little cheese…


Chickpea Salad

The perfect make-ahead summer recipe, this chickpea salad comes together in the blink of an eye. Just add everything to a mixing bowl and stir. If you’re feeling adventurous, consider adding diced bell peppers and chopped cucumbers to the salad as well. I recommend using gochugaru in the recipe. It’s a Korean chile powder with…


Marinated Beans

The sharp bite of red wine vinegar gives balance to the earthy flavor of beans. Shallots, green onions, and fresh herbs bring a punch of brightness to this simple dish. If you prefer to cook your own beans, substitute 3/4 cup dried kidney beans, soak them overnight in warm water with a pinch of baking…


Water Shortages Growing as England and Wales Head for a Second Heatwave

Parts of England and Wales are facing a second heatwave later this week amid raising concerns about water shortages caused by this summer’s drought. Last month temperatures exceeded 40C (104F) for the first time on record and, while the weather will not be as hot, the Met Office has put out an amber warning for…


Water Shortages Growing as England and Wales Head for Second Heatwave

Parts of England and Wales are facing a second heatwave later this week amid raising concerns about water shortages caused by this summer’s drought. Last month, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time on record and, while the weather won’t be as hot, the Met Office has put out an…


Easier Than Pie: How to Make a Rustic, Fuss-Free, Summer Fruit Galette

Every bit as delicious as a pie, but requiring half the work, a galette is the perfect summer bake. This rustic fruit tart doesn’t require much time to assemble. There’s no meticulous trimming, blind-baking, or lattice-making—nor even a pie dish involved. It’s laid-back, forgiving, and endlessly riffable, using whatever fruits you like or have on…


Going on Summer Vacation? Pack Good Manners Along With the Sunscreen

Kick back, relax, and unwind this summer; you’ve earned it. Going casual, however, doesn’t mean you should relax your standards of gracious etiquette—even if you’re vacationing close to home due to today’s high cost of travel. Balmy Beaches What’s summer without time spent at the beach? Unfortunately, unless you’re on an exotic island, a thousand…