I’ve made April Bloomfield’s Skirt Steak Salad twice recently and man, it’s a sure shot. I couldn’t find watercress so I used cilantro and mint instead. Here’s the recipe. And dig this demonstration.

Nicole Franzen’s summer pasta.

[Photo Credit: Alice Gao]

Serious Eats tries Nigel Slater’s recipe for a salad of summer leaves, cured pork and cherries.

Food52 gets the grill ready for Labor Day.

Drool.

David Lebovitz’s pickled peppers.

Serious Eats gives us Pearl Sugar Brioche Buns.

[Photo Credit: Carrie Vasios]

I preferred James and the Giant Peach to Roald Dahl’s Willie Wonka books when I was a kid. There is a scene when James climbs through a tunnel in the peach and grabs a handful of the fruit off the walls. That always sounded like such wonderful thing.

While we’re at it, here’s a Food & Wine recipe for peach pie.

[Illustration by Nancy Ekholm Burkett]

This morning at the  Rockerfeller Center farmer’s market.

More peach recipes from Saveur. 

Eat a Peach Week continues with this bit of loveliness from Manager.

David Lebobitz gives us peach shortcake.

Now, here’s a meal. From the most beautiful site: Manger.

Smitten Kitchen gives us charred pepper steak sauce. Oh, sure, that’ll do.

Serious Eats vs. Food52: Are you kidding me?

Buttermilk French Toast from house to haus.

Indeed.

My cousin makes a wonderful corn soup. I tried it for the first time over the weekend and it was a smash hit. So here’s a recipe that is a sure shot. It’s rich and silky without having cream or anything fattening. Plus, it’s not difficult to make. Alls it takes is a little patience to strain the soup at the end.

What’s in it:

8 ears of corn

1 yellow onion

3 stalks of celery

1 large carrot

Red Chili Flakes (optional)

Salt/Pepper

Star Anise

Cinnamon Stick

First:  Make a corn stock out of the corn cobs (slice off the kernels off 8 corn cobs first and reserve them). Cover corn cobs in water by 2-3 inches. Add salt and pepper, a sachet with 2p star anise, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, bring to boil and then reduce to simmer and cook (at a simmer) for 2 hours. Cook uncovered. When you are finished, remove cobs and discard the sachet.

Second:  In a separate pot, on medium to high heat, saute the onion, carrot and celery in a small amount of butter (1-2 tablespoons) or oil (also 1-2 table spoons…Olive oil is fine though you could use a neutral oil as well). Add some red chili flakes if you’d like but I’d be careful not to add too much. (If you like it spicy add more to your bowl when serving.) When the vegetables are semi-soft (maybe 5-8 minutes), add the kernels. Cook together until soft. I’d say about another 15 minutes, medium heat. You can add a little of the stock, 1/4 cup at a time, and cover the vegetables to speed up the cooking time.

Third:  Set the vegetables aside. When they stock is ready, combine the vegetables with the stock in a blender. You may want to wait until both cool down so you don’t burn yourself but that’s not necessary. Blend the vegetables and stock in batches until smooth, adding more stock if it is too thick.

Fourth:  When you have finished this step, strain the soup through a sieve or a mesh strainer. This will ensure the corn kernel husks aren’t in the final product. You don’t have to do this step, and it’s a pain in the ass, but I think it’s worth the effort. Makes a difference for sure.

Finally:  You may reheat the soup, serve it room temperature, or even cold. Add a pinch of finishing salt–preferably Maldon–and a drizzle of olive oil to each bowl once you’ve plated the soup. You can also add some torn basil leaves. Cilantro would work just fine, too.

The key to this soup is using fresh corn–pick it and make the soup the same day if you can–and straining the vegetables at the end.

You’ll knock ’em dead, Sweetie. Count on it.

[Photo Via Seasoned Fork]

Smitten Kitchen gives us peach pie. And I, for one, am not only thankful but hungry.

More summertime goodness from Nicole Franzen: maple and lime roasted peaches.

Nicole Franzen gives us peach blueberry cobbler. Oh, hell yes.

Simple.

From Serious Eats, lemon polenta cookies.

[Photo Credit: Carrie Vasios]

The Wife loves gazpacho. I make it for her all the time. Here’s a good recipe over at Lemon Fire Brigade.