Eating

It's all in the tea. Smoky lapsang souchong. And sweet, aromatic ginger-liquorice tea. For big, deep, smoky flavor with a little sweet spice. Like an invisible, zero-calorie barbecue sauce. Whether you grill over a fire or on the stovetop.

Dessert for a lazy, late summer cookout. A no-labor day dessert. As satisfying as a pie right out of the oven. Without making a pie. Hot. Sweet. Just slightly smoky. A little crumbly. Like a great pie once it's in your mouth. Where it counts.

Sweet, soft, smoky eggplant slices. Wrapped around tart, salty feta cheese spiked with aromatic oregano. Brightened with a little fresh lemon juice. Best hand-held dish of the month. If you can slice eggplant and mash cheese, it's in your mouth in less than 20 minutes.

I had to think for a while about this zebra eggplant. How to eat the delicious inside without destroying the dramatically beautiful outside? Here's how you make an addictive Eggplant-Garlic Salad and serve it in its own skin.

Add aromatic, herbaceous fennel to sweet, fresh cabbage for the season's best cole slaw. They're both in abundant supply. And at their seasonal peak flavors and low prices. Light, bright, crunchy and intensely flavorful. Get to your Farmers Market for the best stuff.

Fresh sweet corn. Nutty, toothsome farro. Earthy, supple shiitake mushrooms. All those flavors and textures make a party in your mouth. And a complete, satisfying, beautiful and aromatic meal.

Not spaghetti squash. Lasagna squash. Because Summer squash is everywhere. Totally ripe, totally fresh. Really cheap. Quick and easy to make in advance or just in time. A meal in a single pan. Tastes great hot or cold.

When you can get eggplant, peppers, squash, fennel, scallions and tomatoes in one week's CSA farm share or trip to the Farmers Market, it's time to make ratatouille again. Make a huge pot to refrigerate and enjoy cold for the rest of the week.

That was me. Could be you. That's what happens to us at a Farmers Market in mid-summer. Much too much to choose from. Gotta get a little bit of everything. Here are the Top Ten Ways to enjoy it all.