Roast Peaches with Rosemary

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Halve apeach and place in a baking dish. Drizzle with honey, sprinkle with salt, and put a sprig of rosemary where the pit used to be. Bake until as tender as desired- 10 to 30 minutes. (C prefers that his peaches be either barely warm or baked into submission. He accepts nothing intermediate.)

Serves two. I'd suggest adding some Rice Dream, or ice cream, or even my unhealthy obsession of the summer: pouring custard.

Corn and Peach Salsa

It is the best salsa. If you make it without hot peppers, it is also very popular with small children.

Dice one onion, one jalapeño pepper and two ripe peaches. Slice the kernels off of two ears of corn. (There is discussion over whether it is better to cook the corn first. Since I am the one chopping interminably, I go for raw.) Add the juice of two limes and some salt. Stir. Serve.

Peach Onion stir fry

We have too many peaches.

Cut one sweet onion into slices. Saute over medium heat in a little bit of oil until somewhat brown. Add two sliced peaches and cook, stirring, until peaches are tender. Serve over brown rice.

Greens with bacon stir fry

Our farmer's market is right next to a Ranch 99 superstore- which means we have a greater variety of produce, more reasonable prices, and the actual ability to buy all of the produce that one will eat in a week. I love multiculturalism and the long-term consequences of poorly conceived wars.

There are usually three to seven types of greens for sale- huge two hand bunches for a dollar. I'm terribly unclear on the names (and occasionally the families) but I tend to prepare them all the same way:

Chop one slice of fatty bacon into small bits. Fry on medium-high heat until crispy. Add one bunch chopped greens and stir until greens are tender. Serve.

Sometimes I fry a little onion or garlic with the bacon. Real vegans could just do that and add some oil. I sometimes garnish with lemon juice, chili paste, green onions, or cilantro.

As a pro tip- Ipomoea aquatica is absurdly tasty, the stems of bitter melon and chayote are not.

What I eat when I eat alone:deconstructed tomato sandwich

Toast about six inches of good baguette or other good bread. Scrape outside with one clove garlic, sliced in two. Tear open bread, and fill to overflowing with chopped really good tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil. Add salt and pepper. Eat. (If I make it right, I have to use a knife and fork. "Drizzle" is usually "drown".)

Green bean and okra stir fry

I might be allergic to okra but it is so delightful I continue to eat it. (I suspect inulin.) Down in this giant city thing, the only places to buy okra are those famed inner city convenience stores and farmer's markets catering to Asians. I serve this as a side dish to the Annapurna dal.

Heat 1 tbs oil on high heat and add 1 tsp. mustard seeds. Stir until seeds start to pop. Add 1/2 pound okra, 1 chopped serrano chile, and 1/4 pound green beans, broken into pieces. Cook, stirring frequently, until okra is tender and beans are bright green.

Sprinkle with salt and cumin. Serve.

Tomato Cucumber Indian Salad

I've been making the Annapurna dal a lot this summer, but I've been using quick cooking mung beans and throwing them into the rice cooker. Since sludge is our goal, it's great to not have to worry about burning. This is one of the side dishes I favor.

Slice three or four good tomatoes and a couple of pickling cucumbers. Sprinkle with cumin and salt. Stir and serve.

Few ingredients, an entire dinner that doesn't require a stove- life in summer is pretty good.