August is that magical time when summer evenings beckon us onto the deck, and the little vegetable garden becomes a true oasis of peace and joy. It’s the perfect month to enjoy the harvests ripening before our very eyes and to gather fresh vegetables straight from the beds. Each day brings new ripe tomatoes, juicy peppers, and crunchy cucumbers that find their way onto our plates in the form of delicious salads and side dishes – a real feast for the senses!
There’s something special about evening harvests that make the daily work in the garden a genuine pleasure. Together with my better half, we celebrate these moments, transforming them into flavorful meals that we happily devour at our table.
Our green beans have produced pods for the third time this summer, but there are no new flowers, so this week I’m also planning a big harvest and, in the process, removing all 120 plants! It’s going to be a long, hard-working day!
I hope your August is also full of gardening adventures and joyful moments. If you have your own gardens, even tiny ones, I wish you abundant harvests and many delicious meals from your own vegetables!
And speaking of evenings on the deck, it’s impossible not to mention toast, which is the perfect addition to these warm nights. Fresh tomatoes from the garden are perfect for this role. Here is a recipe for delicious toast, straight from my wife’s notebook. It will surely make your summer evenings more enjoyable:
Cheese, ham, and tomato toasties:
- 4 slices of bread for toasting
- Butter
- 2 slices of yellow cheese
- 2 slices of ham
- 1 large, ripe tomato, sliced
Preparation:
- Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- On the unbuttered side, place a slice of cheese, then a slice of ham, and finally the tomato slices.
- Cover with the second slice of bread, buttered side facing out.
- Place the toasties in a sandwich toaster or on a preheated pan and cook until the bread is golden, and the cheese has melted.
- Serve warm, preferably with a view of a beautiful garden!
See you soon, my dear gardeners! Let’s enjoy August’s gifts from nature and savor the taste of summer!