feel like true midwesterner this month which unusual happy claim this part country home it's generally difficult really connect with lived chicago would feel connection great midwestern city living farm growing food raising chickens would feel like carrying tradition great midwestern occupation instead urbanite with moderate gardening skills living small town named urbana difficult connect this month felt different first this idea that wanted patio side house we've been digging lots dirt about cubic feet which amounts good-sized hill when pile dirt humusy dark rich with organic matter it's kind soil that drew people here farm early it's kind soil that makes recall childhood iowa sweetcorn doesn't taste good grown soil other than dark midwestern kind when start digging into free weeds grass does make kind awed proud make feel even more connected soil have line shovels other soil-related tools leaning against back house friends have come help help donuts drink beer depending whether it's before after noon course digging that soil then moving from corner yard other this extreme midwestern heat less romantic than line tools beer-drinking friends still we're feeling rather connected land which naturally brings fact that it's bounty time east central illinois farmers market peak with pickup trucks farm trailers overflowing with sweet corn watermelons green beans people with their vegetable gardens being generous with their crops garden have impressive number green beans from couple plants that came would swimming tomatoes weren't those blasted squirrels apparently aren't satisfied with walnuts yard supplementing their dining habits with tomatoes have mentioned much despise squirrels abundance fresh produce exciting though stirs state emergency sorts among foodie friends that seems like overstating harvesting many crops least sparks sense challenge kitchen lest grow bored with regular culinary tasks harvest driving menu with impressive force everyone know digging recipes that might help them through corn watermelon zucchini happen have refrigerator full corn table full tomatoes some given some purchased farmer's market feel compelled binge things that know won't taste quite same many months it's tangible symbol grasping final weeks summer know will eventually pass some ways we'll very glad along with everything sticky sweet fruit-fly'd humid just want fully honor properly rest light that symbolic celebrating letting summer here some favorite ways through midwestern fresh crops watermelons anyone ellen given many watermelons pregnant amish patients there visual metaphor going just coincidence with many watermelons might just feel like have picnics you're married gabriel gabriel turned several melons into huge watermelon granita which then scooped into glasses poured over these kind watermelon-laden friends have zucchini galore love zucchini simply sliced lengthwise grilled with olive salt pepper all-time favorite pasta recipes involves lots zucchini four cups halved sliced it's best make while shines they there's zucchini a-plenty make pasta basically chop onion saute olive then zucchini some garlic meanwhile make farfalle pasta whole wheat good last moment mascarpone cheese with zucchini onions stir with pasta salting peppering then squeezing little fresh lemon juice with parmesan it's more exquisite than might imagine can't table tomatoes girls yellow cherry tomatoes their mouths like candy layer tomato slices with fresh mozzarella drizzle with olive balsamic vinegar topping with basil salt pepper tonight jason making tomato tarts dinner perhaps favorite tomato treat though something picked greece some foil cookie sheet folding edges keep juices from running slice tomatoes place foil then with slices good-quality feta cheese drizzle some olive with fresh oregano black pepper broil until cheese gets brown then pull oven squeeze some lemon juice with bread corn coming ears that's straight from heartland mostly just corn straight from which kids love there's anything left that's already been cooked cornbread quesadillas anything else think also have recipe yummy sweet corn-orzo salad that packed with fresh corn four ears that cook with orzo last couple minutes stove peppers loads fresh basil which good because basil plant reaching bush proportions this jungle-like heat humidity finally when i've done everything else think frankly getting sick corn several last ears cook them slice kernels freeze then start dreaming about fall cool days delicious that corn will taste black bean soup couple months from 