Table Talk (v8)
The Late-Summer Harvest: Produce Overflow, Pollinator Blooms, and Dinners Shared
The Sweet Spot of September
September has always been my favorite month (and not just because my birthday is on the 17th).
Weather at its best
Produce at its peak
The season’s clean exhale
Tomatoes are bursting, peaches still lush, apples crisp, berries lingering like they don’t want summer to end.
In My Mother’s Garden
The upside of this season has been time in my mom’s garden. She grows too much of everything (horray!) more tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and egg plant than anyone can keep up with. We’ve been walking the rows together, collecting baskets of ripe produce, avoiding nettles, and talking through what to do with it all.
At the edges of the garden, she plants pollinator-friendly flowers, and she started cutting stems for me. I joined her, pulling together the rest of the bouquet. It turned into the most gorgeous fall mix, picked straight from her rows of vegetables and blooms.
🌸 A Quick Garden Field Guide
To attract pollinators:
• Zinnias → butterflies, bees
• Coneflowers → bees, beetles, butterflies
• Sunflowers → pollinators and birds
• Bee balm → hummingbirds, beesTo help repel pests:
• Marigolds → deter aphids and nematodes
• Nasturtiums → “trap crop” for aphids and flea beetles
• Lavender → keeps moths, fleas, and mosquitoes away
• Chrysanthemums → natural insecticide against ants, roaches, beetles
The Trail That Beat Me
Labor Day came and went quietly. I spent it on the rootiest, rockiest trail I’ve ever biked. Mostly falling, mostly swearing. Still a novice. Still a sore loser.
Try your skills, undoubtedly you will be better than me.
What’s Cooking This Week
No theme this time. Just a heavy grocery haul, fresh Ayers Valley Farms meats, and the itch to cook. Three recipes that feel a little fancy without the fuss:
Tuscan Cream Chicken with Hearts of Palm
Golden seared chicken, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and creamy Boursin sauce tossed with hearts of palm “pasta.”
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 45 min
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Sheet Pan Beef Tacos with Lime Avocado Cream
Crispy flour tortillas filled with spiced beef and cheddar, baked to golden perfection, finished with a cooling avocado drizzle.
Serves: 4–6
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Italian Deli Sandwich with Pesto + Olive Salad
Toasted sourdough stacked with prosciutto, salami, provolone, arugula, heirloom tomato, and briny olive salad.
Serves: 2
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 5 min
Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Current Fixation
Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Cookie Dough Perfect Bars. Aldi has them for a steal. High fat, high protein, just sweet enough. The only snack that actually keeps me full. There’s one in my bag at all times.
A Toast to September
Here’s to the month that makes me breathe easier:
Windows open, air crisp
Tables full, flavors bold
The grounding only a season change can bring
What’s on Your Table
What’s your favorite September produce, and how do you cook with it?
I’m always looking for new inspiration, share yours in the comments.
Enjoy your weekend,
Sydnee Cooke