From the Editor

It's been one busy Summer! We've had our plates full with Kids' Cooking Camps, Summer Wine Classes and lots of fun catering. Best of all, we've jumped headfirst into social networking and have been having a great time staying connected with our friends and clients on Facebook and Twitter. We love to share our favorites things: restaurants, tools, recipes, culinary trends. Now we have more ways than ever to do just that. We hope you'll follow us online and into the kitchen for another month of delicious recipes and fun cooking events.

We are especially excited to bring James Beard Award-Winner Joanne Weir to The Simple Gourmet Kitchen in September. She is one of our favorite culinary instructors and a treasure-trove of delicious recipes and travel stories. Sign up now -- this one is bound to fill up fast!

In the height of Summer, it's hard to narrow down one favorite seasonal item. The markets are full of amazing produce at it's prime: peppers, tomatoes, peaches….its a veritable feast! But one of those treasured items that is only available for a very short time is figs. There are only two times a year figs are readily available: August and November. So eat up now! Our favorite variety is the Black Mission – deep purple skin with a rosey center that's speckled with tiny white seeds. While there are many ways to cook with figs, we believe that fresh figs are best treated simply. Try cutting them in half, sprinkling with a pinch of salt, some fresh cracked pepper and a drizzle of honey. A true Summer treat!

The sun is out, the “June Gloom” is gone and it's officially too hot to cook! You may want to get out of the kitchen fast, but that does not mean you have to sacrifice fresh, delicious food. Here are some simple ways to beat the heat:

Stop using the oven and start using the grill. Whether its chicken breast, steak, salmon, pork tenderloin or veggies at the centerpiece of your meal, here’s a quick marinade: 1 lemon or lime cut into slices (peel left on), 3 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup olive oil. Blend all of these ingredients together until smooth, pour over your meat, fish or veggies and grill away. No need for a sauce – the marinade does all the work.

In the mood for pasta? Don’t labor over a pot making the perfect sauce. Make a fast Bruschetta-style sauce in your food processor that will be done in minutes and is equally at home on sliced bread or your favorite pasta. Combine 4 halved roma tomatoes, 1 garlic clove, handful fresh basil, 1/4 cup olive oil, splash of sherry or red wine vinegar. Pulse in a food processor until chunky. Let sit for 10 minutes and you’re ready to go. Try it with assorted heirloom tomatoes while they are still in season.

Ice cream may be the favored dessert in Summer, but check out this recipe for our Double Raspberry Coconut Tart that requires no-oven and comes together in minutes.

Join our Facebook  fan page!  Check out our tweets on Twitter! Follow us and you'll be the first to hear about upcoming special events, our favorite restaurants, recipes we love and the latest culinary trends.

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Bring a date or just a friend to our popular Friday Night Wine Pairing Series. All Summer we're celebrating the heat with cool wines that are perfect for drinking now.

Italian Summer Wines - We'll grill up some Smokey Pork Tenderloin with Melon-Mint Salsa and wash it all down with a Fresh Berry & Prosecco Slushy.

Asian on the Grill - Unsure of which wines to pair with Asian food? We'll take on the challenge while grilling up Korean Short Ribs and Vietnamese-Style Pork.

Hot Summer Nights in Spain - Avoid the heat and turn off your oven with this Spanish menu that will get you out of the kitchen fast.

Mexican Favorites at Home -- Skip the local taco shop and learn to whip up Mexican classics at home using fresh and dried chilies.

SPECIAL EVENT: Tequila Tasting with Joanne Weir -- Award-winning author and cooking instructor Joanne Weir will share recipes and stories from her recent book, Tequila (Ten Speed Press).

Bring a friend to an August Class and get 20% off your next class. Sign up online now. Contact us at info@simple-gourmet.com to receive your 20% coupon.