Where did the summer go? Yes, I know that summer doesn’t officially end until September 21, but if you’re involved in public schools (which I still am), your summer ends the second or third week of August. 🙂
I did read some great books in July and made some pretty decent “inspired-by” posts. If you’re interested in crime-thrillers with a bit of a supernatural twist, pick up The North Face of the Heart. If you like culinary non-fiction in the food history genre, pick up 97 Orchard Street. I’m currently reading Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost by Lindsay Marcott and am enjoying it (and looking for food references).
My favorite new thing (more for the patio and boat than the kitchen) is this gift.
My best friend recently went to Key West and she knows I’m a Hemingway fan. I love this koozie and I will probably not take it to the lake. It’s too precious to potentially lose overboard.
Now for something to put in my koozie. If you’re from the Oklahoma, you probably grew up with Sonic. I know think they have locations in all 50 states. We have 271 locations in our state, the most of anywhere else. Almost every small town has a drive-in. A local brewery is now producing Sonic Hard Seltzers. I have only tried the traditional flavors (lemonade, limeade, cherry-limeade, and lemon berry). They are delicious and almost too drinkable. (I have not tried the tropical flavors yet. I have heard they are not as good.)
I have been picking tomatoes. The Black Cherry plant has finally kicked in. They are my all time favorite. At some point, we couldn’t eat them all so I started canning.
Chef’s Choice Hybrids are also a good find. The yellow tomatoes are Kellogg. 
Since I have some bugs working at some of the fruit, I usually bring those ugly tomatoes in, trim them up and roast them for tomato sauce.
I’ve made some pretty delicious salsa.
A friend from The Hubs’ workplace brought us some peppers and cucumbers. I decided to make a quinoa tabbouleh and pickle peppers. No photos but the quinoa was delicious. Why don’t I make that more.
Regarding the peppers, I made some Beer Pickled Jalapenos and some traditionally canned jalapenos. I also used an old recipe (basically just a straight vinegar brine) for the other peppers. He grows only the hottest varieties so I’m not sure how I will use some of these.
I also harvested a lot of garlic so I revisited one of my favorite ways to preserve garlic, Garlic Confit. This is the best stuff. You can slather it on bread, put on a grazing board for crackers, or top a baked potato. My absolute favorite thing to do with it comes in November. I will make a paste of it and slather it under the skin of my turkey before it goes into the oven. It’s divine. 
I’ve also canned up tomato sauce.
That’s it for July. Maybe the garden will start producing peppers soon and I can have some news of that for September’s IMK.
In My Kitchen is hosted by Sherry’s Pickings. Check out all the posts from kitchens around the world. 
Here’s my curveball for this month: flowers blooming on the patio.
Plumeria, morning glory tree, and a banana bloom.