It’s 100 degrees outside, and everyone’s asking for lettuce — but your garden has other ideas. In Tennessee, mid-summer is the time to get creative with what is growing: juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, tender squash, okra, beans, and more.

In this week’s blog, I’m sharing four no-lettuce salad recipes that celebrate the season and help you eat like a gardener. Plus, a little pep talk on why skipping grocery store lettuce is one of the best choices you can make for flavor, freshness, and local living.

The easiest, fastest way to turn an over abundance of cucumbers into a tasty snack that will last months in the refrigerator. It’s Quick Pickle Time!

Winter hardy greens are nutritious and even more delicious when it’s cold out. Here’s how to cook them up this season.