For some people, summer vacation is already over and it’s back-to-school season. We’re lucky enough to have a few more weeks of summer before school starts. Whether you are back in the school-year routine or enjoying a few more days of sunshine and freedom, fresh summer produce is still at its peak with tomatoes, corn, green beans, and berries hitting their stride this month. I love summer dinners, but August, in particular, has lots of my favorites. We eat fresh fruits and veggies from the garden and the farmer’s market, and enjoy salads, corn on the cob, watermelon, and more with dinner every night. And the desserts are even better! Blackberry picking is a must-do activity in Oregon in August. We eat them fresh, make jams, jellies, and syrups to can, toss them into pancakes, muffins, and oatmeal, and best of all, we make berry pie.
Berry pies are easy to make. Use your favorite pie crust recipe (or buy a ready-made one at the store), fill it with a simple mixture of fruit, sugar, and a few thickening ingredients, and add more crust or a yummy crumble to top it off. That’s it! Simple and delicious and perfectly summery. You can find the recipe for this tasty Crumble-Topped Summer Berry Pie on the Oriental Trading Company blog. And for more summer dessert recipes, explore the Dessert Archives.