Wherever you are, summer is a time to savor longer days and lazy weekends. Fresh produce abounds, and life moves at a more relaxed pace. Anna Pump, proprietor of the iconic Loaves & Fishes store on Long Island, has catered to a devoted clientele of Hamptons weekenders for more than twenty-five years and understands summer's rhythms. She knows that while you may want to enjoy a picnic on the beach or a late supper on the porch, you don't want to spend the entire day in the kitchen, painstakingly preparing elaborate dishes. In "Summer on a Plate" she shares more than 120 recipes for delicious, no-fuss, memorable meals that celebrate the bounty of summer.

Anna never confuses simple with ordinary. A distinctive first course of Avocado Mousse and Shrimp on Tortilla Chips comes together in a flash. Chilled Tomato and Cucumber Soup with Seasoned Croutons makes a light and refreshing midday meal, and Spicy Corn Fritters with Salmon Caviar Dip are just the thing to set out for your weekend guests when a sunny Saturday on the beach turns into breezy evening on the deck.

Many dishes can go straight from the grill to the table, like Grilled Tenderloin of Beef with Fresh Herb Sauce or Perfect Whole Grilled Chicken with Plum Chutney. In the mood for seafood? Halibut Baked with Olives, Lemons, and Fresh Basil is a snap to prepare and full of fresh flavors. And what would summer be without salads? Serve Black Mission Figs with Goat Cheese and Upland Cress to begin a dinner party, while the Magret of Duck and Wild Rice Salad or the Asian-Flavor Beef, Pepper, and Spinach Salad are meals in themselves.

If your favorite part of the meal is dessert (like Anna ) you won't be disappointed. Chocolate Chunk Orange Cake is a sweet ending to any meal (or even a sweet breakfast) and is just as satisfying with a cup of midafternoon coffee. Rhubarb Blueberry Pie or a Peach Tart with Almond Topping and a Cookie Crust take advantage of the best of summer fruits. The Coconut Lemon Layer Cake is a showstopper, or you can opt for a simple dish of dead-ripe berries lavished with a dollop of Creme Fraiche.

Put summer on your plate and enjoy everything the season has to offer.

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Books > Cooking > Regional & Ethnic - American - Middle Atlantic States
Books > Cooking > Seasonal

Serving up summer

Summer is special, the time of year when "the song sings itself," as William Carlos Williams so lyrically wrote. Though a summertime meal really can't cook itself, the dishes we serve should mirror the pleasures of sunny days and balmy nights. Summer on a Plate is Anna Pump's expert guide to doing just that, with more than 120 recipes designed for the summer season and its glorious bounty. Anna opened Loaves and Fishes, a gourmet shop in East Hampton that's become a culinary landmark in that celebrity-studded Long Island summer colony, more than 25 years ago, so she's had plenty of time to test and fine-tune her recipes for memorable, no-fuss meals that, she promises, can be prepared in one hour or under. From the very first recipe in the book, a divine Grainy Mustard Sauce, made with honey and crème fraîche, to the very last, tangy, buttery Lemon Bars, you'll find everything you need to make summer sparkle—starters, soups, sandwiches, salads and sides, mains that go on the grill or sauté on the stove, and dreamy desserts that say "summer."