Nothing is really new in my kitchen this August, but we have been making good use of gadgets, furniture and so on that we already have. And we’ve enjoyed summer produce, buying local when we can find it, but also shopping at our most convenient local food store that happens to be Trader Joe’s. Here are a few photos of August foods from the market to our table and in our pantry.
| August produce in my kitchen and at the markets. |
| Sheet pan chicken and potatoes. |
| Lamb stir-fry with rice and smashed cucumber salad. Trader Joe’s had great shaved lamb, perfect for this dish. |
| Charcoal-grilled lamb chops. |
| Corn is in season and local corn is delicious. Unfortunately our next ears of corn were moldy and had to be thrown away. |
| Ravioli toasted in a frying pan rather than steamed. |
| An omelet |
| Another omelet. |
| Fresh fruit from a neighbors trip to western Michigan. |
| Pancakes with the peaches and blueberries |
| Toaster waffles: a favorite breakfast this month. |
| Ice cream: always in my kitchen |
In the Pantry
| My messy pantry shelves. |
| Onions in the onion bin |
| Among other things: an order of jam from amazon.com |
On the New Grill Pan
| Chicken cooked on the new grill pan and served with a cucumber salad. |
A few more dinners
| Shrimp with rice and green peas |
| Vanilla pudding topped with local peaches |
A Few More Thoughts for August
A Fascinating Artist Has Died
| Yayoi Kusama (1929-2026) was a fascinating Japanese artist and sculptor. (link) |
Summer Flowers are Still in Bloom
And I Got Snookered
| Now in the pantry: a lifetime supply of off-brand peanut butter cups (note intentional misspelling). I guess you have to be hyperaware ALL the time, even if you just want authentic REESES candy. |
| The real deal (that I don’t have) |
Blog post © 2026 mae sander