June...already!

June is here, y’all — and she brought the heat with her.   Summer in Western North Carolina is doing that funny dance it always does, cool and misty one day, then full‑on steam room the next. I’ve been sneaking out to the deck in the late afternoons, right after the sun slips behind the ridge. That’s my favorite moment — when the mountains exhale and everything feels soft and peaceful again.

This month I’ve stayed committed to my mission of cooking through the obscure treasures in my Big Blue Book. Two new recipes made their way into the rotation: Lemon Mustard Chicken, which turned out downright amazing, and Cozy Burgers, which were exactly what they sound like — fun to make and even more fun to eat.

Early June also brought a sweet little ladies’ night dinner with three wonderful friends. I pulled two recipes from the most beautiful cookbook I own, The Farm Table by Julius Roberts. If you haven’t seen his food, go peek at his Instagram @juliusroberts — it’s pure countryside magic. I made his chicken tray bake and the prettiest green pasta, packed with kale and spinach but tasting like something you’d want to twirl your fork into again and again. Hosting nights like that fill my cup, and I’m already dreaming up what to make when we gather again in July.

And then there’s Anthony’s culinary journey, the Christmas surprise that keeps us exploring new corners of the world one dinner at a time. This month we’re heading to England — specifically Lancashire — for a proper Hot Pot. Now, my sweet husband is not a lamb lover, so we may pivot to beef, but I’m confident it’ll still be hearty, cozy, and delicious. I’ll share the full adventure once we cook it up.

Happy June, friends. Here’s to warm evenings, good food, and the joy of trying something new. Until next month, I will be sitting on the deck enjoying this view.

— Allison