Star of the Summer (Strawberry mascarpone cheesecake)

I've told you before how, in my family, cheesecake is a celebratory affair. This is even more true for Aaron's birthday, for which it is a mandatory offering. "What kind of cheesecake would you like for your birthday?" is a standard question come August. This year was especially telling, because he laid out his entire hierarchy of berries, in which strawberry is king. This is perfectly fine by me - strawberry is my favorite, too, and undoubtedly a perennial star of the summer.

Star of the summer

Berries Jubilee (Shortcakes with Mixed Berry Flambé)

Strawberry shortcake is a classic dessert, and I've been obsessed with it for as long as I can remember. As a child, I'd wait with bated breath for dessert-time, ever irked when my mother insisted it was so-named because the table is "deserted" from having cleaned one's dinner plate and cleared the way. Even when I was little, I knew the difference between a sponge cake and a shortcake and, despite how groceries dutifully place the spongy yellow pucks next to the strawberries every summer, I would accept no substitutions. Proper shortcake should be like a biscuit or a scone. Not spongy, but crumblingly delicious, at once dry and yet delectably saturated with oil; with flaking crumbs that melt away on the tongue and leave nothing but happiness in their wake.

Pictured: happiness

By Popular Request (Strawberry Lemonade)

In addition to cookies at the yard sale, we also offered strawberry lemonade, raspberry limeade, and iced peppermint tea. The lemonade was by far the favorite of the day and I found myself running back and forth to the kitchen to refresh our supply, many times. The benefit of repetition is that I had lots of practice perfecting the recipe, which is handy, because now people keep asking for it. I apologize for doubling down on drink recipes, but 'tis the season.

Ready for summer

Breakfast with the Boys (Almond Pancakes)

James and I are always thrilled to hang with our nephews and, a few weekends ago, Ben and Dylan joined us in the early morning for a few hours of quality time. I wanted something relatively simple to make for breakfast; I hadn't had much coffee and both boys were full of excitement helping in the kitchen. I was smart and planned for pancakes. Keenly aware of the fact that both boys have a love of berries, I knew they'd have to play a part, as well.

A great start to the weekend

Short and Sweet (Strawberry Kiwi Salad)

I wanted something light and fresh for dinner tonight and, as it so happens, we had plenty of strawberries and kiwi fruit leftover after a weekend visit from our darling nephews. I feel a little guilty calling this a recipe, as a list of ingredients could just about cover it, really. We'll just file this one under "lazy" and celebrate that it's something you can throw together at a moment's notice.

Does it help if it's extra tasty?

California Dreaming (Strawberry Avocado Banana Bread)

I certainly seem to mention the weather a lot, don't I? I blame it on the winter. Today was a strange mixture of sunlight and snow, with harsh winds and a bitter chill in the air. I know it may be the most hated state, but I can't help but keep joking about moving to California. One thing it certainly has on its side is strawberries and avocados: two of my favorite fruits. You can expect to see a lot of them on this blog. Thanks to a handy tip from our friend Jen, and my weekly pile of over-ripened bananas, this one was a snap.

Like a little slice of summer