🌽 Farm Fresh: Cooking with the Season

There’s something special about cooking with ingredients that are fresh, local, and in season. In the late summer and early fall, Nebraska gardens and farmers markets are bursting with colorful produce—zucchini, peppers, sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and more.

Cooking with the season isn’t just about flavor (though that’s a big win). It’s also a great way to save money, support local growers, and make meals that are naturally packed with nutrients. When food is picked at its peak, it doesn’t need much help to taste amazing.

Whether you’re grilling outside, prepping quick weeknight dinners, or trying to get more vegetables onto the plate, seasonal cooking keeps things simple, fresh, and fun.

Grilled Veggie Skewers (Simple + Crowd-Pleasing)

These colorful skewers are perfect for cookouts, quick dinners, or using up extra vegetables from the garden.

🛒 Ingredients:

• 1 zucchini, sliced into thick rounds

• 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks

• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into chunks

• 1 red onion, cut into wedges

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes

• 1 cup mushrooms (optional)

• 2–3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (or oregano/basil mix)

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Wooden or metal skewers

  
  

Instructions:

1. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 20–30 minutes to prevent burning.

2. Chop all vegetables into similar-sized pieces for even cooking.

3. In a large bowl, toss vegetables with olive oil, garlic powder, seasoning, salt, and pepper.

4. Thread vegetables onto skewers, mixing colors and textures for variety.

5. Heat grill to medium-high heat.

6. Grill skewers for about 10–12 minutes, turning occasionally, until vegetables are tender and lightly charred.

7. Serve warm and enjoy!

Why Seasonal Cooking Matters

Cooking with local produce isn’t just delicious, it supports healthier communities too. Seasonal foods are often fresher, require less transportation, and encourage families to try a wider variety of fruits and vegetables.

It can also be a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen. Let them help choose vegetables at a farmers market, wash produce, or build their own skewers. When kids help prepare meals, they’re more likely to try new foods.

💡 Try This Week:

Visit a local farmers market or grocery store produce section and challenge yourself to build one meal entirely around what’s in season. Keep it simple, colorful, and fun.

Fresh food doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to be in season.