The Dog Days of Summer

Smooth Ironweed

Giant Goldenrod

Spotted Joe-pye Weed

I feel like it has been very hot and humid except for a few days of respite mixed in, but otherwise it has been pretty miserable being outside in the middle of these August days. However, the native plants in my yard are doing well and the late summer/early fall plants are starting to bloom and bust out in color. See the pictures above of just a few examples that a lot of people consider as weeds, but in my mind they are stunning and are very beneficial! I have to admit that I haven't mowed my backyard in quite some time, but it's just been too hot. In addition, I am hoping as the years pass that my backyard especially turns more into a grassland or native plant habitat.

I am on the last flavor, which is sriracha from the book Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine by Sarah Lohman. I have for the most part enjoyed the book and have written down several of the recipes. It is an interesting book, but there are a few things that unsettle me, but I haven't found much agreement online with it and it looks like there was a lot of good publicity control done. Sometimes, I feel like she comes off as a bit arrogant and a bit sarcastic even and not quite just wholesome Midwest friendliness. I also find it interesting that she mentions Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and even other Asian influences in food, but there is nothing about Korean culture or its food and impact on American culture. I realize that Korean culture is a fairly new trend, but it almost seems like this group was purposely left out. In addition, the chapter on MSG, which is based on facts and science; still left me with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. But to end on a good note, I hope to make some of the recipes I have found like garlic soup and even making garlic infused honey!