Did you ever notice how your tastes can change with the seasons?

Of course, the availability of products has something to do with what we eat and when, but I am always amazed at how much better a bowl of soup or a pot of chili tastes on a gray, nippy November day than it would have in September. Likewise, for me, summer brings cravings for salads, fruit and fresh, tangy lemonade.

Obviously, fresh vegetables and fruits are available in abundance right now. Grocery store produce aisles feature red, ripe tomatoes, tender summer squash and piles of unsnapped green beans. Ebbert Farm Market opened for the season on Friday, with homegrown corn, Marietta tomatoes, peaches,apples and much more to choose from.

During the isolation of COVID-19, when I was working remotely much of the time, I developed a new interest in cooking. The kitchen has never been my comfort zone, so I guess it was a way for me to feel a little adventurous without leaving home.

During that time, Imade several soups, tried a few new casserole recipes, explored new ways to serve chicken and even stuffed, seared and roasted a beef heart. But that was mostly during the cooler months of the year and those heavier, warm foods appealed to me then.

Now that summer has returned and my staff and I are back in the office, I have sort of slipped away from that new hobby. Sure, I still cook hn I need to, but it’s much more standard fair, such as hotdogs or hamburgers on the grill. And if my husband, Mike, wants to prepare dinner, I am happy to let him do it.

When I realized the other day that I was drifting away from the kitchen, I got to thinking about what summer dishes might inspire me to return. My garden is growing well, so I have plenty of salad greens and toppings available and will soon have ripe peppers, tomatoes and beets to prepare. I have so many tomato plants that I suspect I will need to learn to can them or make sauce.

The thought of those projects didn’t get me motivated, though.Instead, I have been thinking of making some sweeter treats: watermelon salsa, strawberry and pretzel salad, and that lemonade I mentioned. The trouble with that is that Mike really doesn’t eat sweets — and I certainly don’t need to keep them all to myself. So, I guess if I do start whipping up a few of those things my friends and family will benefit.

At The Times Leader it’s been several years since we held a recipe contest. So, since I am sort of stuck on the subject of summer foods, I decided to ask you all to share some of your favorite warm weather recipes with me. Perhaps I will give a few of them a try, or maybe I will share them here with our other readers.

If you have a favorite summer dish you’d like to recommend to me, please email me at jcompston@timesleaderonline.com or drop me a line at The Times Leader, 400 S. Fourth St., Martins Ferry, OH 43935.

∫ ∫ ∫

Live country music returned to the hills of Belmont County this week when Blame My Roots Fest opened for the second time. Developed to fill the void left by the demise of Jamboree In The Hills, the festival had its inaugural run in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 event.

This year, it is apparent that organizers, entertainers and fans are all happy to be back. I visited the site Wednesday and saw many exchanges of hugs, handshakes and friendly greetings. After months of limitations and distancing, people are hungry for in-person interactions.

Other events are making their comebacks as well. Chautauqua Days at Epworth Park in Bethesda, for example, drew a nice crowd. The park is a beautiful setting for any event, and the Bethesda-Belmont-Morristown Rotary Club held its annual car show in conjunction with the larger festival, drawing crowds with different interests.

Speaking of car shows, the Belmont County Staying Clean Car, Bike and Truck Show is scheduled to return to the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville on Sept. 11. Complete with music, food vendors and plenty of prizes, this event raises money to support student participation in the county’s drug-free club.

Also coming in September is the Belmont County Fair. After a 2020 event that included only junior fair activities, the full fair will be held again beginning Sept. 5.

Coming up first, though, is the Monroe County Fair, slated to get underway Aug. 23 in Woodsfield. Harrison County already hosted a successful fair this year.

A host of other festivals and activities are on tap for the rest of summer and early fall.Whether you enjoy the Loop Festival in Shadyside or the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival you will have plenty of opportunities to get out and about, have fun and see your old friends and neighbors.

To learn more about the many local events that are coming up soon, visit the Belmont County Tourism website at visitbelmontcounty.com.