07/12/2026
I've missed you and can't wait to cook you some delicious meals this week!
Sorry about the lack of menu last week. I was just so worn out after a busy work week and all that Fourth of July celebrating! I hope you all also had a wonderful holiday. For us it was all about being submerged in water...be in the river, creek or a friend's pool. The kids were sun kissed and full of laughter. We floated down the river and even got to see a bald eagle, a big osprey and a blue heron! I cooked up lots of pies and made plenty of deviled eggs and hot dogs! I hope you had a weekend full of those kinds of simple pleasures.
I can't wait to get back into it in the kitchen this week. I've got a great menu filled with high summer deliciousness. Let's start with a classic French summer treat (and a nod to this weekend's Bastille Day in Frenchtown. Vichyssoise Soup is an absolutely dreamy, smooth and creamy chilled potato leek soup. The texture is heaven and the flavor is pure pleasure. So luscious with only a touch of cream, don't want to miss out on this seasonal treat. I often find myself eating it straight out of the container while standing in front of the fridge. The way it slides off the spoon and down my throat is culinary bliss. Who is already picking plump zucchinis out of their garden? Me! And this is all the inspiration I need to fry up tasty batches of Sweet Corn and Zucchini Fritters. Crispy edged and packed with all that vegetal delight, these fritters are kissed with a little parmesan, garlic and lemon to balance the flavor into pure yum. Served with a side of creamy, tangy tzatziki sauce for dipping you will be happy to the last bite. Get while the gettin' is good! Salad season is upon us and there is nothing more delicious than taking all those gorgeous melons and nectarines from the market and treating them as simply as possible. Enter this week's Melon Salad with Nectarines, Tomato and Basil! A luscious summer salad filled with sweet and hydrating melons, sweet local nectarines, juicy cherry tomatoes and finished with fresh basil, sweet onion, shaved parmesan, a dash of crushed red pepper and a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Summer perfection!
Quiche is back and better than ever! Zucchini, Squash, Onion and Mozzarella Quiche delivers all the tastes of summer in one perfect 9 inch round. All that creamy custard is flecked with hearty vegetables and creamy cheese and nestled into one of our buttery, flaky home made pie crusts. Serve it for breakfast, lunch or dinner and you'll find a table full of happy eaters. Each quiche serves 4-6 and pairs beautifully with this week's soup or salad. A beautiful summer meal served up in an instant. Who doesn't love a delicious Garden Ratatouille? A perfect way to welcome the summer garden bounty, this French vegetable stew is so tasty served warm or at room temperature. Packed with eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, garlic and herbs your plate will be bursting with flavor! Served with a hunk of garlic bread for soaking up all the goodness...summer has arrived and it's plate licking-ly good. Have you seen the peaches at the farmer's market?? I was so nervous with the news of early season warm days followed by a late frost ruining all the local orchard crops but a few local farmers have pulled through and alas the Jersey peaches have arrived. Let's celebrate this miracle with a gorgeous seasonal dish. Roasted Chicken Thighs with Fennel and Peaches is everything you want it to be. Crispy edged, juicy chicken thighs roasted with the sweet and savory caramelized flavor of slow cooked fennel and the juicy, jammy delight of cooked peaches. Served with a side of pasta-esque pearled couscous for sopping up all those dazzling roasting juices. We all need a good pasta dish in our weekly rotation and we've got a classic this week. Sausage and Pepper Pasta with Broccoli has all the goodness of your favorite sausage, peppers and onion situation minus the onion and plus a handful of flavor and nutrient packed broccoli! Tossed with imported pasta and dusted with plenty of shaved parmesan, you just cannot go wrong. Order enough for everyone in the family, you're sure to have a lot of happy eaters!
When I'm craving sweets, sometimes I just want that bracingly tart/ sweet lemon flavor. My favorite iteration of this taste sensation is our Classic Lemon Tart. A tender and buttery pate brisee tart shell is filled with a smooth and creamy lemon curd for just the right amount of sweet and tart. A bright burst of sweet sunshine in your mouth. Simple, elegant and utterly delicious. One large slice per order. Has anyone been craving out crowd pleasing Lovin' Oven Old Fashioned Banana Pudding? I sure know I have been. We'll be whipping up some big batches to satisfy you and all your friends. How can you deny the clouds of creamy banana pudding with whipped cream, fresh sliced bananas and the crumbly delight of Nilla wafers and tumbling into each other with each fork full. Be sure to order enough for everyone. Scones are back and better than ever. Raspberry Sour Cream Scones feature all those gorgeous fresh berries at the market combined with the creamy tang of a little sour cream in the dough. Baked up to golden perfection you'll be picking up every last crumb as you enjoy your morning coffee or afternoon tea. 4 scones to an order and they freeze like a dream! To see the full menu and to order, click HERE (https://lovinovenweeklypreorder.square.site/ ) .
Please be sure to get your orders in by Tuesday, pickup is Thursday between 4-5pm at the back door of the Frenchtown Methodist Church at 16 Third Street in Frenchtown. If you need to arrange for a later pickup, just let me know!
I'm sending so much love and gratitude to you all. I hope everyone is soaking in the sun and eating lots of tasty things with the people you love.
xo Julie
