Après Fête: Endless Summer

72 and sunny is the magical equation that keeps LA dwellers happy. But relentless days of heat in the high 80s and 90s is making fall a bit of an illusion. In the spirit of being true to the weather, I had one more summer BBQ in me. For this farewell to summer party, I rounded up the season's best in the form of classic family recipes. My mom's BLT filled cherry tomatoes are a perfect bite with lots of fresh basil, chives and smoky bacon. And my grandma's Sweet & Sour Baked Beans were a hit all summer long. My favorite personal addition is the Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Rice Krispy Treat from Flour: true deliciousness. So thank you summer for the memories. You filled my time with more cooking than I ever could have imagined. You inspired lots of refreshing cocktails, juicy burgers and ice cream treats. However, I need a year to recover to from my high exposure to corn, tomatoes & peaches (no offense, but I'm done). This weekend I'm easing into autumn with Asian pears, potato pancakes & pork. Can't wait.