When the summer days are long and hot, and readers are busy running between neighborhood block parties and backyard barbecues, cooking up a delicious seasonal meal may be at the bottom of the to-do list. However, summer is the perfect time to take advantage of bountiful fresh, local produce and cooking methods beyond the stovetop and oven. These suggestions will help readers slow down, eat well, and enjoy the simplest of summer pleasures.

Does anything scream summer more than ice cream? With Tyler Malek and JJ Goode’s Salt & Straw Ice Cream Cookbook (Clarkson Potter. 2019. ISBN 9781524760151. $25), based on the famed Portland, Oregon, parlor, readers can learn to make their own frozen treats right at home. One of the greatest things about this cookbook is that the authors teach how to make three simple base recipes for ice cream, sorbet, and dairy-free coconut “ice cream” that can be customized into a large variety of different tastes. Garden-fresh flavors, such as strawberry-cilantro sorbet and honey-lavender ice cream, and classics like gooey chocolate brownie and vanilla are all part of the mix. Just like at the Salt & Straw shop, some of the book’s ice cream recipes are on the wild side (such as pear and blue cheese, or India pale ale) but this only makes the book even better for adventurous homemakers. READ NEXT: Readers interested in a more traditional slate of ice cream recipes should check out Rose’s Ice Cream Bliss by Rose Levy Beranbaum, which includes recipes for toppings and other desserts as well.

One of the best things about summer is the abundance of fresh fruit, whether grown in a backyard or bought from a farmers' market or roadside stand. Berries: Sweet & Savory Recipes by Eliza Cross (Gibbs Smith. 2017. ISBN 9781423644590. $19.99) will help readers make the most of these seasonal treasures. Cross moves beyond desserts to show a full range of uses for delectable berries, with a variety of delicious recipes for main courses, appetizers, side dishes, and, of course, sweet treats. READ NEXT: Readers interested in wild ingredients (sourced by someone knowledgeable) might wish to consider Karen Stephenson’s Foraging Cookbook.

Is there a better way to cool off on a hot summer day than with a delicious seasonal cocktail or mocktail? Jennifer Croll’s Free the Tipple: Kickass Cocktails Inspired by Iconic Women (Prestel. 2018. ISBN 9783791384047. $14.95; with illustrations by Kelly Shami) offers a number of refreshing drinks, from the expected (the lemonade-based “Beyoncé”; the “Ella Fitzgerald,” containing just vodka, lemon juice, and rosemary) to the more experimental (the “Yayoi Kusama,” a champagne gelatin shot with sprinkles). These recipes are sure to spark some culinary inspiration and would pair well with many of the recipes from the other cookbooks on this list. READ NEXT: Those interested in expanding their cocktail and mocktail repertoire should turn to Olly Smith’s Fizz: 80 Joyful Cocktails and Mocktails for Every Occasion.

For some, cooking food on a grill is a necessary summer activity, one anticipated as soon as the days get longer and hotter. This quintessential summer activity requires a great cookbook, and Rodney Scott and Lolis Eric Elie’s Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ: Every Day Is a Good Day (Clarkson Potter. 2021. ISBN 9781984826930. $29.99) fits the bill perfectly. This LJ Best Book pick of 2021 contains more than just recipes; it is also an accounting of Scott’s powerful success story and his family’s legacy of pit perfection. Scott takes readers through the art of designing and building a barbecue pit, and the art of roasting a whole hog, in addition to instructions for recreating his recipes. Included in this collection are a number of side dishes from the menu at Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ restaurant in Charleston, SC, to complete any grilled meal. READ NEXT: Genevieve Taylor’s Charred: The Complete Guide to Vegetarian Grilling and Barbecue boasts more than 70 recipes designed by a barbecue master to get the most flavor out of grilled vegetables. A good pick for vegetarians and cooks trying to limit their meat consumption, but also a must-read for anyone who plans to grill this summer.

Those planning to enjoy a camping excursion this summer can go beyond the traditional camp-fire fare of hot dogs and marshmallows with The Pendleton Field Guide to Campfire Cooking (Chronicle. Apr. 2022. ISBN 9781797207599. $19.95). Recipes featured in this guide (things like grilled pizza and campfire popcorn) are suitable for cooks of any level and are sure to please the entire family. With these recipes for morning, noon, and night, readers will be able to tuck in to a delicious campfire meal before or after a day spent enjoying nature. READ NEXT: Once readers have mastered the art of campfire cooking and obtained the necessary outdoor kitchen equipment, they can level up their skills using Marnie Hanel and Jen Stevenson’s approach to campfire fare in The Campout Cookbook: Inspired Recipes for Cooking Around the Fire and Under the Stars. This collection includes 75 recipes, ranging from backcountry chili to dark chocolate raspberry-caramel fire-ban s’mores.

Mattie Cook is a library director and has previously worked as a young adult librarian. She has reviewed social science titles for Library Journal since 2015.