September in Michigan

Summer is coming to an end, along with cooking dinner outside.
Not only is it cooler, the sun sets earlier and earlier.

In the Kitchen 

We included a few interesting foods, but mostly old favorites. 

An omelet on a Micky Mouse plate; shrimp and rice; Dan Dan noodles; another omelet with salad.

Indoors and Out

One New Kitchen Item

New dish-drying mat in a funny color.

More Cooking and Eating

Fresh figs.

My long-time favorite cereal at Elaine’s house in Lafayette.
When we came back, Len bought me two boxes of Special K Red Berries.

A Trader Joe’s croissant and some blueberries. 

In Lafayette; Elaine’s delicious Apple Pie.

Back home 10 days later: time for more pie by Len.

Labor Day Barbecue.

Chicken from our grill, which will soon need to be put away for winter.

A delicious chicken and olive dish that Carol made for us.

Lamb steak with a salad of peaches, feta cheese, and pine nuts.

Potatoes in olive oil with capers (Pommes à l’huile).

Chicken in tahini sauce and a salad with corn, peppers, and lettuce.

Outside the Kitchen: An Ice Cream in Dexter

Dexter is the next town from Ann Arbor. It has a perfect small-town Midwest vibe.

The last Sunday of the month: a beautiful day for a drive and an outdoor ice cream.

A Fall Display Near the Park

Far Away From Us

From Alice’s trip to Germany

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Not quite so far we visited Elaine in Indiana. Here she is with Len, in her kitchen.
See above for her apple pie!

Blog post © 2026 mae sander

In My Kitchen and in My Life

Nothing is really new in my kitchen this August, but we have been making good use of gadgets, furniture and so on that we already have. And we’ve enjoyed summer produce, buying local when we can find it, but also shopping at our most convenient local food store that happens to be Trader Joe’s. Here are a few photos of August foods from the market to our table and in our pantry.

August produce in my kitchen and at the markets.

Sheet pan chicken and potatoes.

Lamb stir-fry with rice and smashed cucumber salad. Trader Joe’s had great shaved lamb, perfect for this dish.

Charcoal-grilled lamb chops.

Corn is in season and local corn is delicious.
Unfortunately our next ears of corn were moldy and had to be thrown away. 

Ravioli toasted in a frying pan rather than steamed.

An omelet

Another omelet.

Fresh fruit from a neighbors trip to western Michigan.

Pancakes with the peaches and blueberries

Toaster waffles: a favorite breakfast this month.

Ice cream: always in my kitchen

In the Pantry

My messy pantry shelves.

Onions in the onion bin

Among other things: an order of jam from amazon.com

On the New Grill Pan

Chicken cooked on the new grill pan and served with a cucumber salad.

A few more dinners

Shrimp with rice and green peas

Vanilla pudding topped with local peaches

A Few More Thoughts for August

A Fascinating Artist Has Died

Yayoi Kusama (1929-2026) was a fascinating Japanese artist and sculptor. (link)

Summer Flowers are Still in Bloom

And I Got Snookered

Now in the pantry: a lifetime supply of off-brand peanut butter cups (note intentional misspelling).
I guess you have to be hyperaware ALL the time, even if you just want authentic REESES candy.

The real deal (that I don’t have)

Blog post © 2026 mae sander

Recent Food Photos

 

Local tomatoes.

Update: this is local lettuce, grown in Michigan. I purchased it at the local farm store called Argus Farms.

Deviled egg lunch

At Trader Joe’s

Ice Cream at Blank Slate Creamery

Photos © 2026 mae sander