This cooked egg mayonnaise balances rich egg yolk and oil with the sharp, savory flavors of capers, cornichons and fresh herbs. The comforting and complex sauce is perfect served over asparagus, roasted waxy potatoes, with fish or cold chicken served outdoors.

Steamed cubes of pumpkin replace potato in this hearty fall cook-out inspired salad with a sweet tart Sherry Maple vinaigrette, fruity Castelvetrano olives and sharp capers.

Buttery Bartlett-style pears blend beautifully with Piccata - a sauce of butter, capers and lemon - served over crisp, pan fried chicken paillards.. This is the time to reach for those super-tender pears that have a couple of bruises on them. They'll make the smoothest sauce.

From summer through fall, my Mom’s arrival at our home is accompanied by food, harvested fresh from her garden and put up in her freezer. It always includes rich caponata, a classic Italian blend of eggplants and peppers, tomatoes, basil and capers. This dish captures those flavors in a quick, fresh, one-dish vegan homage to the end of summer.