Alice Waters, the founder of Chez Panisse in Berkeley has said that her means of making the best food possible is to use the freshest ingredients you can get in season. I certainly prefer the taste of a vine-ripened heirloom tomato to one that was picked while still green and allowed to ripen on the way to the store days or weeks later. Did you know that there is a Farmers Market every Saturday next to the Santa Teresa Library from 10 a.m.-2 p.m? For more information about the farmers market check this link.

Once you have those fresh ingredients what should you do with them? In the library, we have many books that offer suggestions and recipes for your fresh ingredients. Check out these examples:

• Clean Food by Terry Walters: Walters provides a guide for choosing the best produce and recipes for that produce according to the seasons of the year.

• P. Allen Smith's Seasonal Recipes From The Garden: Smith, known for his books on gardening, offers 120 recipes inspired by southern flavor traditions and focusing on seasonal ingredients interspersed with tips on cooking, gardening and other anecdotes.

These are just two suggestions for resources on how to make the most of your fresh produce. Come to the library and check out all our books on cooking. Your taste buds will thank you!