August is an exciting produce month with tomatoes and okra at their peak, and—my daughter’s favorite—melon, coming in season. For me, one of the joys of summertime in Oklahoma is creating dishes that highlight the fresh ingredients available at this time of year. This month’s recipes were inspired by a thriving basil bush in my garden and zucchini from the farmer’s market. I hope you also find inspiration in the abundance of late summer’s harvest to create something delicious!

With the kids or grandkids home for the summer, it’s a great time to get them involved in creating some fun in the kitchen, without ever turning on the oven. Try making a kid favorite, snow cones—no special machine needed. Oreo ice box cake is a new spin on an old-fashioned recipe that’s perfect for hot summer days and easy enough for a kid to make. Stay cool and have fun!

This month’s recipes highlight the grass-fed dairy and beef products available at Wagon Creek Creamery, as well as other farms and dairies across Oklahoma, feel free to use your brand of choice. Read more about Wagon Creek Creamery in our Oklahoma Stories section. Enjoy!

This month’s recipes—all with only six ingredients—are designed to help you kick off summer. While the season doesn’t technically start until June, Memorial Day marks the unofficial transition to summer and its school-free days, warmer weather, backyard barbecues and longer evenings to spend outdoors. As we enjoy all these benefits, we take a moment to remember and honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice as they have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Now that spring has sprung, here are a few "eggcellent" recipes for those on-the-go mornings or a twist on a traditional springtime side.

Youth Tour Leadership Conference and YouthPower Energy Camp go virtual.

COVID-19 unites the state in efforts to expand high-speed connectivity.

Learn how your co-op can help you make informed decisions about electric vehicles

Solar forecasts can be misleading. Talk to your co-op before you go solar.

Making sense of what happened during a winter blast to remember.

Congratulations to your July winner Bruce Barringer! The location was the Sooner Theatre in Norman, Oklahoma. Enter your guess for this month's photo by August 10!

We’d love for you to share your favorite holiday recipe with us for a chance to be featured in an upcoming edition of Oklahoma Living.  

More than 1,000 photos made their way to Oklahoma Living through our “Oklahoma Take 10” contest at www.okl.coop. The quality of the photos submitted was exceptional. Our judges were impressed by Oklahoma Living readers’ talent and eye for beautiful shots across our state. Now, we are proud to share with you the top 10 submissions. 

Submit your photos by the 10th of each month and you could be featured in OKL!

Oklahoma heat can be tough on plants, but with a few steps you can help them survive.

Bring your garden to your patio, front walkway, deck or even balcony with colorful containers.

Discover which trees to can plant to replace those damaged by recent Oklahoma winter storms.

Try these six fall-blooming perennials for your garden

Get practical tips to learn how to grow tomatoes in containers