Oh, the magic of summer nights. I’m lucky enough to spend summers on Long Island, where most meals are enjoyed around a large farmhouse table in the backyard. Because produce is bounteous and intensely flavorful this time of year (by August, the vegetable garden is bursting with a zillion varieties of tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and tons of fresh herbs, among other things), I tend toward simple, healthy preparations that can be thrown together quickly and highlight the local ingredients, such as cherry tomatoes tossed with warm pasta, garlic, and lemon zest; grilled salmon skewers dunked in herb-flecked yogurt sauce; and big family-style salads. Add some friends, a bottle of crisp white wine, and my kids, sun-kissed and still dripping with salty ocean water, and we have the definition of a summer night.