Midwest Living July/August 2021 Issue

Find out more about paint colors and accessories for the Chicago home featured in our July/August 2021 issue.

Watch a short film about artist Sydney G. James and her new Detroit mural, The Girl with the D Earring. James illustrated the story about immigrant chefs in our July/August 2021 issue.

These historic Midwest homes—built anywhere from the late 1800s to the mid 1900s—show off beautiful gardens as well as interesting house interiors. 

Bird's-eye vistas show some of the vibrant cities and natural beauty of the Midwest—an area we're proud to consider the middle of everywhere.

A Minneapolis cafe combines summer’s greatest hits—heirloom tomatoes, basil and sweet corn—in one totally extra BLT.

The Iowa State Fair runs the largest amateur food department of any fair in the country, drawing up to 9.800 entries across some 150 contests—and Midwest Living sponsors one of the biggest. Here's your backstage pass to cookie-con.

Watermelon is summer in a green shell. These recipes showcase the juicy, sweet fruit in a poke bowl, salad, granita and salsa.

Judy Garland clicked her heels to go back in time. But blueberry pie works too.

Our writers and editors share their top picks for home, garden, life, travel, and food. Check out new outdoor kitchenware, a hybrid that blooms from spring to first frost, an Indiana artist's new book and condiments for Wisconsin-styled wursts.

Dubbed the Queen of Climbers, clematis starts humble. But once rambling up a trellis and thick with flowers, this perennial is, indeed, regal. New varieties come in many colors with longer bloom times, and in sizes from 2 to 20 feet.

Immigrants from around the globe have long sought safety and opportunity in America’s heartland. They still do—and lucky for us, many are chefs. Here, they share their journeys, plus recipes for a few of the vibrant dishes that are redefining Midwest cuisine.

A young designer and her husband bought a turnkey flip outside Chicago—then painted, tiled and decorated their way to cottage character.

Once known as the Rubber Capital of the World, the revitalized city of Akron, Ohio, makes for an easy city getaway—and it’s just a train ride away from a national park.

Live shows are back! Attend a spaced-out concert—or crank the tunes at home—and savor the health perks.

Your patio, porch or deck will be glowing long after the sun sets with these bright ideas.

Flash perfectly polished tips and toes with these mani and pedi essentials.

A Nebraska educator, humanitarian and accidental TikTok star uses her platforms to promote kindness, diversity and the virtues of sourdough.

Find top recipes from immigrant chefs, state fair blue-ribbon winners, fresh ideas for watermelon, a jammy blueberry pie and a mouthwatering BLT  in our latest issue.

Pets get loved—and staff get opportunities—at a doggy day care in Columbus, Ohio.

By her own admission, Emily Ford was an unlikely pick to be head gardener at Glensheen Mansion in Minnesota. But she is thriving—and so are the acres of vegetables and blooms she nurtures.

In eastern Kansas, a dedicated family has launched an effort to update a tiny town in big-thinking ways.

Hot off the minds of Midwest travel writers: a fresh look at where to eat, drink, play and stay around the region.

Red fur coats, period ball gowns, a leather jacket—an Indiana exhibit displays actor Glenn Close’s most iconic costumes.

This version of a Hawaiian poke bowl swaps marinated watermelon for the raw fish. It's an incredibly light and fresh summer dinner--and so pretty!

The secret to super-creamy hummus? Ice cubes and cold water, says Mawda Altayan of the St. Louis catering company Damascus Food.

Tracy Singleton, owner of the Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis, combines summer's greatest hits--heirloom tomatoes, basil and sweet corn--in what she calls "a kitchen sink sandwich."

Minneapolis chef Yia Vang draws on his Hmong heritage in this simple side, dressing charred zucchini and yellow squash in a sweet-tart dressing that has funky umami notes from fish sauce. (Use it again in winter on your roasted Brussels sprouts.)

Fresh lime and ginger take watermelon's flavor up a notch. Make this icy treat when you'll be home all day. It's super easy, but you need to scrape it a few times over the course of a few hours.

In a collaboration with a local coffee roaster that's also informed by his Hmong heritage, Minneapolis chef Yia Vang developed this earthy, spicy steak rub. Resist the urge to trim your steaks, he says. Fat dripping into the fire triggers smoke, which ramps up flavor.

The extra steps of prebaking both berries and pastry pay off: The filling is potent, and the bottom crust cracker-crisp.

Two things make this grilled watermelon amazing. High heat draws out moisture and intensifies watermelon's sweetness, and the rub creates additional caramelization for even deeper flavor notes.

Jacob Van Patten pours a refreshing summer cocktail into his creative take on lemon bars, which took the overall blue ribbon at the Iowa State Fair.

This crunchy oil-free slaw is like a quick-pickle and a must-serve with the Salvadoran pupusas that Maria and Juan Vasquez serve at 3 in 1 Restaurant in Indianapolis. (That recipe is on midwestliving.com as well.)

This is a mild Salvadoran-style salsa, where most of the flavor comes from tomatoes, so choose the ripest, reddest ones you can find. It is the traditional topper for pupusas, the specialty at 3 in 1 Restaurant in Indianapolis. (Find that recipe on midwestliving.com as well.)

The light lemon flavor gives these sparkling sugar cookies a little special twist. Judy Kiburz Harrison's recipe won best-in-class at the Iowa State Fair.

At Okra African Grill in Omaha, Togolese chef Nina Sodji serves this spicy anise-flavored chicken over rice. Her favorite sides:sauteed lightly seasoned bell peppers and Fried Plantains (recipe included). For extra kick, add the West African Green Pepper Sauce (recipe available on midwestliving.com).

Tammy Post's Iowa State Fair blue-ribbon recipe doesn't skimp on apples, which results in incredibly moist and indulgent bars.

The standard-bearer of Salvadoran food, a pupusa is a flat, pan-fried pocket of corn dough traditionally stuffed with cheese, beans or meat, then served with mild salsa and curtido (a tangy cabbage slaw). Maria and Juan Vasquez serve them with and without meat at their 3 in 1 Restaurant in Indianapolis.

Kim Van Patten says these Swedish spice cookies are popular at Christmas. Heart shapes are traditional to encourage kindness and sweetness. It certainly is nice that her Iowa State Fair blue-ribbon winners are mixed up in one saucepan!

Perennial Iowa State Fair ribbon-winner Robin Tarbell-Thomas' buttery best-in-class bars are loaded with almond flavor.

This refreshing, delicately floral drink features the tart tropical fruit tamarind, plus rose water. In St. Louis chef Mawda Altayan's native Syria, the drink is a household staple and sold by street vendors.

Ranger cookies are made with rolled oats and cereal. Judy Kiburz Harrison won best-in-class at the Iowa State Fair for her version, which adds Beer Nuts for a peanutty twist.

Fried sweet plantains are a staple across Latin America and Africa. This method comes from chef Nina Sodji, of Okra African Grill in Omaha. who serves them as a side dish to her West African Grilled Chicken in Tomato Sauce (recipe also available on midwestliving.com).

Be warned: Even with green bell peppers, this condiment, which Nina Sodji serves at her Okra African Grill in Omaha, has serious bite. It's delicious as a dipper for her Fried Plantains or topping for West African Grilled Chicken in Tomato Sauce (both recipes also on midwestliving.com).