Since I know that we live in the same area, have you tried peppers? I have plants that are 8-10 years old now.
Also, Basil and rosemary and grows like a weed here in the summertime. It loves the heat. I will plant 3-4 small plants in June from Bakers Nursery - you probably know where they are:) And by fall I have large bushes of basil. My brother grows lots of tomatoes and strawberries and watermelons in the wintertime.
My mother-in-law grows Cilantro in a very large gardening container in the wintertime and will give away large garbage bags.