Archive for the "Summer" Category

Serves 6-8

1 cucumber, thinly sliced into half moons
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
2-3 peaches, pitted & sliced
Small handful of parsley, chopped
Small handful of basil, chopped
Goat cheese, crumbled
4 sliced bacon, thinly sliced
1 tbsp honey
¼ cup champagne vinegar
¼ light olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine the cucumber, onion, tomatoes, peaches and herbs in a bowl.  In a small sauté pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add the bacon and sauté for 5-7 minutes, until brown and crispy.  Remove bacon bits and drain on a paper towel.  Remove the pan from heat, then add the honey, vinegar and oil, mixing well to make a vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Let cool.  Toss veggies with vinaigrette just before serving, then top with bacon bits and some crumbles of goat cheese.

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Inspired by Chef Michael Symon’s Zucchini Crudo (in Simplicious, page 8), my version uses summer squash (or yellow zucchini) and cucumber as a base.  Very simple to make and very delicious!

2 yellow squash, thinly sliced
1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
1 avocado, peeled & sliced
1 small tomato, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
Juice of ½ lime
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp kosher salt
Black sea salt

Place the squash in a bowl, season with kosher salt, mix well and let set for 5 minutes.  This will draw out some of the liquid, giving the squash a crunchier texture.  Rinse and drain the squash well to remove the excess salt.  Combine the squash and cucumber in the bowl.  Set aside.  Make a quick dressing by combining the lime juice, and garlic.  Toss the squash and cucumber in the dressing.  Plate the veggies the top with the avocado, tomato and a sprinkling of black sea salt.  You can also add any fresh herbs you like. 

 

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warm-kale-salad-001

 

Lightly steam fresh kale, then drain and quickly sauté with chopped garlic and a splash of white wine vinegar. Toss the kale with chopped veggies of choice… I used red onion, summer squash, cherry tomatoes, and cauliflower “caviar” (finely chopped cauliflower for a little crunch).  Add chopped nuts for a little extra pizzaz- almonds, pine nuts, or walnuts would all be great. 

 

For an Asian flair, use rice vinegar instead of white wine, and add a few dashes of sesame oil, fresh grated ginger, shiitake mushrooms, and sesame seeds. 

For an Italian flair, use balsamic vinegar, and add basil and fresh mozzarella chunks.

For a Greek flair, add chopped cucumber, black olives, capers, lemon zest, and feta cheese.

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Thai Chicken Wraps

Serves 4

 

4 chicken breasts

¼ cup soy sauce

1 tbsp sesame oil

¼ cup maple syrup

½ cup water

1 garlic clove, minced

1” ginger, grated

1 tsp jalapeno, minced

Scallions, sliced

Lettuce

Carrot, thinly sliced or shredded

Red onion, thinly sliced

Bean sprouts

Any other veggies of choice

4 spinach tortillas

 

Combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, maple syrup, water, garlic, ginger and jalapeno.  Reserve ¼ of the marinade for dressing the wraps later.  Pour the remaining marinade over the chicken and let marinade for at least 1 hour in the fridge.  Heat grill to medium-high.  Grill chicken for 5-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through.  Let chicken cook, then slice thinly.  Lay out your tortilla wraps, top with lettuce, veggies, some sliced chicken and a drizzle of the sauce, then roll up like a burrito and chow away. 

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summer succotash

This is another one of those no-recipe-required (NRR) recipes.

 

Combine fresh corn off the cob with edamame (soybeans- you can find them frozen your local grocer or at the health food store), diced red onion, diced red pepper, fresh herbs ( parsley, chives, basil, scallions all do really well in this), diced cucumber, minced garlic, a fresh squeeze of lemon or lime juice, and a little drizzle of olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

 

This combo can be served straight-up or mixed with quinoa for a more substantial side dish.  Feel free to also toss in some cheese… feta crumbles or diced queso fresco work really well.  For a little southwestern kick, stir in a drizzle of your favorite chipotle sauce, or diced jalapeno.

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nectarine salsa

This recipe is so easy, it doesn’t need measurements… just go with your gut.

 

Combine diced nectarines, diced red onion, diced tomato, diced cucumber, a little minced garlic, a little grated ginger, a little minced jalapeno (optional), a fresh squeeze of lime juice, salt and pepper.  Serve up with your favorite tortilla chip at your next summer gathering.

 

You can also use this salsa as an accompaniment for grilled fish or chicken.

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Peach BBQ Salmon

Serves 4

 

1 lb salmon, cut into 4 portions

1 cup of your favorite bbq sauce

1 peach, chopped

1 spaghetti squash

1 zucchini, julienned

½ red onion, thinly sliced

Handful cherry tomatoes, halved

1 garlic clove, minced

Handful of basil, chopped

Handful of parsley, chopped

3 tbsp white balsamic or champagne vinegar

3 tbsp light olive oil

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

 

Preheat oven to 375˚.  Slice the spaghetti squash in half and remove the seeds.  Place on a cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Flip the squash halves over so they are cut side down, then roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes, until the skin begins to blister and the squash are tencer.  Remove, let cool completely, then using a fork gently scrape out the flesh which will come off in strands like spaghetti.  Transfer squash to a bowl, then add the zucchini, onion, tomatoes, garlic and herbs, vinegar and oil.  Mix well.  Season with salt and pepper to taste then set aside.  In the blender, puree the peach with the bbq sauce until it reaches a smooth consistency.  Pour over the salmon and let marinade in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.  Heat grill to medium-high.  Grill salmon, skin side down, for 5-7 minutes or until cooked through.  Serve with the Spaghetti squash slaw. 

 

This recipe would also be great with chicken.

 

 

 

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1 organic cantaloupe melon

2 organic cucumbers

Juice of 1 organic lemon

¼ cup agave nectar

¼ cup organic mint, chopped

 

Peel and seed the melon and cucumbers, roughly chop, then put in the blender with the lemon juice and agave nectar.  Puree until smooth.  Add in the mint and pulse to blend.  Pour the sorbet mixture into your ice cream maker and process according to manufacture’s directions. 

previously published on Greenopia

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1 organic avocado, peeled and pitted

4 oz organic cream cheese

1 organic clove garlic

Juice of ½ organic lemon

1 tbsp chopped organic chives

1 tbsp chopped organic dill

Salt and pepper to taste

Cucumber, thinly sliced

Radish, thinly sliced

Watercress or Arugula

Pumpernickel bread

 

Toss the first six ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth to make the creamy avocado spread.  Chill until ready to serve.  To prepare sandwich, spread two slices of pumpernickel with the avocado spread.  Layer one slice with watercress, cucumber and radish and top with the second slice of bread.  To make into tea sandwiches, trim off crust of bread, and cut sandwiches into triangles.  Chill until ready to serve.

previously published on Greenopia

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Serves 4-6

 

4 organic cucumbers, peeled

1 organic garlic clove

Juice of 2 organic limes

1 organic avocado, peeled and pitted

½ cup organic yellow bell pepper, diced

½ cup organic red onion, diced

½ cup organic cucumber, diced

½ cup organic celery, diced

¼ cup  organic parsley, chopped

¼ cup organic mint, chopped

½ cup organic plain yogurt

1 tbsp wasabi paste

Juice of ½ organic lime

Salt and pepper

 

Put cucumbers garlic, lime juice and avocado in blender and puree until smooth.  Add water if necessary to reach desired consistency.  Season with salt and pepper to taste, pour into bowl and chill.  Meanwhile, combine the bell pepper, onion, cucumber, celery, parsley and mint.  Set aside.  In a separate bowl combine the yogurt, wasabi paste and lime juice.  For less of a kick, reduce the amount of wasabi paste.  To serve, ladle chilled soup into a bowl, top with a few tablespoons of the chopped veggie mix and a dollop of wasabi cream. 

previously published on Greenopia

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