I cannot STOP eating this!
Ok, so we’re in the dog days of summer. It’s hot. I don’t want to turn on the oven and I’m running around doing 80 million things. I don’t know about you, but I often forget to eat! And that’s saying a lot….
Not eating is a problem. Overlooking the obvious fact that we need to eat every day (well, maybe…..but that’s a topic for another day), when you skip meals during the summer and you’re out in the hot summer sun, you’re asking for trouble!
Most days, I find myself elbow deep in tomatoes or kale. Obviously, I’m snacking the entire time I’m in the garden. Or near the garden. Or go to the garden to pick some tomatoes. Have you tried those Sungold cherry tomatoes? They’re like crack.
Anyways, I find that an easy way to keep me on track and not turn into a tomato is to have a bunch of super delicious, quick and easy recipes at the ready.
Today, I am sharing with you a collection I put together of 20 recipes that are just that - quick, easy, delicious, and all of which contain several ingredients that are either right from my garden or easily found at the Farmers Market.
What do I look for in a summer go-to recipe?
Besides being quick, easy, and delicious, here’s my criteria for Summertime Obsessions:
Pack a BIG flavor punch! No wimpy food here! Like I said, sometimes I forget to eat so when I have recipes planned that kick my taste buds in the pants, I really look forward to eating them.
Contain minimal ingredients. No laundry lists of weird ingredients. Just simple, delicious, real food. This helps keep things simple but also keeps my health goals in mind.
Protein-packed. Don’t skip in the protein department just because you want to eat a bit lighter. Protein doesn’t mean hot, greasy slabs of meat. It can be light and delicious! Think outside the box with other lean sources of protein such as tofu, tempeh, and seitan (if you can do wheat). Pretty much everything you can make with meat, you can make with one of these healthier alternatives. Summer is a great time to try out some of these!
Bright, sunny, and glowing! What does this mean? I don’t know exactly. But I know when I see it! When I think of bright and sunny foods, I think of citrus dressings, crisp sun ripened tomatoes, juicy cukes, and deeply colored berries fresh from the vines.
Great for sharing with others. What’s better than enjoying delicious foods with those you love? Whether it’s at a party or sipping mocktails on the patio watching the sunset. Summer + friends + food just go hand in hand!
Easy to alter. Since I try to eat from my garden or the Farmers Market as much as possible this time of year, I favor recipes that can easily be altered depending on what I have on hand. I don’t have time to run to the grocery store every day!
There you have it. I know, I’m a tough critic when it comes to summertime yumminess! But for real, these recipes are the ones that I have been obsessing over for the past few weeks.
Don’t think you have to change up everything, especially when you’re trying to eat healthier! What if you changed just five of your regular recipes? Easy, right?! Keep things simple, especially during the summer when the last place you want to be is cooking for hours in a hot kitchen!
This collection is my FREE gift to you! I hope you try these recipes and maybe some will become family favorites! I would love to hear about it.
Cheers to beautiful summer nights filled with delicious foods and magnificent company!