Summer Recipes
Blackberry, Feta and Mint Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Last summer, a friend of mine offered me one week of her farm share as her family was leaving town and wouldn’t be home to use the food. Included in the stash of colorful summer veggies was a bunch of fresh spearmint, some crisp greens, and a box of plump, juicy blackberries. My mind immediately…
Black and Blueberry and Oat Muffins
Packed with filling protein, fiber, calcium, and a generous dose of naturally sweet fruit, these muffins offer a deliciously wholesome way to start the day! In my mind, blueberry muffins are a delicious, tender, white flour affair–sort of like cake! As often as I create healthy muffin recipes, until now I had not messed with…
Classic Spanish Sangria
Authentic Spanish sangria is simple to make and delivers nuanced flavor with eye-catching appeal. Perfect for entertaining and easy to customize with your favorite fruits and wine. My first taste of sangria came years ago while living in Madrid. It has been a summertime favorite ever since. Fruity and refreshing, it is popular with…
Gluten-Free Grilled Pizza
When my dad had to give up wheat, there were a few things he really missed: his favorite spice cake, a good cinnamon raisin cookie, and pizza. To this day, he gets excited when he sees a restaurant in town that offers gluten-free pizza. Most of the time, however, he reports that he wouldn’t order…
Strawberry Slushy Punch
This is the perfect summertime, non-alcoholic drink. It makes a special beverage for kids or adults who prefer “unleaded”, as my dad would say. A convenient option to blender drinks, this slush is prepared in advance and stored in the freezer until ready to use. Entertaining made easy! Depending on the size of your group,…
Lemon Thyme Dijon Grilled Chicken (a variation on Wicked Good Chicken)
Wicked Good Chicken is a delicious in-a-hurry dinner that relies on pantry ingredients. No marinade time necessary. Bakes in twenty minutes. Pair it with one of my all-time favorite salads–Apple-Pecan Spring Greens with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette–and you have a complete meal that is worthy of company. Slice cold leftovers and serve them overtop of the same…
Fruit Rainbow
You can literally eat the rainbow with this vibrant fruit platter, which is sure to be a hit at backyard cookouts, birthday parties, and festive meals throughout the year. Roy G. Biv. I can remember the day my grandmother taught me that name as a way to remember the colors of the rainbow. Red, Orange,…
Watermelon Rosemary Flavored Water
I drink a lot of water, but in the summertime, flavored waters hold a certain appeal to me. Yet, I know they are not all natural and many have artificial sweeteners. So, when I came across suggestions for various all-natural, flavored waters recently, I decided to give it a go. To me, the watermelon looked…
Aunt Barb’s Strawberry Chiffon Pie
This retro dessert boasts a flavorful custard base that is lightened with egg whites and is the ideal way to make use of summer’s strawberry bounty. Aunt Barb was not technically my aunt; she was my neighbor growing up. She was a special lady and I was thrilled to get this recipe from her…
Summer Sauté
In the warmer months, many of the green vegetables are so tender, they need only a quick sauté to bring out their best flavor. I love this combination and will often keep it simple, sautéing in olive oil with a bit of salt and pepper. In a few extra minutes and with minimal ingredients, however,…
Grilled Tuna with Avocado Wasabi Sauce
Sitting at our sons’ lacrosse game, my friend, Christina, told me about a marinade that she had recently used on swordfish. When the evening’s plans went awry and she had to save the already-marinating swordfish for the next night, she realized that an overnight marinade worked quite well with this recipe. She was kind enough…
Grilled Flank Steak with Greeked-Out Gorgonzola and Tomato Salsa
A wholesome, flavor-packed topping adds complementary flavor and fresh appeal to grilled flank steak. Easy to make and leftovers offer an ideal protein topper to a big dinner salad another night. In many ways, flank steak is the perfect entree after a busy day. The prep and cook time are mere minutes and the flavor…
