3 Recipes to kick off summer the RIGHT way! Delicious, nutritious, and loved by the whole family!
Summer Watermelon Feta Salad
*Ingredients*
-Watermelon
-Crumbled Feta cheese
-Fresh peppermint leaves
-Fresh basil leaves
*Health Benefits*
-Hydration + antioxidants (anti
cancer + support immune health)
-Sodium (replaces electrolytes lost
in sweat), calcium
-Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, + soothes
the digestive tract
-Powerful anti-septic properties
(known as the king of herbs-
helps irradicate harmful microbes + viruses from the body)
*Preparation*
-Cube watermelon into bite size pieces + lightly sprinkle with salt
(pro tip- save the juices that run off to add to water or other beverages!)
-Add cubed watermelon + Feta to a large bowl
-Tear or cut the fresh mint + basil leaves into the bowl as large as you desire
-Gently mix everything together and chill until ready to serve
Mexican Street Corn Salad
*Ingredients*
-2-4 cups canned (drained), sliced off the cob (cooked), or frozen (thawed)
corn kernels
-1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
-2 cloves or 2tbsp minced garlic
-1tsp each: garlic salt, cumin, smoked paprika, chipotle chile powder,
+ black pepper
-A dash of cayenne pepper (if you like spicy)
-1 avocado, diced (freeze diced chunks for about 1 hour for firmer pieces)
-1/8 cup each sour cream, mayo, and plain Greek yogurt
-1-2 Roma tomatoes, diced OR about 10 cherry tomatoes, quartered
-1 fresh squeezed lime or 2tbsp lime juice
-1 cup cotija, feta, or queso fresco cheese
*Health Benefits*
-Good source of fiber for healthy GI tract
-Contains prebiotics + easily digestable complex carbohydrates
-Promotes circulation + posesses anti-bacterial properties
-Healthy fat source
-Adds protein + small amounts of probiotics
-Contain lycopene, a powerful anti-cancer agent
-Fresh citrus provides concentrated vitamin C to support immune health
-Sodium (replaces electrolytes lost in sweat) + calcium
*Preparation*
-Prepare all of your vegetables + add to a large bowl
-Add spices + gently mix to coat veggies
-Add mayo, sour cream, and yogurt; mix to combine
-Chill until ready to serve
IF PREFERRED WARM:
-Heat corn + garlic in a saucepan or crock pot until thoroughly warmed
-Add spices + stir, remove from heat
-Once removed from heat, add red onion + tomatoes
-Allow the mixture to cool for about 10 minutes then add lime juice
and mayo, sour cream, and yogurt. Mix well
-Add cheese + mix. Top with a light dusting of paprika and serve warm
Grilled Portobello "Burgers"
*Ingredients*
-Large portabello mushroom caps
-Olive oil
-Seasoning of choice
-Preferred toppings such as lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, fresh spread, etc.
*Health Benefits*
-Good source of vitamin D + selenium
-Healthy fat source
-Veggies contain added fiber and nutrients, homemade spreads contain less
added ingredients like sugar and preservatives
*Preparation*
-The best way to prevent dry mushrooms is to make sure they are full of
liquid. Mushrooms absorb like a sponge, so a marinade is a good choice.
-Let your mushrooms marinate for at least 30 minutes. To make your
marinade, simply combine olive oil, your preferred seasonings, and a small
amount of vinegar to cover the mushrooms. I prefer adding it all to a large
ziploc bag and laying them flat
-Heat your grill and remove your mushrooms from the liquid. Be sure to light-
ly pat dry the outsides to prevent drippings making a mess! Be careful- the
mushrooms will likely be very tender + may break apart
-Place your mushroom caps on the grill for just a few minutes on each side.
Remeber- they can be eaten raw, so you're only looking to warm the middle
and get nice grill marks on each side.
-If you're adding cheese, add it while the second side is on the grill
-Serve while hot with a bun and toppings of choice!
*Homemade Spreads*
-Homemade ketchup (less sugar + sodium)
-Homemade relish (can be made with pickles or zucchini)
-Dill Dip (plain Greek yogurt, garlic salt, + dill weed. Plain good.)
-Homemade onion dip (way less sodium + ususally more flavor)
Have you tried any of these recipes? Please leave us a comment or a photo and let us know how you liked some of our summer favorites!