I created this recipe while on vacation earlier this summer using fresh seafood from a coastal fish market. I have enjoyed this dish back at home with local bell peppers from my CSA share and the taste brings back wonderful memories from vacation. The seafood may not be local, but I believe in cooking with whatever regional ingredients you can access. I love how cooking one recipe in different parts of the country or world can result in the use of different locally-sourced ingredients.
15-Minute Shrimp and Pesto Spaghetti Squash
Fall squash can be super fast and simple to prepare. My microwaved version is as tasty as oven roasted spaghetti squash, and you can make this meal in 15 minutes. Pesto makes a great sauce for this vegetable “pasta” dish, topped with sautéed fragrant garlic, lean shrimp, nutritious spinach and nutty Parmesan cheese.
Eggplant and Summer Squash Stacks
Summer is not over yet, and I’m not ready to say goodbye to some of my favorite seasonal produce. If you are like me and want to savor these flavors as long as you can, fire up the grill and celebrate these last couple of weeks before we welcome fall. Eggplant is a great match for summer squash stacked between layers of melted fresh mozzarella and homemade pesto. Enjoy as an appetizer or pair with a simple salad and a glass of your favorite white wine for an easy dinner outdoors as you watch the sunset.
Grilled Squash Blossom and Roasted Garlic Pizza
Edible flowers? Yes, please! Squash blossoms are, as you guessed it, flowers from squash plants. These delicate flowers have a light and crisp flavor with a subtle taste of summer squash. While they can simply be used as garnish, they make a delicious and beautiful addition to your meal. You don’t need decorations on your plate when your meal is this colorful. Roasted garlic adds a sweet and mellow garlic taste that compliments mildly sweet dollops of ricotta cheese and roasted summer vegetables.
B-Kale-T Bites
Move over lettuce, sautéed kale is a new match for crispy bacon and juicy tomato slices. Served over toasted baguette slices, these bites make a hardy appetizer that is easy to eat with your hands. It’s an easy dish to make with two farm-fresh ingredients from your Community Supported Agriculture share or with summer favorites from the Farmers’ Market. This dish pairs well with an earthy Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley Oregon. Just make this simple recipe, open a bottle of vino and you are ready to entertain.
Summer Fruit and Vegetable Salad
This salad tastes as splendid as a beautiful summer day feels, with sweet melon, refreshing cucumbers and juicy cherry tomatoes. Freshly chopped produce this time of year is delicious served uncooked and the combinations are endless. The addition of cantaloupe takes this salad from simple to spectacular. It is a great dish to pack for a picnic or enjoy at home along with grilled chicken on the patio.
Grilled Cabbage Wedge Salads
There’s something so beautiful about a wedge salad where you can see layers of green produce decorated with your favorite toppings. Instead of lettuce, I used cabbage grilled in foil packs with an orange-sage marinade that doubles as a warmed dressing. Crunchy bacon and melt-in-your-mouth blue cheese round out my Grilled Cabbage Wedge Salads. These are elegant enough for entertaining and simple enough to make on a busy night.
Summer Veggie and Steak Kebabs
Summertime meals should be easy, delicious and fun to make. Nothing says fun like food on a stick, and the aroma of grilled kebabs will make everyone thrilled to eat their veggies. Light on the meat and heavy on the vegetables, my Summer Veggie and Steak Kebabs are a great way to use seasonal produce. Substitute the squash and tomatoes for zucchini and bell peppers or use all to add even more color your plate. Serve with whole grain rolls and a simple salad for a quick and well-rounded meal. Cheers to outdoor cooking and making simple meals with fresh produce.
Berry Breakfast Quinoa
Hearty quinoa with its nutty flavor compliments sweet berries and crunchy almonds in this breakfast bowl that will keep you satisfied all morning. Substitute the blackberries and blueberries for any seasonal berry in your region of the world. Quinoa is a complete protein, offering all of the essential amino acids, making it a great choice for vegetarians and vegans. It’s also an excellent whole grain option for those with celiac or gluten sensitivities since it’s naturally gluten-free.
Cabbage Bowl with Thai Peanut Sauce
Tender cabbage coated in mildly spiced peanut sauce replaces noodles in this delicious Thai bowl. Carrots and bean sprouts add color and crunch to this veggie packed dish paired with your favorite protein. It is really quick to make and you can even turn this into a 10-minute meal if you grill your protein and make your sauce in advance. Leftovers are delicious the next day if you are lucky enough to have leftovers.
Zucchini Pecan Muffins
Zucchini is such a versatile vegetable and these muffins are just one sweet way to prepare this produce. Pecans add a nutty flavor, crunch and protein. An ice cream scooper with a release lever works wonders to fill the cups without making a mess. When I have extra zucchini on hand, I like to double the batch and freeze for a quick breakfast on the go.
Grilled Fish Tacos with Kohlrabi Slaw
Nothing reminds me of the beach more than grilled seafood, and this recipe will have you dreaming of your next vacation. I actually brought fresh seafood home from my last trip to make these and paired them with kohlrabi from my weekly farm share from Sustainable Harvest Farm. The kohlrabi slaw adds a nice crunch to these fresh tacos, bringing the taste of the beach to your backyard. You can also make these with any white fish you have on hand, like halibut or tilapia. I like to enjoy mine with a mojito or margarita and chips and salsa.
