Summer gives us a bounty of fresh fruits & vegetables. A walk through your local farmer’s market is like a trip to a candy store: all bright colors and fresh flavors. The bonus? All of summer’s “candy” is good for you too!
Health Perks of Summer’s Bounty
Summer is the best time for so many fruits & vegetables. Some of my favorites:
- tomatoes
- zucchini
- summer squash
- peppers
- berries, especially blueberries
- watermelon
- peaches
Fresh fruits & vegetables are loaded with antioxidants that can help fight disease and aging. Fiber is another benefit, keeping your GI tract working smoothly and combating weight gain by making you feel full. And for those amongst us who are not big water drinkers, you’ll be happy to know that most fruits & vegetables are at least 90% water, so load up your plate and drink up!
Who wants to cook on a hot day? Try these cold recipes for a yummy dinner that will keep you and your kitchen cool. My reward for these cool tomato recipes? My neighbor just stopped by with some fresh from her garden!
Gazpacho
Serves 6 – 8 as a starter
6 large ripe tomatoes (any variety as long as they’re ripe), cut into small cubes with all of the juices
1 medium red onion, cut into small cubes
¼ English seedless cucumber, peeled and cut into small cubes
3 large bell peppers (try red, orange and yellow), seeded and cut into small cubes
½ chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 cup (or more) low-sodium tomato juice
Combine first 6 ingredients (tomatoes through vinegar) in a large bowl, tossing to combine.
Add enough tomato juice to bring it to your desired consistency.
For a smoother soup, combine all ingredients in a blender and puree.
Serve cold.
Download the printable Gazpacho PDF
Greek Salad
Serves 4
3 large ripe tomatoes, cut into chunks
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
½ English seedless cucumber, cut into chunks
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chunked
1 cup pitted Kalamata olives
½ chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
½ pound good quality Greek feta cheese, cubed
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
Combine first 7 ingredients (tomatoes through feta cheese) in a large bowl.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients. Pour over salad and toss gently to coat.
Download the printable Greek Salad PDF
Tags: farmers market, Recipes
