I love this week's topic. One of my favorite things about spring time is getting lots of fresh produce at a realistic price. That is a price of living the in northeast and winter. This week's
Friday Five linkup topic is all about those fruits and veggies. So, with that, this week's topic is
Five Favorite Summer Produce
1. Peppers
Every day (ok, almost) I take a large salad to work as part of my lunch. I enjoy it, most days. The problem I run into is if it's the same salad every day, or if it's too plain. I can only eat lettuce, cheese, and dressing so many times. Enter the peppers. One of my favorite things to add are peppers: red, yellow, orange, I love my sweet peppers. They add a little crisp crunch and great taste. I'll also throw them on sandwiches, grill them up, and just eat them as I cut them.
2. Corn on the Cob
One of my favorite summer time sides is easily corn on the cob. Sweet, bicolor, white, doesn't matter, I'll eat it all the same. I have to see I really do love some sweet corn. Just a little bit of butter and I'm good to go. Most times we just boil it up, but also great when you can put in the extra time and grill it in the husk. So tasty. We had it just the other night with turkey burgers, and the kiddo absolutely loved it. The left over corn quickly became hers.
3. Pineapple
I really enjoy many fruits. One I love in summer time is some fresh cut pineapple. Nice and juicy, sweet, hard to beat. Though, the one thing I need to still do is some day have real pineapple, fresh someplace tropical like Hawaii. I've been told it can't be beat... and I believe it.
4. Leeks
Leeks is a vegetable we use for one main dish, but it's a goodie. We make
Rachael Ray's Leeky Chicken and Couscous fairly regularly while leeks are available. It's a tasty, filling, and healthy dish that also reheats well as leftovers. We usually double the recipe to give us a good bit of extra. I want to find more ways to use leeks, but just haven't really looked into more recipes yet. So If you have any suggestions, let me know in the comments.
5. Strawberries and blueberries
Last, I double up as strawberries and blueberries. I did this because, first, I love them both separately but often have them together. Second, I love them in the summer time, but they're one you can usually get the rest of the year here in VA at a good enough price when on sale. The most common way I use them is for a smoothie in the morning with a little greek yogurt, milk, and granola.
Linking Up
Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts:
Courtney, ;
Cynthia and
Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!
Our hosts:
Mar on the Run
Eat, Pray, Run DC
You Signed Up for What?!
Some other good reads, pulled from the link up:
Fairytales and Fitness
Run Jenny Run
Running with Perseverance
I've never had leeks and to be honest I wouldn't even know how to prepare them..lol.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I like to mix up my salads buy adding fresh fruit instead of veggies. Add some strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, oranges, etc on a bed of lettuce and toss with some balsamic vinegrette or sometimes you can find strawberry, blueberry or pomegranate vinegrette. Give it a try!
I'll have to give it a try. That will be a good way to mix it up during the week. I try to switch up dressings, plus I also love the little crunchy chow mein noodles on my salad.
DeleteI use leeks in soup, but I never really eat them in the summer. I'll have to check out that recipe.
ReplyDeleteTo keep my salads fresh, I like to add fruit or nuts or use a combo of Greek yogurt and salsa as my salad dressing. If I'm at home, I'll cook some lean protein and throw that on hot - that totally changes the character of my salads!
Sometimes I try to grill up some chicken at the beginning of the week so I have some I can throw on my salads throughout the week which helps. I've had salads with nuts on but for some reason, havent done it myself so I'll have to do that.
DeleteI am obsessed with corn on the cob! I love it but I also love summer berries, summer tomatoes and watermelon!
ReplyDeleteI will eat corn on the cob all summer long. SO tasty. I love getting it at a fair, when its grilled in the husk and then just dripping with butter.
DeleteAlso a big fan of summer berries and watermelon. Not the tomatoes though.
I've never tried leeks, John; I think, like you, I'm never quite sure what to do with them. I have had a few recipes that called for them and I've just replaced it with something else or omitted it completely. I need to find those - ha! Hope you have a fantastic holiday weekend!
ReplyDeleteYeah. If you find any and they're good, send them my way then, haha. Hope you have a great one too!
DeleteI have a crockpot lentil soup that uses leeks, but I've never thought of getting them in season. We grill corn on the cob naked - just husk it and put it on the grill - it's just as fast as boiling I think. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI may have to try that with the corn. The in husk is good, but a lot of work, haha.
DeleteLEEKS!!!! I LOVE THEM with all of my heart!
ReplyDeleteAny good suggestions for with them?
Deletemmmm.... yes to the peppers!! I love them in any form really and on salad especially. You're right it add that extra crunch that you need to vary it up. And you already know my feelings on corn on the cb ;) have a fab weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks. It was a good one. Hope you had a great weekend too.
Deletelove sweet peppers. and you are right. pineapple in hawaii is like none other. sooooo delicious!!
ReplyDeleteNeed to have that pineapple. Love my sweet pineapple.
DeleteI am with you on pineapple! So sweet and I love having them on my tacos (al pastor). I am craving some corn on the cob right now! Can't wait to read about your tri
ReplyDeleteI have some extra corn on the cob in the fridge that I may try and make up tonight. The tri was great. Working on the right up, but crazy work week with some evening coding making it a little tough to find the time.
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