The summer days have got me kickin’ back and relaxing a lot lately- amidst getting up at 4am to go to work, but some of the extra time I have is spent at the supermarket picking through the produce. One of the greatest joys in life for a vegetarian foodie like me is finding some great looking fruits and veggies and with spring just behind us and summer underneath our toes, there is sure to be great selections.
A great way to check out which fruits and veggies grow best in the summer months is to do a little research and so I did. Here is a link that outlines seasonal fruits and veggies to look out for as you choose your menu for summer BBQ’s and dinner parties alike.
For example a few fruits and veggies that I have been using so far and will most likely continue to use in the kitchen throughout the summer include: avocados, cherries, cucumbers, watermelon, tomatoes and eggplant. There’s nothing like making a beautiful multi-colored, sweet and juicy fruit salad with watermelon chunks, strawberries, blueberries, and even cherries. It’s a great way to get your daily serving of fruit and feel refreshed on a hot, summer day. Also when it comes to making salads, you can guarantee that the juicy, red tomatoes ripening in your garden will compliment the cucumbers that are ready to be chopped and eaten as well. Avocados of course are in a league of their own in my opinion and though they’re the hardest to keep from turning brown, when you use them in recipes, they are sure to add substance and life to any dish.
CHILDHOOD STORY MOMENT:
When I was younger, my Dad and I would spend summer days in his garden and every so often there would be times where he would grab a red tomato right off the vine and bite into like an apple. It was incredible! I would of course get grossed out because I had a texture problem with tomatoes as a young girl, but the thought of having our very own supermarket in our yard was awesome! He would even pick a few cucumbers off of the vine and slice them in half so I could sprinkle a little salt and pepper on them and crunch away. Delizioso!! I don’t think there was a day when my mom wouldn’t mix all of the garden veggies together to make one heck of a salad for dinner. Our family strongly believes in the importance of having a garden because there’s something about walking into your backyard and picking fruits and veggies fresh off their stems that picking produce out at a grocery store can never match…
You may ask what is the difference if I eat certain foods when their in season? Well, my answer for 
you is why not? They are guaranteed to be fresh and because their in season, take advantage of their goodness and use them in recipes and meals as much as possible. There’s no enjoyment that comes from eating avocados in the dead of winter when you know that it is completely unnatural for them to be at their best during that time…plus our bodies adore seasonal produce consumption and when your body is in balance and healthy, your mood will be too. Give it a try and let me know how it goes. I’m curious to see which summer produce items are your favorite to use…Tell me your stories!
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