Eating with the Seasons: Summer Produce
Summertime is the perfect time to start eating with the seasons.
The arrival of summer also means an abundance of in-season, delicious fruits and veggies to support your health and well-being.
When produce is harvested at its peak ripeness, it's actually more nutritious. And, it tastes better.
If you want a little inspiration to spark your creativity in the kitchen, I’ve got some ideas that will help you whip up delicious garden-to-table recipes using the fresh fruits and veggies I’m currently harvesting from my kitchen garden this June.
Early Summer Season Garden-to-Table Ideas
How to Use Garlic Scapes
I love to saute garlic scapes, but if I had to choose just one recipe, they make an amazing pesto (pro tip: use your garlic scape pesto as a pizza sauce & thank me later). I have been obsessed with pickled garlic scapes lately, and it’s a great way to preserve them if you have a lot coming in at once.
Make Infused Water
My mouth is watering thinking about an ice-cold glass of water infused with garden fresh flavors. In early summer, I love to add fresh-picked strawberries and some type of herb to my water. Basil, mint, and lavender go particularly well with strawberry. Get creative pairing different fruit and herb combos, and come up with your own signature flavor.
Most farmers markets start in early May in the Midwest, so if you don’t have a garden, you know where to go! Find your favorite organic vendors and buy as local as possible to get those high nutrient levels and fresh flavors. It’s environmentally friendly to buy locally grown produce (less traveling!), which usually means you can save a little money – sustainable all around!
Grill Your Fruits + Veggies
Summer is the perfect time to grill out whether you’re throwing a party or cooking for one. Grilling garden fresh veggies gives them a depth and brings out their natural flavors. I love to make a smoky garden salsa with charred veggies from the grill and bright, fresh-picked herbs.
And if you’ve never grilled herbs, let’s change that this summer. Plums, peaches, and pineapple all lend well to grilling and the caramelization of the natural sugars in the fruit is just so delicious.
How to Add Fresh Herbs
The number one way to elevate a dish is to add some herbs. You can:
Create infused beverages + herbal tea blends
Garnish your plate for that restaurant-quality vibe
Add a chopped herb blend to salads for brightness
Infuse into oils, vinegars, dressings, and marinades
Add to soups, stews, smoothies, and even desserts
Ditch the dry, tasteless spices in your cabinet and add fresh flavor to your meals and beverages.
In the summertime, your body naturally craves lighter meals. Especially on a hot day.
There’s nothing worse than feeling sluggish and sweaty after a heavy meal in the summer. I believe eating with the seasons keeps our body in connection with nature. We feel healthier when we follow nature’s cycles.
We’ve gotten pretty used to the convenience of the modern grocery store, where you can buy avocados, tomatoes, and lemons year round, even when they are not in season. Convenience can definitely have it’s upsides, but I have personally experienced and seen the negative effects of living out of alignment with nature.
So if you’re like me and you’re craving that natural ease and connection to the earth, here’s a good rule of thumb to follow to get the nutrients your body needs to thrive: try to eat the rainbow every day. And make it fresh-picked!
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