SUMMER FAMILY MEALS

SUMMER FAMILY MEALS.

Summer demands a lot of fresh salads, fruits, smoothies and light meals. We need to shop very carefully and make sure the refrigerator has cold water, loads of vegetables and fruits, ices , milk,yogurts, cheese and dried fruits.

Plan to enjoy the outdoors and family time. Buy three times a week and plan the meals two days at a time. You can skip making heavy quiches, casseroles and heavy pastas, lasagnas and pastry foods. Go for easy egg dishes, quick smoothies, granolas, cereals,  corn, cheeses, dried fruits and  fruits in season.

We all love breads and crackers, but check the oil and salt content. Go for simple crackers, rye and rice products that are easy to digest.  Kids love spreads for quick sandwiches. Try avocadoes with tomatoes and grated apples. Another mix is grated kohlrabi, carrots and techina paste. Humus with cucumbers and olives is a never fail..

CRANBERRY SALAD.

Soak 1/2 cup of cranberries in balsamic vinegar overnight. Sauté 1/4 cup of flaked almonds and 1/4 cup of pecans in a littler olive oil for two to three minutes. Arrange.

 a large platter of mixed leaves, lettuce, thinly cut spinach {about four cups of the greens} and   a thinly sliced red onion. Mix the nuts and cranberries in and add 3/4 cup of grated feta over the salad. Serve with warmed whole-wheat bread and a minted butter..

You can serve cottage cheese instead of feta and sprinkle sunflower seeds on top. Enjoy.

GREEK SALAD AS A LARGE FAMILY MEAL.

Boil an egg per person,    black and green olives,  sliced tomatoes, cooked green beans, thinly sliced red onions,  sliced cucumbers, red and yellow peppers sliced thinly, cut up radishes lots of washed and dried lettuce and  finely chopped parsley. I cook a potato per person and some corn as well. Well by now it is salad for family and less Greek. But this is how to serve it. Take the largest tray or plate and arrange the lettuce and greens on the platter. Then in groups, arrange the eggs, olives , sliced potatoes, corn, etc............when people and children choose, they see what they want and go for that. If you add tuna, let it be on one side. This gives everyone; vegetarians  and fussy eaters a choice. On the side have two dressings. One can be sweeter and the other simply vinaigrette. I make a dressing of techina, olive oil, lemon juice and honey.. I grate feta cheese over the lettuce as well.  Have a few French loaves, good breads and butter.........you need nothing else.........

ROASTED SALAD.

Do this a day ahead. Warm the oven medium to hot. Wash three red and three yellow peppers, three zucchinis, three sweet potatoes, two garlic cut in half{sprinkle olive oil over them} two onions, cut in half, three tomatoes, {prick the tomatoes with a toothpick} sliced egg plant.  Cut the vegetables into strips and   slices.   Sprinkle olive oil and herb salt over all. Bake.   While this is happening, prepare instant cous cous. Saute chopped parsley, a few pine nuts and  a grated carrot.

Mix this into the ready couscous. Remove the baked vegetables and  arrange them on the bed of couscous with a light grating of cashew nuts over the top. Serve hot with a jar of yogurt on the side. This can be mixed with chopped dates in it. Lovely meal, looks colorful and tastes divine.

Make a happy table. Checked cloths in red or black with bright serviettes to make a contrast. Have jugs of fresh lemon, and pomegranate juice as well.

LOVE AND LIGHT FOR A GOOD WEEK AND HAPPY FAMILIES THAT ARE ENDING TERMS OF HARD SCHEDULES AND SCHOOL WORK................. HAPPY HOLIDAYS        RONA