How do you start thinking about your Summertime Meals?
Well, the first thing that comes to my mind is corn. Not just any corn, but the corn I’ve gotten at Jimbo’s. Organic. Fresh. Sweet.
And here’s how the creative juices start flowing….
Why do we have to strip the corn? We don’t do it when we grill, right?
RIGHT CHEF!
So, one time, as a test I boiled my corn in the husk, cut each piece in half and served it in the husk. OMG! The flavor is crazy good! And when you go to peel it at your plate, the silk comes right off, easily – instead of fighting with it, raw.
So start with corn. Add a salad. And then my recommendation is: Come up with at least three more fun dishes!
How easy and flavorful AND I might add healthy is red kidney beans and pistachios? Just think beans and nuts and you can come up with a ton of side dish ideas that are unique.
And how about pickling your own pickles – either fast, or let it take 7 days and have your own garlic dill feast! The probiotics are great for you!
Last but not least, how about using beets to color your food? In this quinoa, baby kale, beet salad you’ve got the interesting color that is very festive and fun, but also extremely good for you to eat!
Everything you see here was bought at Jimbo’s except of course my own pickled pickles. The cucumbers came from Coastal Roots Farm in
Encinitas and they are now open every Thursday afternoon I believe until 7pm. It’s organic, it’s fresh and it’s way less expensive.
And guess what? This inexpensive meal is also vegan. Perfect for Meatless Mondays!
I was talking to someone the other day about how my diet has evolved into 80% vegan, and 90% sugar and alcohol free (clean and green at home, and all bets are off when I go out for dinner). I never feel denied, so it works for me.
But I will tell you it happened this way: First, I committed to Meatless Mondays. Then I had leftover on Tuesday, maybe for lunch, adding another vegan meal to my week. Lucky for me, my daughter and son-in-law are vegan and when I come for dinner that adds another vegan meal. Restaurant Reviews? I guess I have to check out vegan restaurants. And on and on I went, looking for excuses to create or eat vegan meals.
Jimbo’s by the way have been a big help for me, not only with their salad bar and complete food counter that allows me to pick vegan ‘sides’ and mix and match for a lunch, but they also have a terrific Lone Star Sandwich, totally vegan, totally delish!
Last recommendation? Their vegan pumpkin pie. Less sugar and it’s like eating a vegetable. If you were going to have something in your 20% range of eating junk….. then this is something you can easily get addicted to. It’s still pie but it’s a better choice.
They usually make them around the holidays, but I ‘special order’ one for myself or if I am going to a dinner party, at least once a month!
Happy Healthy Eating,
