Sweet summertime! This summer we chose to do a CSA, which I’ve mentioned no less than about a million times, but its only because of how much I’ve enjoyed it. We are part of an 18-week share from River Sun Farm. They are local (Statesville) and USDA organic and we’ve been really pleased with the quality and quantity we’ve received each week.
It has made meal planning a little different, but since they mail out what we will be getting each Sunday (pick up is on Thursday), it’s definitely doable. It’s forced me to shake up meals (especially sides) and I love that the girls love combing through the bags with me as we try to figure out what everything is.
Here’s what we’ve been eating lately: summer edition!
Summer Meal 1
Beer soaked bratwursts, wax beans (prepared my family’s favorite way), roasted cabbage (which was surprisingly awesome: slice 1/2 inch thick, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and roast at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes), and a summer squash and zucchini bake that honestly didn’t turn out that well and isn’t worth sharing.
Summer Meal 2
We have ordered some eggs through the CSA once of twice ($4) and they’ve been really great- big with bright yolks. We also started with a lot of leafy greens in our CSA deliveries so I ate a lot of fried egg over sausage and spring onions, with mustard greens, and fruit (cherries here).
Summer Meal 3
I love salads, wraps and sandwiches in summertime and these buffalo chicken wraps are the best, especially with lightened up homemade blue cheese dressing (SO good).
Summer Meal 4
I feel this will be the summer of sandwiches and it’s all about the topping for me! This one has sharp cheddar, ham, avocado, onion, tomato, and a thin smear of mayo.
Summer Meal 5
I just can’t stop with the egg breakfasts. This time I sauteed CSA kale and spring onions, with sausage and cherry tomatoes, then topped it with a fried egg and 1/2 an avocado. My favorite breakfast!
Summer Meal 6
Simple broiled salmon (drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper then broil for 10-12 minutes until flaky) over cauliflower rice and grape tomatoes, topped with a garlic scape and walnut pesto.
Summer Meal 7
We have received numerous cucumbers in each delivery, and this lettuce-less Greek Chicken Salad is my favorite lunch I’ve made with them: diced cucumber, diced red onion, diced cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta, chopped leftover chicken, and kalamata olives, all drizzled with olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper. I could eat this every day!
Summer Meal 8
This isn’t actually a real meal; it’s what I contributed to a 4th of July cookout, but I could basically make a meal out of a veggie tray and spinach dip. I used the old fashion veggie soup dry spice pack with sour cream, mayo, spinach, and water chestnuts. Reminds me of childhood!
Summer Meal 9
I made a roast in the crock pot and served it over white rice with grape tomatoes and sauteed zucchini and summer squash with a leek vinaigrette I found in my Eating Well cookbook. It was great!e
Summer Meal 10
Did I mention the summer of sandwiches? And you can’t go wrong with a BLT! I stopped by Josh’s Farmer’s Market for some bread from Nova’s Bakery, real tomatoes, and bacon. The layers are: toasted bread, sharp cheddar, onions, avocado, thick sliced tomatoes, salt and pepper, bacon, lettuce, and a thin smear of mayo. Incredible tasting!
Summer Meal 11
A throwback to my favorite breakfast of yore, a fried egg on avocado and sriracha toast with cherries and blueberries (from the CSA!) on the side.
Summer Meal 12
This stir fry lunch came together better than I anticipated. I had snow peas and spring bunching onions left from my CSA delivery so I sauteed them with leftover chicken, grape tomatoes, and soy sauce. Then I sprinkled hemp seeds over the whole thing and it made for a really tasty hot lunch!
I really love the fresh produce of summer and am trying to leave no veggie left unexplored!
What are some of your favorite summertime meals?
Have you tried a new-to-you vegetable lately?
Heather says
Ironically, getting a bearded dragon means we have a lot more interesting greens and veggies on hand. Haha! Because he won’t eat enough, I don’t want any of it going to waste, so I’m going to try my hand at collard greens and we’ve often got dandelion and mustard greens on hand as well. We’ve been doing lots of sandwiches as well and my kids love Rolly Wraps (sandwich wraps) – they will actually eat greens if I stick them inside! Win!
Brittany Dixon says
Did you come up with the name rolly wrap? Because I think that is too cute! Haha, now I want to start saying that myself 🙂
Heather says
Haha, actually it was my kids who first asked for Rolly Wraps! I had no idea what they meant until they told me they had them at day care and they WANTED salad inside! I was like, yes. You can absolutely have one. Ha!
Madeline says
Everything looks so good!!
Mona says
I need to try the roasted cabbage, never thought about cooking this way.
Summer here doesn’t have a “summer feeling” at all as it’s still very cold, so I find it impacts very little on the food I eat. Maybe one or two extra salads in there 🙂
Catlin says
These literally all look amazing! I am going to have to make some of these asap – those buffalo chicken wraps scream summer to me. Simple and yummy.
Stephanie says
Your greek salad looks amazing. I feel like I haven’t been eating salads because I haven’t wanted lettuce – so thanks for the reminder that a salad doesn’t HAVE to include lettuce 🙂
sherry says
Every meal looks delicious. I too could eat that Greek salad every day. Will have to try roasting the cabbage. Thanks for the many ideas!
Natasha says
Lovely healthy and colourful meals!! A summer favourite of mine is cucumber and granny smith apples with a sprinkle of salt and vinegar, it is so yummie!!
Hubby also loves, rosa tomatoes, cucumber, chickpeas, olives, and finely sliced onions as a salad, I usually add some colourful peppers in there, and now it’s a whole family favourite, and it keeps for the next day, which I love. I usually take out the middle part of the cucumber, so that things don’t get too soggy.
Dana says
Love these ideas! Thanks for the inspiration:)