28.7.10

Summer Vegetarian Eating



The foods in season and the herbs that grow plentifully in our garden guide our summer menu.

We don't grow bananas but this is a common breakfast: bananas, non-fat vanilla yogurt, soya milk
Lunch: Greens, tomato, mozzarella and fresh basil
Washing and prepping mint
Using a bunch of fresh mint, left over corn on the cob, tomatoes and whole wheat couscous from Trader Joe's I made this quick and easy veggie meal.

When it is super hot out I prefer to not eat meat so we are eating lots of vegetarian meals and fish.
Dr. J and I were vegetarians before we had monkeys and now we tend to eat meat seasonally.

The next night for dinner I made salmon patties and used the left over couscous, adding new herbs.
Salmon patty with a chunk of Blue Stilton and couscous salad with fresh cilantro, tomatoes and red onions.

Do you find you also eat less meat when it is hot out?

If you are a vegetarian what are some of your favorite summer dishes?

33 comments:

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I am a vegetarian. I'll take that caprese salad you have there, looks delish, also the corn/tomato jumble - yum.
It is so darn hot here in Phoenix during the summer, we eat a lot of salads - fruit, veggie, quinoa etc, also do panini's quite often. Nothing that requires turning on the oven.

mermaid gallery said...

Actually we tend to eat more meat because my husband loves to barbecue in the summer. It's the carbs that we drop...We eat lots of salads, lots of fruit, ...but no pasta, rice, potatoes, or bread.

essbesee said...

I wish I had your cooking and food sensibilities. I was just at the store and wanted to cook or make something for dinner as wonderful as what I see here, but chicken and rice it will be. that all looks SOooooooo delicious. I may have to commission you for a recipe book. I just can't come up with ideas at all.

Noodles and Waffles said...

I definitely don't eat as much meat in the summer. It's just too hot to be near a stove/grill/oven.

This food looks fabulous. I want some. {tummy grumble}

The Brick Cottage said...

Oh my that looks delicious! I also used to be a vegetarian and we mostly eat meat in the winter--it's just too heavy for the summer. Our favorite summer meal has become cheese tortellini with a no cook pasta sauce (combine chopped tomatoes and basil, minced onion and garlic, drizzle with olive oil and cover--let it sit at room temp for 2-10 hours--it is so addictive!).

Lenore @ Lather. Write. Repeat. said...

I'm not a vegetarian but I love roasted veggies tossed in pesto, then topped on couscous with crumbled feta. Yum!

XO
Lenore

Kristin H said...

Looks so fabulous! I am coming for breakfast!
Fantastic Post about Plastic by they. Go Girl!
I wish I could live completely by farmers markets and never use pre-packed anything..
I never use plastic bags anymore that´s for sure.
Have a lovely daY

Karumen said...

the salad looks good!! fresh vegies are always perfect for the summer heat....

Silver Strands said...

THIS is why I love your blog! Love, LOVE it! Ummm ... favorite veggie meals, not including salad ... Oh! I make an amazing veggie lasagna. I use the left-over fiber after juicing, add it to homemade sauce and make an amazing lasagna out of it. SOOOO yummy.
oxoxox
Denalee

Julia, the Thanksgiving Girl said...

Ohh yumm, I think I'd love to spend a day eating with you at your house haha All of these look and sound so good to me!

As for my summer eating habits... I don't think they change that much because of the heat, more like because of me having easier access to more fruit, veggies and berries. It's like when I travel to a seaside destination - I then start eating a whole lot more seafood. Ideally I would always eat that much seafood and fruit and veggies and berries though :)

P.S. Where do I leave my autpgraph? LOL :)

Grace said...

We eat a tomato pesto - so good.
Its basil, toasted pine nuts, garlic, salt and pepper and fresh tomato whirled in the food processor. Toss with pasta - so fresh.

I love couscous but nobody else in my family likes it....

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

Everton- I feel you! Good reminder to take my pannini maker out- You are so right- great meal!
Susan- I also feel less carby and more grainy.
Sherri- Chicken and rice is great- and you made that veggie thing with the weird shaped squash!
The Brick- that sounds good- a no cook sauce is perfect- thanks for the tip.
Lenore- Love roasted or grilled veggies- I like to make a lot in advance and add them to dishes during the week.
Kristin- I know, people who are aware try to reduce and yet I also wish I did so much more.
Karumen- Thanks
Silver- Thanks- and what a great idea!
Julia- You are welcome anytime!
Grace- Love pesto, I do a similar pesto and sometimes use walnuts and flax seeds too!

3 hungry tummies said...

Food this fresh and colourful I can do without meat!

Lovely World said...

Roasted beets, sliced, tossed with olive oil and vinegar and a smidge of chopped parsley or basil. EASY.

thatsoaplady said...

Wow! Looks fantastic! you are making me very hungry

ilovemyhouse said...

You have monkeys? Did i read that right?
Mozzarella salad and couscous hhhh, vey nice. You know what i like about the two dishes, the way mozzarella and couscous feels in your mouth ( or am i crazy). As Enlish is not my language it's hard to explain somethin sometimes. Anyway, everything looks delicioso.
XX

Jacqui said...

Great summer foodie ideas here. We love minted couscous, roasted veg and fried halloumi cheese. And my word verification for this comment is cooke! xxx

dulci said...

everything looks yummy!

http://ladulcivida.blogspot.com/

Diana Mieczan said...

I love salads so much and in winter I love cream soups....That is such a wonderful post...so yummy:) i am going to try this banana shake...:)

Kisses,sweetie

Bending Birches said...

::drool:: the food looks amazing.....oh man. I am indeed a vegetarian, and the summer dishes are among my favorites---corn and quinoa salads...tomato and mozz salad...anything with arugula...mmmm...

liz said...

Ooh those banana smoothies look so so good!
I love taco salad in the summer! So refreshing and filling!
I use:
chips, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, avocado, corn, cheese, some salsa and the secret ingredient: italian dressing!

Lady Grey said...

all this looks so yummy & wholesome!

The hubs & I are what I call "at home vegetarians". I only cook vegetarian, but when we go out for dinner or eat at other people's places we'll eat anything.
Either way, we always tend to eat a little lighter in the summer... except for all those summer barbecues!
oxo

and flowers pick themselves said...

i don't think i eat less meat, but i definitely eat more fruit.

:)

xo Alison

jemina said...

YES!!! I prefer salads in hot days!!! great post!!! xoxo

Reya Mellicker said...

Love mint so very much. But guacamole now there is an absolutely perfect food in every way conceivable. I miss California avocados. They are so expensive here. Dang, man.

Lily Boot said...

ha! I'm so glad I just called by! I have a huge pile of slowly browning bananas sitting in front of me on the table. I shall puree them with yoghurt and pop them into the freezer for later. Perfect! As for summer vegetarian food - it's winter here, but my favourite salad for taking to work at the moment is a large handful of green beans (topped and tailed), 2 tomatoes chopped, half an avocado scooped out and broken up a sprinkle of olive oil, a grind of sea salt, some chunks of goats cheese and I'm a happy girl.

k said...

you should go in to business creating weekly menus - I would buy them! :) I've been living on caprese salads - and we do tend to eat lighter in the summer!

;) said...

I'm not vegetarian, but, yes, when it's hot out, I don't really appreciate meat... And your photos and recipes are very "miam miam" ;)

jacqueline said...

I am loving all your meals and that banana vanilla drink looks soo yummie!! I am not a vegetarian but i do love my greens ~ have to have them all the time and sometimes my friends call me "little cow" coz i always need my greens lol. Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!

Phoenix said...

I am not a vegetarian (I was; tried and failed miserably) but I am so with you on craving lots of fresh, cool veggies during the summertime because meat has to be cooked and it just makes the house 8 times hotter.

Throwing a chunk of Blue Stilton on a salmon burger is totally genius. I'm stealing your idea!

PS I make a lot of summer salads - cherries and goat cheese with a little bit of chopped up red onion; beets and goat cheese with arugula; pomegranates and feta; and strawberries and chopped granny smith apples with feta.

You can't go wrong with a salad that has fruits, cheese, AND veggies in it!

Tiffany Kadani said...

I am salivating! This food looks to good and fresh to be true! Excuse me while I try to fix a dinner that's just like this.

Heather Taylor said...

Mmm, delish! I love that you go to Trader Joes to get your products. They're the best in fresh, tasty food!

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

Heather- I actually get my fruits and veggies in season from my local farmers market- I pick up staples like couscous at TJ's - I am pretty anti products at TJ's because it is always prepackaged creating more waste-
Dancing- you can do it!
Phoenix- I have not been eating enough beets-
Jac-little cow!
Le Blog- glad to know you are the same-
Krystal- my eating is too intuitive to preplan.

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