Relishments

Savoring life in the Berkshires

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Guest Post: Halley’s Dog Days Dishes

Published on August 10, 2011 By Emily. Updated on August 10, 2011

As part of my blogging break, I’ve asked some of my friends to guest post. This post is from my new blend, Halley, who writes over at Blunder Construction.  Today she’s sharing some of her favorite summertime recipes. Enjoy!

Summertime and the livin’s easy… as long as I have the fans and A/C on full blast and I don’t move. Have you ever noticed on sticky, hot days that your appetite disappears?

The thought of cooking and eating a full meal is exhausting, but it is important to replenish our sapped energy stores in this heat. I avoid the oven at all costs, keep recipes simple, and fresh produce like it’s going out of season. Here are some of my favorite Dog Days Dishes that will keep us cool and feeling refreshed.

Cucumber Tomato Salad

This salad is especially good for a day when you are dehydrated. The cucumber and tomatoes will take your heat index down a notch. Simply chop cucumber, tomato and red bell pepper unto small pieces.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups chopped cucumber
  • 1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
  • 1 cup diced tomato
  • 1/2 lime, juiced
  • 1/2 tbs olive oil
  • 1 tbs white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbs agave nectar
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Dress salad with light vinaigrette, and chill before serving. The agave nectar brings out the natural sweetness in the rest of the ingredients. This salad would go great spooned inside a wrap too!

Three Bean Couscous

Besides boiling water for the couscous to cook in, this side dish is heat-free. Open a couple cans of beans from the pantry, throw in fresh green beans, tomato, and basil, and dress for success.

Ingredients

  • 1 can chickpeas
  • 1 can black beans
  • 2 c fresh green beans, chopped
  • 1 c diced tomato
  • 3/4 c couscous
  • 2 tbs fresh basil
  • dressing (agave-lime, honey mustard, olive oil + vinegar, anything!)

Refrigerate for 2-3 hours before enjoying. We had this with a quesadilla, another quick, low-heat dinner idea.

St. Alphonsus Salad

Don’t mind the name of this salad, it has almost nothing to do with the ingredients or flavor. It’s just the name of the street I lived on when I fell in love with tomato-basil. I love this salad because it is light and flavorful, and you can eat it with your hands!

Ingredients

  • 20-30 baby spinach leaves
  • 5-6 (or 30) cherry tomatoes
  • 1 oz fresh mozzarella or other* sliceable cheese
  • 1 tbs shredded parmesan
  • 2 tbs basil purée (Dorot cubes) or 1 handful fresh basil
  • 1 tbs olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp white balsamic vinegar

The preparation of this salad is pretty obvious, isn’t it? I took a few spinach leaves and paired them together, topped with a slice of cheese, a cherry tomato half, and a taste of basil oil. I love popping each bite into my mouth, no utensils required.

There you have it, my favorite summer time meals that keep the heat out of the kitchen. If it’s too hot to even open the fridge, try this no-heat no-prep go-to summer meal when all else fails.

Ice cream. Stay cool!

Related Posts

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Happy World Vegetarian Day!
Guest Post: Jessica’s Vegan Peanut Sauce
Highlights: Holding on to Summer
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Filed Under: recipe Tagged With: guest post, summer, vegetarian

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Emily
I don't have clear words to express my feelings ab I don't have clear words to express my feelings about the state of the world lately. As a teacher and a mother, it has been extra difficult this week to be fully present in my roles without thinking about innocent lives that should have had longer on Earth. How what has happened in each of the many mass shootings this year can happen anywhere. If you are feeling sad and frustrated too, you are not alone.

I don't have answers, but I'm trying to take care of myself and my biological and school families. I'm saying "I love you" a lot to my children and my students. I'm closely following and sharing the work of @everytown while contacting my state and federal representatives and the president. I'm going for walks and getting fresh air and trying not to overload on news. I'm sharing good resources in my stories as I see them.
UPDATE: the giveaway is now CLOSED. Congrats @aloh UPDATE: the giveaway is now CLOSED. Congrats @alohr3!

 @thelazygenius' second book, The Lazy Genius Kitchen, is finally here and I'm so excited! I don't purchase many books, but I pre-ordered this last July because I knew it would be right up my alley and then I pre-ordered a second copy because I knew that I'd want to give one away.

Author Kendra Adachi has been one of my favorite voices in recent years. Her principles (shared through her first book, The Lazy Genius Podcast and her Instagram) have helped me focus my priorities and give myself more grace. 

This book is NOT a cookbook (it has just 2 recipes), it is a kitchen guide - to help you "have what you need, use what you have, and enjoy it like never before". It is beautiful (full color!) and thoughtful.

I'm very excited to send this book to one of you.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below with one of your greatest kitchen struggles. 
I'll draw a winner at 8 pm on Friday, May 6.
This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or The Lazy Genius, Kendra Adachi.
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#LazyGenius #KendraAdachi #NameWhatMatters #TheLazyGeniusKitchen #TheLazyGeniusWay #BookGiveaway
This morning we took advantage of @massmoca's Berk This morning we took advantage of @massmoca's Berkshire Teacher and Social Worker Appreciation Day free admission. After enjoying the student Art Invitational exhibit, the 4 of us took in several of the other galleries. Mass MoCA always impresses and it was delightful to be able to be out in the world with my kids.
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#igers413 #InTheBerkshires #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #MassMoCA #ArtMuseum
Today I finally found my way into @plantconnector, Today I finally found my way into @plantconnector, in its new location on Main Street in North Adams. The shop is incredible - the displays are great and the plants are delightful. There's a refill station with bottles and jars for soaps, detergents and other products, a terrarium bar, and an abundance of sustainable and beautiful products. I'm now in the process of pondering who I can purchase Plant Connector gifts for in the coming months.
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#igers413 #InTheBerkshires #ShopLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #PlantConnector
This is your periodic reminder that @berkshiremuse This is your periodic reminder that @berkshiremuseum is a great visit for all ages. The current Voyage to the Deep exhibit, which involves an interactive Nautilus submarine that my 5 year old spent literally hours in.  We also thoroughly enjoyed the Aquarium and Berkshire Backyard. Highly recommended - we'll be back soon!
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#igers413 #InTheBerkshires #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #BerkshireMuseum #PittsfieldMA
My January and early February menu plans for my @m My January and early February menu plans for my @mightyfoodfarm vegetables are finally up on the blog. See how we're making use of these beautiful items, as well as the items from the other pick up we made in the past month. 
Link in profile.
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One of my favorite things to do is bake from scrat One of my favorite things to do is bake from scratch.
But, in the interest of full transparency, this pie was made with Pillsbury pie crusts and a $5 bag of Walmart Granny Smiths. I used the recipe on the pie crust box.
I am very excited to eat it.
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#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies
I can't remember the last time I baked bread, some I can't remember the last time I baked bread, something that was part of my routine for a long time. Today school was cancelled due to the extremely cold temperatures outside and I took the opportunity to make 8 loaves - most of which will be put into the freezer until they're needed. Baking more bread was part of my 2022 theme of "resume" and I'm so happy to be back to it.
Recipe, as usual, from @breadin5
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#RelishmentsBakes #BakingFromScratch #HomemadeBread #baking #igers413_food #BreadBaking #BreadIn5 #ArtisanBreadIn5 #igers413 #BerkshireFoodies
New on the blog: my first posted CSA menu plan sin New on the blog: my first posted CSA menu plan since September! I didn't intend to take so much time off, but I'm looking forward to the meals I've planned over the next 2 weeks using @mightyfoodfarm produce.
Follow the link in my profile to see the post.
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#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
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