Wednesday was the first official day of summer meaning 2012 is now more than officially half over. How are we doing on those New Year’s Resolutions? Thought so.
No resolutions in this post. Just 15 summer recipe ideas for that are lighter, cooler, fresh and easy.
Orange Ginger Tempeh and Brown Rice Salad with Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette (vegan, GF if GF tempeh is used)
Orange Glazed Chilean Sea Bass with Mustard Dill Cucumber and Orange Champagne Relish
Steamed Brussels’s Sprouts & Broccoli with Cheezy Coconut Sauce (vegan GF)
Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls and 2-Minute Peanut Sauce (raw, vegan, GF)
Roasted Grapes and Balsamic Reduction with Cheese and Crackers (use GF crackers to keep GF and vegan cheese to keep vegan)
Peaches & Coconut Cream Smoothie (vegan, GF)
Homemade Horchata (Vegan, GF, Soy-Free)
Vanilla Iced Coffee – save your extra coffee, pour it into a pitcher or glass and store it in the refrigerator. Pour cold coffee over ice and add cream and sugar, to taste, and stir.
Also, pour extra coffee into ice cube molds for coffee ice cubes, which will water down your drink even less, if you really want to get fancy.
People make such a big deal over iced coffee but it’s so simple and I’m always amazed at the elaborate “recipes” and “techniques” about pouring coffee over ice cubes that I see.
Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria
Vanilla Avocado Banana “Ice Cream” (vegan, GF, no ice cream maker required)
Baked Orange Banana Coconut Donuts with Orange Coconut Vanilla Cream Cheese Glaze
No-Bake Rolo and Caramel Cheesecake Parfaits
Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups and Ice Cream
Is summer weather in full swing for you?
Unfortunately in San Diego, it’s far from hot. In fact, it’s actually cooler now than it usually is in September or October. We are plagued by fog and a heavy marine layer this time of year, known as May Gray and June Gloom, and the gloom is more pronounced closer to the coast. Inland, not so much, but I live pretty coastal so have seen more gloom than sun many days. However, I think we’re breaking out of it because this week was much nicer.
Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t always look like this here.
What are your favorite summer foods and recipes?
Link them up.
Thanks for the 3 Vegan Cookbooks Giveaway entries
Have a great weekend!
Fabulous post, Averie! Love these ideas. I couldn’t live without the NuNaturals Vanilla liquid stevia; it’s amazing in everything from desserts to drinks to sauces!
Thanks for this great round-up of recipes.
Have a wonderful weekend.
xox
Wow these pictures are making me want to go bake dessert now! That rolo parfait looks so good! I haven’t had a rolo since high school.
You had better change that! :)
P.S. I saw on your last post that you have a Cuisinart immersion blender. My oh-so-trusty Braun immersion blender, which I’ve used several times a week for the last 11 years, finally broke. Do you recommend the Cuisinart one? How do you get the BB&B coupons? Thanks!
It was $30 bucks and I’ve had it a week but so far, so good…especially for the price. I say buy what’s on sale and isn’t too heavy. Some of them weighed like…10 lbs and I didn’t want that!
We made rice paper/veggie rolls earlier this week; you’re right that they are a perfect summer food. So cool and refreshing, and you don’t have to use the stove to make them!
I still have to make your horchata….one of these days, I will.
I agree about iced coffee. Coffe + ice = iced coffee; add soy milk etc. as desired.
These recipes all look divine! Especially that iced coffee-YUM!
Check out my latest recipe @ bakingblissful.blogspot.com
i recently made this strawberry icebox cake that was a HUGE hit with everyone who ate it – defintiely my new go-to summertime dessert:
https://www.foodbuzz.com/blogs/us/california/los_angeles/5821861-recipe-recap-strawberry-icebox-cake
Wow. That looks awesome! Love the choc drizzle and the strawberry slicer :)
Haven’t tried the avocado in my banana soft serve- but totally want to give it a shot!
You’ve helped me with some light recipes for the next week! Thanks for sharing!
I just made some major banana monkey bread and it was a tasty!
well that’s pretty cool and keep me posted how light recipes week shapes up!
What a gorgeous round-up of recipes!! Sensational photos.
You posts always make no baking on Friday rule go straight to shit!!! Mmmm
LOL. Hope it’s good sh*t :)
You know it! This time I gave the flourless peanut butter cookies to my gluten intolerant friend, so I didn’t eat them all by myself ;)
Good call!
You make iced coffee exactly the way I do – just stick the leftover hot coffee in the fridge! And that way I can mix in my sugar when it’s hot and drink it later.
I need to try your orange balsamic vinaigrette! And iced coffees are dominating my mind too – it’s just that time of year! Homemade frappuccinos are tasting supppper good!
Well we did finally stop having thunderstorms and days upon days of just POURING down rain. In fact, I think we finally got more than a couple of days where it made it close to 80. So maybe summer is finally happening in Oregon?? One can only hope ;)
Vanilla-Baileys slushie?! Must check that out!
I haven’t been drinking coffee while I breastfeed, but all your talk about iced coffee on a hot day like today, and now I NEED to make a pot and get it into the fridge stat.
I think a cup here or there isn’t a big deal (it wasn’t for me) but every woman is different and experiences vary, but I say…go for it :)
I love fish and Chilean Sea Bass is one of my favorites so I’m excited to have a new way to cook it. Do you think Halibut would work as well? It is another one of my favorites. I also love roasted grapes, especially with balsamic vinegar. Summer in general is a lot of fun with all the fresh produce. I hope your weather gets more summer-like.
Yes it would be perfect with halibut or really almost any fish you have and like!
Hehe, are you reading my mind? I was just thinking last night about my New Year’s resolution… :) Is the salad on the first photo on a plate from Anthropologie? Love it!
As of being hot, I think in our part it is way too hot, I haven’t been for an outside walk or run in about two months, only AC gym, AC home, AC car, and AC store for some food. Boring… So I envy you for being able to go outside for a run or a picnic… :)
Favorite summer food would be here (https://www.picnicatmarina.com/) and here (https://www.picnicatmarina.com/2012/05/back-to-roots-beets.html), and I can’t choose which one I like better… :)
Yes it is. I bought quite a few pieces from them recently and that’s one of them. I got tired of spending money on things that looked almost like what I wanted but not quite, so finally just caved and bought *exactly* what I want and love them!