As much as I enjoy warm, comforting soups and stews and casseroles that fill the fall and winter months, the arrival of summer brings my favorite food season. Every summer I reiterate that Summer Food Is the Best Food, and it is! Fresh, vibrant fruits and veggies, and succulent, smoky grilled foods. It really does not get any better. You’ll see a bit of summer inspiration in several of the meals I’ve been nomming lately below.
SMOKED CHICKEN
First up, a couple weeks ago, the huz busted out the electric smoker that I got him for Christmas and made smoked chicken thighs and drumsticks – they were THE BOMB. Super succulent, moist, with a bold smoky flavor. Loved the drumsticks especially! I made a veggie pasta salad on the side.
HELLO FRESH
I’ve been digging occasional Hello Fresh shipments lately. This convenient meal service really helps keep our healthy eating on track, providing tasty, easy, balanced meals that I cook at home on busy work nights. (If you’re interested in trying it out, get $40 off your first box with code: KFY97T). It’s a bit of a luxury ordering the occasional box, but it is healthier and cheaper than going out to eat, I figure.
Lately I’ve made:
- Spanish Cod & Chorizo with Crispy Oregano Potatoes & Sautéed Kale
- Apricot-Glazed Chicken with Couscous & Swiss Chard
- Homestyle Meatloaf with Shallot Gravy & Caramelized Root Vegetables
- Pan-Seared Chicken with Tomato-Barley Hash & Charred Broccoli
- Argentine-Spiced Steak with Couscous Salad & Cilantro-Scallion Chimichurri
- Coconut Shrimp Satay with Shaved Carrot & Cucumber Salad
SALMON & SALAD
You know we try to eat our weekly meal of wild salmon around here! To change up the sides, recently I tried out this hearty salad dish inspired by Cooking Light’s Lettuce Wedge and Potato Salad recipe, featuring butter lettuce, dijon and bacon vinaigrette, red potatoes, and radishes. I love filling up good, clean wholesome foods – perfect for warmer weather!
SATCHEL OF SATCHEL’S
It had been way too long since our last Satchel’s visit, so this past Friday evening we picked up a Satchel of Satchel’s on our way home from a long stroll around Gallup Park. My fave BBQ in town!
(I am also eager to try Ricewood!)
MEDITERRANEAN MEATBALLS
These Mediterranean Meatballs have been in my Pinterest to-cook queue for ages and I finally got around to it. Tasty! Don’t skip the yogurt sauce!
AVOCADO-EGG SALAD SANDWICHES WITH PICKLED CELERY
I tried upping my egg salad game with this fancy Cooking Light recipe. The egg salad turned out well but my conclusion was that it wasn’t worth the extra effort. I’ll take my tried-and-true hard-boiled eggs + Miracle Whip egg salad any day! If it ain’t broke, why try to fix it? (I guess, to make it healthier, but.. yeah.)
BURGERS ON THE GRILL
Burgers on the grill y’all. Yassss.
ALL THE BURGERS
Mama-to-be needs lots of iron-rich foods. I visited Colorado earlier this month for work, and made my first visit to Smashburger, which also happened to be one of the only restaurants within walking distance of my hotel. The Smash Fries totally reminded me of Jolly Pumpkin’s Truffle Fries. It was good, but I like Elevation Burger and Five Guys better.
AIRPORT FOOD
Slim pickin’s in my DIA terminal on the way home from CO.
BANANA BREAD
BECAUSE TOO MANY RIPE BANANAS. I tried a new Banana Bread recipe using whole wheat flour and honey and loved it.
NO THAI!
I rarely stray from No Thai!’s Pad Thai, but on this particular day I was feeling like I needed to up my veggie game (I mean I am pregnant and all), so I tried a new-to-me No Thai! dish: Gang Pak, featuring tofu, broccoli, baby corn, mushroom, carrot, bamboo, eggplant, with red curry sauce. It was good but not as good as their delicious pad thai.
Last weekend, the huz and I went to our first Mom2Mom sale and scored our first big ticket baby item – this Fisher Price swing! So sweet. It’s hanging out in the middle of our living room until we move, and every time I walk in the front door I smile thinking of our baby boy swinging in it one day soon.
MIKE’S KITCHEN
After the sale, on the way back to Ann Arbor from Southgate, we stopped in a random diner for breakfast – Mike’s Kitchen in Belleville. We loaded up on sweet and savory breakfast foods and shared the goodness. Biscuits and gravy, bacon, eggs, blueberry pancakes!
ORANGE LEAF
It’s dangerous living within walking distance of Orange Leaf.
LEBANESE MEATBALLS OVER BULGUR WHEAT
Another HelloFresh recipe, but I sourced the ingredients myself. I liked the meatballs, didn’t love the sauce (mostly because I didn’t really like the canned tomatoes I purchased), but LOVED the bulgur wheat. This was the first time I’ve cooked bulgur and it is delish! I am definitely seeking out more recipes that utilize this quick-cooking nutty whole grain.
WHOLE FOODS SALAD BAR
I need folic acid and vitamins and all that stuff.
ICE CREAM
Because I also need ice cream and ALL THE SWEETS. To be fair, we did split this pint into four portions. Not that it was easy. Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food is my favorite ice cream of all time.
STUFFED FRENCH TOAST
Because we couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the long-awaited three day Memorial Day weekend than by going out for brunch! (Also Nick’s is right next to the oil change place and we had half an hour to kill.) Prego-me wants #allthesweets and this Artie’s French Toast, stuffed with cream cheese and blackberries, and topped with strawberries was fannnn-tastic. Nick’s never lets me down!
WEDDING BELLS
No I didn’t eat wedding bells, but this past Saturday was my cousin Laura’s wedding. The ceremony and reception were just beautiful and the bride was gorgeous. I’m happy to have been able to join in L & R’s special day and wish them all the best!
The huz and I at the wedding. I’m sporting my 26 week bump, somewhat camouflaged by this black dress in this picture. (I feel like huge!)
Dinner was delicious! Warm rolls and butter, fresh salad, steak and shrimp, aaaaand…
A sweets table! Hellllo dessert buffet. Come to mama! I joked that I took shots of strawberry shortcake instead of booze at the wedding (mostly because I did.)
A lovely wedding for a lovely couple!
