With school coming to a close for the summer months in many parts of the world, a few cooking hints and tips:
You can also find these tips in the upcoming ‘Foodie News’ July/August issue of The Chester County Women’s Journal editions.
Celebrate the season…HAPPY SUMMER!
- Keep a supply of paper plates and napkins on hand for the kitchen traffic.
- Hydrate and keep plenty of ice water ‘on tap’ in the refrigerator.
- Give a homemade brewed iced tea or fresh squeezed lemonade a try.
- Freeze iced tea and lemonade in ice cube trays to eliminate diluting.
- Cut down on sugar and calories – Add some stevia (a natural sweetener) to your freshly-brewed iced tea and squeezed lemons.
- As for my favorite grilled zucchini, substitute the grilled zucchini for lasagna noodles for healthier lasagna. It’s also gluten-free!
- Keep a cooler or cooler bag in your car for those shopping trips home from grocery store. Frozen items stay frozen.
- Take advantage of sales on chicken, steaks and chops. Wash meats and poultry, pat dry, add to a large sealed plastic bag, add a marinade and freeze for a later date. Thaw in the refrigerator the night before cooking/grilling, and it’s ready to go!
- If you have not made homemade ice cream, invest in an ice cream maker and give it a try. Add fresh fruits to your ice cream. Kids of all ages love it!
- Cut a fresh cantaloupe in half, scoop out the seeds and replace with vanilla ice cream. Send the kids outside with spoons and dig in!
- If you have a little extra preparation time in the kitchen on the day you shop at the farm markets, purchase ‘second quality’ fruits and vegetables at the farm stands. They are less expensive, ripe, and ready to prepare upon purchase.
- Wash, cut and freeze ripe fruits in a sealed freezer bag – make a blender smoothie.
- Grow or purchase fresh herbs for cooking. If you buy them in bulk, wash well, dry in a single layer of paper towels and freeze in a zip lock bag, removing all air from the bag. They can be used later by adding to your favorite dishes.
- Enjoy the flavor of a summer tomato, ripe off the vine.
- If you feel propelled to can your own tomatoes, gather a few friends together, share the chore, and enjoy the flavor all year in your tomato sauces.
- The summer months are a great opportunity to teach children where food comes from (the earth), how it is grown, and how to cook with food. Teach them a few skills, give them room to create, and enjoy the rewards. Let’s all promote good health and teach them well.
