It’s My Summertime Plant-Based Eating Bucket List!
Because food and memories go hand in hand, and I have a lot of entrees that have me excited for summer foods!
Hi there and welcome to Roots! I'm so glad you're here. If you're enjoying what you're reading so far and haven’t subscribed yet, please click that button:
And if you like this post, please tap that heart button ❤️ and leave a comment as that helps the algorithm push this content out to more like-minded souls who might enjoy it. Thank you for being here!
🎶It’s the most, wonderful time, of the year …🎶
Yep, I LOVE summertime. I love how the days get longer, giving me more time to be outside. I love nice weather - no coats! I love being in my garden - the color, the goodness!
Really, what’s not to love?
And mostly, I love the food. Because everything is in abundance. Eating locally comes naturally because local produce is everywhere.
Summertime is all about making memories. Vacations scheduled. Concerts to go to. Parties to attend.
Yet I’ve also discovered a lot of those memories are associated with food. We made bean burgers, onion rings, and corn on the cob this past weekend. This is a summertime treat because I will only buy organic corn on the cob, and it’s available just a few weeks a year. Yeah! There’s something special about biting into something you only get a few times. It’s extra special.
Maybe that’s why food should be a celebration. Because it’s special. It’s something you can’t wait for, something unexpected. A treat!
Rather than getting it all year, you relish in knowing you have to enjoy it now; you won’t see it again til next year.
It’s a window back to my childhood when things like peaches and plums would only show up in the summer. Where watermelon was a sign of summer.
And where taste was mmm …
If I’ve made you hungry, I invite you to plan your summertime like I do - with a bucket list of opportunity. Creating menus of recipes you can’t wait to dive into this summer.
Easy Peasy Sandwiches
So, my first picnic of the season was an outing to Portland’s Rose Garden. Guys, this place is GORGEOUS! I’ve gone every year since we arrived here, and it never ceases to amaze me. We bring along our cooler filled with goodness - muffuletta sandwiches, iced tea, and cookies! (Keep reading, I have my FAV cookie I bring on picnics throughout the summer. You’ll be surprised at the ingredients, and how GOOD they taste!
Gazpacho - Any Kind Will Do
Our first trip to Europe found us wandering the streets of Madrid. Tapas cafes were everywhere. One afternoon, we dropped into a little place with outside seating. We ordered a few things from the menu … including a melon gazpacho To. Die. For. Seriously, I’m still trying to recreate it. (Though I might need to go back to Madrid to truly remember it. hmmm…) Anyway, I’ve been playing with cold soups ever since, and they truly are delish on a hot day. Can’t wait to get back at it this year. I’ll probably start with these:
Green Gazpacho
2 medium cucumbers, 1 pound green grapes, 1 thick slice sourdough bread, 1/3 cup hazelnuts, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, 2 green onions, 1/2 cup water (more to consistency), salt and pepper.
Red Gazpacho
1 pound ripe tomatoes, 1 pound strawberries, 1 medium cucumber, 1 thick slice sourdough bread, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 garlic clove, 1/2 water (more to consistency), salt and pepper.
Thoroughly blend with your Vitamix. Chill. Enjoy.
Plant-Based Sushi … Yes, Please!
We used to have a wonderful Asian-fusion restaurant near us we LOVED. Sadly, they closed down in the 2020s chaos. But mmm, did we love the vegan sushi they created. So when I discovered Marisa Baggett’s wonderful Substack, thanks to the Food Writers Mastermind, I eagerly made plans to create some of her recipes. Yes, I can’t get enough. Her recent Homemade Mochi Ice Cream - it’s on my list to try in the next few weeks. I might have to make a meal of it and pair it with her Mochi, But Make It Savory. 😋
Tomatoes. Need I Say More?
If you come for a visit, chances are you’d be heading to my garden with me every day. It takes a lot of watering, weed pulling, and nurturing to get everything to grow. The pests this year … Sadly, they’re bad throughout our community garden. It’s a learning curve. But we did plant a dozen tomato plants, so surely we’ll get a few picked fresh from the vines. And when we do, I’m going into ‘tomato time.’ I’m already dreaming of the deliciousness that will soon make its way into our kitchen.
Simply Theee Best Chocolate Chunk Cookie To Bring On Picnics
If you’ve been here a while, you’ve probably discovered one of my favorite cookbook authors is Laura Wright from The First Mess. I could list sooo many of her recipes as my go-to meals. But this is a summertime bucket list, so my thoughts returned to last summer. We find concerts all over our local area, pack up our picnic baskets, load up a bag of wine, and head out for an evening of fun at least once a week. Occasionally, I’ll stick a treat in the bag. It’s almost always Laura’s - Jumbo Grain-Free Tahini Chocolate Chunk Cookie. Yep, grain-free. It’s made with almond meal. No sugar. Just a little maple syrup.
And, When It’s Time To Invite Friends Over to Sit on the Patio …
I spend so much time out in the garden, out on my patio, making it look GORGEOUS for a few months a year. Yep, I love sharing it with friends. And no, most of our friends are NOT vegan. So I craft menus that appeal to everyone. And what could be better than pizza! I’ll put together a charcuterie board for munching while the pizza bakes. And dessert is usually provided by my daughter. (Did I mention she’s a pastry chef? She creates the wildest desserts. Mmm.) She’s into ice cream at the moment, so maybe that will be on the list.
Happy Summer to you! What are you putting on your bucket list menu this season?
p.s. Did you like this message? It would mean a lot to me if you’d press the ❤️ below if you liked it, left a comment 💬, or shared it with a friend. I’m trying to grow this publication, and I depend on people like you to do so!
And if you’re new here, Welcome! 💐 I’d love to start sharing my message with you if you’re interested in all things plant-powered, proaging, or finding kitchen joy. Subscribe … and then explore my entire archive! Glad to share with you! 🙋🏼♀️
I adore this floral and seasonal nod & to-do list to your childhood...and tomatoes! yes, pls!!!
This just made me so excited for all the delights of summer!