A Seat in the August Heat (and Humidity)
What does one eat when the weather is scorching? OK. That’s a bit of an exaggeration. But it’s been really hot! And while we do have a/c in our apartment , and a fan, I am not immune to recognizing a heat wave. I love spending time outside no matter the weather so despite the multiple 93-degree days, I was out walking daily. Yikes! Remember to hydrate, all day long. And wear sunscreen.
On a related note, how does the heat affect our meals? Does it change our cravings? Does it change our food mood? The answer is…sometimes. There are some days when I’m only in the mood for salads, but there are others when all I want after a super-sticky day is a big bowl of pasta. Go figure! I suppose my cravings don’t change too much in general. The bigger factor that changes is how I eat with the season.
We always try to feature in-season produce and dishes that highlight foods that you’d want to eat during the summer. Are there nights of heartier meals that kind of seem out of place? Sure. But I can tell you that my cravings are pretty predictable. If I want to eat a giant lasagne in the heat of August, then that’s what we are going to do. Seth has been wanting to make eggplant parm since June and I’m just about ready to give in. It’s absurdly delicious (and the recipe can feed a family of ten).
This last week offered a good balance of summertime classics (salad!) as well as a couple bigger meals that are just yummy any time of year. I don’t think I’ll ever be someone who can only exist on “light” meals. Where is the fun in that? Balance is key and I will always be in favor of having it all.
As always, recipe links are shared where available. If you would like a recipe for one of our original dishes, then please drop us a note. We’d be happy to share it with you.
Now, let’s get to the food!
Pad Gra Prow (Thai Basil Beef)
Recipe available here (Woks of Life).
We used our abundance of Thai basil (thanks to our balcony plant) to make this delicious dinner which features the green goodness. Our version included chicken, but the link above recommends beef. Either way, you’re going to have an awesome dinner. I loved this dish due to the bold flavors, slight spice, and the joy of how quickly it’s on the table.
Cooking Thai food often requires prep (lots of chopping veggies), but the actual cook time is so short that you’re eating much sooner than you expect. And when the result is this delicious, you’ll definitely want to keep it in your dinnertime rotation. We served ours with brown rice, but white would work just as well.
Beef Meatballs and Greek Salad
Meatball recipe here (Recipe Tin Eats)
If you’re looking for a balanced, but hearty plate, then I would suggest making a great batch of meatballs and serving them with a salad. You’ll get the protein from the meatballs, health from the veggies, and feel proud of how well you’re eating a balanced meal. Plus, this combo in particular is just so freaking good!
I was craving a Greek-ish dinner so we found an easy recipe for beef meatballs and put together a simple Greek salad with greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, and feta. The key to this salad is using local veggies at their peak - it’s August after all. Yum!
To take it over the top, add a garlicky yogurt sauce for dipping. I don’t have a formal recipe for the one I make, but it includes a base of Greek yogurt (about one cup), half of a lemon of fresh lemon juice, a good drizzle of olive oil, three mashed garlic cloves, salt, and pepper. Mix it all in a small bowl and ta da! Amazing meatball dipping sauce. Done.
Panko-crusted Chicken and Summer Veggie Saute
Some nights call for the classics and there’s nothing more classic than our panko-crusted chicken and a side of veggies. Have you been seeing trends? We’ve stuck to the protein-and-veggie-combo for a long time and it’s honestly my favorite way to ensure healthy foods make it onto the plate.
This duo is a personal favorite since crispy chicken cures all. Having a rough day? Make crispy chicken. Feeling tired or blah? Make this chicken. Having a great day? Cook this chicken. See? It’s good for everything.
The best veggies to pair with this chicken are whatever is in-season. Our dinner included zucchini, Jimmy Nardello peppers, and onion. A delicious trio that was a great compliment to the panko-crusted chicken.
I love this dinner because it’s delicious and on the table in no time. I’m also a fan because it’s nostalgic. Way back in the beginning of this blog and my daily documentation of everything we eat, we frequently made a crispy-chicken-and-veggie dinner. We made it so often that I couldn’t share it every night for fear of everyone noticing that we never changed up our meals!
However, it also prompted the big change: following this “too many nights of the same meal” situation, I made a goal for us to cook something different every night for a year. Have you been following along for a while? If so, then you know that we achieved that goal, and then some. :)
Stir-fried Pork and Bok Choy with Rice Noodles
Summer Fridays have taken a new shape amidst this long-term, everything-at-home situation. Some Fridays we have snacks and cocktails on the balcony. Some Fridays we get takeout sushi. And many Fridays we make noodles! We love noodle Fridays.
This dish is one of my favorites because it uses the easy cooking combination “meat and veggie and carb” to create something so delicious you’ll need to be careful if you want leftovers for the next day. A stir-fry is great and all, but this stir-fry gets elevated by letting the pork get perfectly crisp in the wok before adding the other ingredients. The scent and flavor is incredible. I am drooling as I type.
For veggies, we included bok choy and onion, plus mushrooms for some extra heft. This may be the best trio to go along with the pork, in my opinion. However, I do think it would be great with another leafy green, string beans, broccoli, or even bell peppers. Versatility is the name of the game on noodle night. It’s often the night when we have the fewest ingredients left in the fridge!
Our noodle night Fridays have a special place in my heart. Just like the weeks we had of pizza Sundays. Or pasta Tuesdays. Whatever you want to call it, adjusting a certain night of the week for a special-style meal can make the whole week more fun. And a lot more delicious.
Cajun Shrimp Salad
Order Naked Shrimp from North Coast Seafoods here. Enter the code GLUTENFREEMOLLIE at checkout for 15% off your order!
We closed out the week on Sunday night with a lighter, but really delicious dinner. The previous evening included a boat of fried clams and shrimp so we opted for a healthier meal to follow it. It’s all about balance! And since this summer doesn’t include our usual treks for cocktails and dinner by the ocean, our version of balance is mostly salads and protein with the occasional “dip” into the fried seafood world.
Our shrimp salad included scrumptious cajun-seasoned shrimp (Naked Shrimp from North Coast Seafoods) tossed with a summer greens salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, greens, feta). The combination is absurdly good and this is one dinner I’d happily eat night after night. Or for lunch! I would definitely eat this for lunch; in fact, I’d love to eat it today. :)
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Enjoy!
