Summer Harvest

Do try this recipe! So good!

Summer Harvest

The warm months of summer offer us cooling foods with high water content for hydration, such as peaches, melons, tomatoes, and cucumbers, just to name a few.

Depending on where you live, the August choices can vary. In hotter climates, spinach and cilantro might have already bolted, but in cooler climates, they are at their peak. Don’t forget to season with fresh herbs whenever you can. Americans consume too much sodium and often reach for the saltshaker instead of other seasoning choices, such as lemon juice or flavorful fresh herbs.

One simple fact to remember is that the fresher the vegetable, the more nutrition and enzymes it contains, so the peak of season and local are best. It’s also important to consume raw veggies, as fragile enzymes, important for health, as well as the water-soluble vitamins B and C, can be diminished with cooking.

This Seasonal Food Guide might be helpful for you.

Here are some of the peak of harvest fruits, veggies, and herbs for most parts of the country for mid-summer:

Fruits:

Peaches and other stone fruit

Apples

Tomatoes

Apricots

Blackberries and other ‘brambles’

Watermelons and other melons

Cherries

Vegetables:

Summer squashes such as zucchini, patty pan, and crookneck

Eggplant

Corn

Peppers

Cucumbers

Fennel

Leafy Greens such as Chard and Kale

Many lettuces

Chilies

Onions

Herbs:

Basil

Oregano

Parsley

Rosemary

Lemongrass

Garlic

Cilantro

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Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that has been shown to help prevent certain types of cancer. Cilantro is a natural chelator, which helps to remove heavy metals, and cucumbers contain vitamin C and are high in water content.

Gazpacho

Be sure to use peak-of-season veggies for this delicious cold soup. Even if you don’t think you like gazpacho, do try this recipe. It will change your mind!

Serves 6

2 cups chopped tomatoes

1 cup cucumbers, peeled and coarsely chopped

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 -1 jalapeno

1-2 large garlic cloves

2 cups tomatoes, finely chopped

2/3 cup cucumbers, peeled and finely chopped

1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped

1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

1/2 cup parsley, or cilantro, finely chopped

Place the first 7 ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.

Pour into a bowl.

Finely chop the remaining ingredients and stir them into the smooth ingredients. Serve!