Summer is a season of bounty! With all of the fresh fruits and veggies exploding this time of year, it's tough not to be inspired to eat well. You can hardly navigate a farmer's market or supermarket without bumping into super foods of all kinds–and typically, the more colorful something is, the more nutritious it will be.
Red foods (like strawberries) are usually high in antioxidants and vitamin C and blue is another mega antioxidant signifier. While many white foods often offer empty calories (bread, rice), coconut (used in the smoothie recipe below) is one white superfood that defies the trend, and pineapple's pale interior hides a serious dose of beautifying vitamins and enzymes!
This weekend, Independence Day offers us a chance to take some time off of work and enjoy the spirit of summer. To celebrate, I've rounded up 3 patriotic summer recipes from my favorite food bloggers; all bursting with nutrition and flavor and perfect for sharing with friends and family this holiday weekend.
Happy Fourth of July!
VEGAN STRAWBERRY, APPLE & PEAR CRUMBLE
serves 8 - 10
prep time: 30 minutes // cook time: 35 - 40 minutes // TOTAL TIME: 1.25 hours
by brunchpants
INGREDIENTS FOR THE FILLING:
4 ripe peeled pears
4 peeled apples ( gala or fuji preferably )
1 cup whole strawberries
3 tbsp. almond meal
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/3 cup maple syrup
INGREDIENTS FOR THE TOPPING:
1 1/4 cup of almond meal
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
10 large juicy ( or soaked ) dates
pinch of salt
3 tbsp. coconut oil
2 cups of gluten free "old fashion" oats
1/2 cup of sliced almonds
- 1 cup of sliced strawberries ( set aside for decor on top )
Click for full instructions on brunchpants.com
PINA COLADA SMOOTHIE
serves 2
prep time: 10 minutes // cook time: 0 minutes // TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1⁄2 large pineapple, peeled and cut into blendable chunks, about 300 g
200 ml full-fat coconut milk
1 ripe medium avocado, peeled, about 100 g
1 tsp vanilla extract
1⁄2 tsp ground turmeric
150ml water or coconut water
Click for full instructions on Hemsley & Hemsley
CRUSHED BLUE POTATOES WITH HERBS & OLIVE OIL
serves 4
prep time: 5 minutes // cook time: 15 minutes // TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes
by Tastespotting, based on Michael Anthony’s Fork-Crushed Purple Majesty Potatoes via Smitten Kitchen
INGREDIENTS
1 pound small blue and/or purple potatoes
1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
salt/pepper to taste
¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chives and dill (or any other herbs), chopped
Click here for full recipe on Trendspotting
PHOTOS All taken from respective food blogs: Brunchpants, Hemsley & Hemsley and Tastespotting