Caprese Salad (Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella) is a super simple and delicious way to enjoy all the ripe tomatoes this summer has to offer.  Our garden's basil and tomatoes are blossoming, and a caprese salad is always a perfect idea for a healthy lunch or appetizer.  This year I have enjoyed using these ingredients to make a well balanced dinner using quinoa. To complete this meal I would add grilled chicken, ground turkey, or cannellini beans for lean protein! 
www.beautybites.org/easy-tomato-basil-quinoa-risotto-gluten-free-vegetarian-vegan-option/

Zucchini pickles, Zucchini bread, Zucchini fritters, and roasted Zucchini.... I have tried it all.  Tonight I made my first Zucchini Pizza Crust!  Although mine didn't look exactly like the website, and I had to add a little more zucchini and flour to make it less runny, it came out delicious and what a fun alternative to pizza crust.
Here I topped the pizza with more garden favorites fresh tomatoes, fresh herbs basil, thyme, and oregano,  mozzarella cheese, and finished with a drizzle of olive oil.  You can try adding any of your favorite veggies and try some meats too like grilled chicken, turkey sausage, or ground beef for more complete entree!
​https://www.mommypotamus.com/zucchini-pizza-crust-recipe/

Zucchini is such a versatile vegetable.  It can be baked in zucchini bread, sautéed in olive oil with garlic, breaded into zucchini fries, and even pickled!  I love this recipe for zucchini pickles as a great addition to any sandwich, wrap, or just to snack.  This year I want to experiment with less sugar, but for now just try to eat them in small portions! 
https://www.browneyedbaker.com/zucchini-refrigerator-pickles-recipe/

One of my favorite things about springtime is deciding what new vegetables my family and I are going to plant in our garden.  This year I want to share a recipe for each item in the garden I am cooking with that week.  Yesterday, we had fresh Romaine and Boston Lettuce.  Skip the salad and make lettuce wraps.  These lettuces are especially thick and can easily substitute for a wrap.  On a hot day, the lettuce wrap was a nice crisp and cool balance to the warm chicken mixture that was enjoyed by all!
life-in-the-lofthouse.com/pf-changs-chicken-lettuce-wraps/

If you are looking for a simple, practical 'no cook' dinner, try this sushi bowl idea out tonight!  Start with white or brown rice. When finished cooking add rice vinegar for the more authentic sushi rice flavor.  I have yet to get rice sticky, but it tastes delicious either way.  Now customize sushi your way!! Here are some ideas.
Proteins - Cooked shrimp, Imitation crab meat, Seared raw sushi grade tuna, Edamame
Vegetable- Carrots, Cucumber, Seaweed Salad
I also like to add mango or banana for some sweetness, and avocado of course as well.    Look at your local grocery store for wasabi sauce and sriacha mayo to top off your bowl, if desired and ENJOY!

Epicurious has been really impressing me with their pasta recipes this month!  Last week I shared a sausage pasta dish, so here's a vegetarian one that was AMAZING! This week another pasta that was simple to make, included few ingredients, and was very well balanced with its nutrient content.  The crispy capers, fresh arugula, soft chickpeas, and the light lemony citrus sauce brought it all together beautifully! 

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/lemony-pasta-with-cauliflower-chickpeas-and-arugula

I love when recipes are simple, packed with flavor, and make it look like you went to culinary school.  This dish was so delicious I can not wait to make it again.  I tried to lower the fat content of by reducing the  butter and adding olive oil, and also try turkey sausage instead of Italian sausage.  Make this for a dinner party or just a delish night during the week. 

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/sausage-greens-and-beans-pasta

Spring time is finally here and it's time to enjoy the weather and get activity back into our lives!  I like to think about physical activity like I think about food by considering Variety, Balance, and Moderation.

• Variety: Different activities help strengthen different muscles so consider the type of activities you do each day.  Biking, power walking, and running, work our heart and leg muscles, while lifting, or even gardening can work our arm muscles. Think about the activities you enjoy and try to vary them throughout your week. 
• Balance: Since different activities benefit different parts of our bodies, think about balancing them out.  Being physically fit means improved cardiovascular endurance, muscular or bone strength, good balance, and having flexibility.  Keep this in mind when balancing out your weekly experience plans. 
• Moderation: Know yourself and make sure to set your goals appropriately.  Some people need to more more and others can afford a day off. Consider at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week and remember some physical activities of daily life can count towards activity. 

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Smoothies for breakfast are my favorite thing to enjoy in the spring/summer months. They can be light, refreshing, and make the perfect accompaniment to a balanced breakfast or snack.  
To start your smoothie off right, fill the bottom of your blender with a vegetable like kale or spinach, sometimes I will use cucumber for added fresh flavor.  Next, add your dairy which is the plain greek yogurt or milk if you would like.  Fruits can be whatever you like and consider fresh and frozen as options here.  Fresh definitely add more sweetness, and I suggest trying to put your over ripe fruits in the freezer as an icy cold smoothie is why favorite!  Experiment with all different colors to make your smoothies eye appealing.  A serving of healthy fat for added fullness could be some avocado or peanut butter.  Top with some crushed ice and water (if you used yogurt), blend and enjoy!  

​Be sure to add these ingredients to your grocery shopping list one week and enjoy the endless creations you will make.