Oh Summer!

Weather is really hot these days here. Temperatures are consistently in 80+ and no signs of cooling down in the evening either. Its getting impossible to eat any kind of spicy-hot food. We tend to eat salads, fresh rolls, different kinds of fruit drinks weekend lunches/dinner whenever we are home. Farmers market is packed with fresh stone fruits, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, corns. All the ingredients are just inviting. Simple salads are just chop chop chop vegetables and/or fruits, squeeze fresh lemon/lime juice salt and ready to eat. Sometimes I feel like adding some protein or carbohydrates and add cooked pasta, couscous, quinoa. Then it becomes nice fulfilling lunch.

Israeli couscous salad -

Israeli Couscous Salad

1 cup Israeli couscous
7-8 cherry tomatoes
1 small cucumber
2 plums
1 nectarine
1 small shallot
few basil leaves
1/2 lemon
sugar salt and pepper per taste

Preparation -

Cook couscous per directions on the package and let it cool for half n hour. Cut all the fruits in bite size pieces. Cut tomatoes in two pieces. Peel the cucumber and the chop in bit size pieces. Chop basil and shallot. Mix all chopped ingredients and couscous in a bowl. Squeeze lemon juice, add sugar, salt and pepper. Let it sit for 15 minutes preferably in fridge for 15 minutes before serving.

Virgin Blueberry Daiquiri -
I have been using this recipe for strawberry daiquiri for a while now. And use it with any berry available in the season. Personally I like blueberry version more so here it is -
Blueberry Daiquiri

1/2 cup washed blueberries
Juice from 1/4 lemon
2-3 tbsp sugar (or per taste)
3-4 ice cubes

Preparation -

Blend all the ingredients together in a jar. Adjust sugar and enjoy the drink in a chilled glass.

Tips -
  1. You can use any berries in daiquiri.
  2. You can substitute any small pasta or quinoa in the salad.

Comments

  1. Wow Mints!

    The salad and the daiquiri both sound so cooling and regreshing. I am feeling 10 degrees cooler just reading about it. :)

    PS: I uploaded some of my pots and a little info about potting. Would like to know what u think?

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  2. Wow.. both look good. daiquiri is new learning for me! Also, I got some homegrown cherry tomatoes from a student so I'll make this salad with those and some farmer's market basil :)

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  3. Oh wow looks yum....first time here....you have nice place with yum recipes.....

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  4. Jaya, Priya - Thanks!

    Kitchen Flavours - welcome and thank you.

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  5. Looks really refreshing and pretty, Mints. Great for a summer evening.
    It's pretty hot here in DC too, and we haven't been lucky with the rains either.

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