5 Refreshing Summer Recipes

5 Refreshing Summer Recipes

 Recipes by Natural Chef Jennifer Caroff @foodsoulutions, 

Jennifer Caroff, Natural Chef + Health Coach, offers private chef services in the Northern

California Bay Area and online health-focused cooking classes. To learn more about Jennifer

visit www.foodsoulutions.com and to see what Jennifer’s cooking follow her on Instagram

@foodsoulutions.

1. Blissful Watermelon Cooler

There’s nothing like watermelon on a hot day! Watermelon is hydrating, cleansing, and very easy to digest. High in enzymes, minerals and electrolytes, it has the unique ability to replenish the body almost immediately.* Ginger, mint, honey, dulse, limes and lemons are superfoods in their own right as well. The blend of all these ingredients together is truly uplifting. Of course you can adjust ingredients according to your needs and taste preferences. ENJOY!

Ingredients:

• 4-6 C watermelon, cubed -you can just blend all the watermelon you have :-)
• 2” chunk fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• 1C mint leaves, packed
• 1tsp-1T raw honey
• 1T Atlantic dulse flakes
• Juice of 3-4 limes or lemons (sub lemons if you don’t have limes on hand)

Procedure:

1. Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until completely liquified.
2. Enjoy immediately, serve with a few ice cubes if desired, or store in a glass jar for up to
3. days in the refrigerator.

Note: Learn more about the healing power of watermelon and melons here:

https://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/healing-melon

2. Honey-fermented Strawberry Basil Soda with Basil Seeds

This refreshing Summer soda will wow your tastebuds and delight your senses. The Honey- Fermented Strawberry Syrup requires 3-6 days to make, but is worth the adventure and effort.The fresh basil helps to cool the heating qualities of both strawberries and honey, and basil seeds aid in blood sugar balance, in addition to being fun!

Ingredients:

• Honey-fermented Strawberry Syrup (see Honey-fermented Strawberries below)
• Basil seeds (optional)
• Basil leaves, thinly sliced
• Sparkling water
• Lime juice

Procedure For a Single Serving

To make this soda:

1. Add 2-3 tablespoons of the Strawberry Honey Syrup to a 16oz glass.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of basil seeds and a generous pinch of thinly sliced basil leaves.
3. Fill the rest of the glass with sparkling water.
4. Swirl the mix and wait for 5-10 minutes for the basil seeds to fully plump. Enjoy!

Honey-fermented Strawberries

Ingredients:

• 3 cups organic strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup raw, local honey
• ½ tsp vanilla bean extract (optional)

Procedure:

1. Place sliced strawberries in a clean small mixing bowl. Add in the vanilla bean powder.
2. Pour the honey over the berries and gently coat the berries in the honey. The honey will
   quickly liquify as it draws the juices from the strawberries.
   
3. Transfer the Strawberry-Honey mix to a clean glass jar. Seal the jar with a clean lid, and
   store the jar in a dark place to ferment for 3-6 days (depending on the temperature of the
   environment).
   
4. Check the mix every 1-2 days and shake the jar gently to circulate the berries in the
   honey liquid. You can taste the progress of the ferment on day 3 and decide if you like it
   or if you want to continue to ferment it. The ferment is done when the mix shows slight
   bubbles and the taste is to your liking, if you ferment too long, it will turn alcoholic, so we
   want to stop the fermentation before this happens.
   
5. Once the ferment is done, store the ferment in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
   
6. To use in the soda, reserve the berries with a strainer, and use only the liquid portion,
   which we will call the Honey-fermented Strawberry Syrup. You can enjoy the Honey-
   fermented Strawberries anyway you like, they blend to a delicious sauce.

3. Summer Corn with Chipotle Crema

Ingredients:

• 4-6 ears of corn, silk and outer husks removed & inner husks left on (optional)
• 1/2 C cilantro, chopped
• Fresh lime wedges
• for the Smoky Spicy Rub:
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ancho Chile powder
• 1/8 tsp cayenne (optional)
• for the Vegan Chipotle Crema: Yield: about 2 cups
• 1 1/2 C cashews (soaked 4-6 hours)
• 2 T miso (yellow or light brown)
• 1 T olive oil
• Juice of 1-2 limes
• Zest of 1-2 limes
• 1-2 dried chipotle peppers soaked in
• 1/3 C water

Procedure for the Vegan Chipotle Crema:

1. Place soaked cashews in a high speed blender. Add miso, lime juice, lime zest, (preserved

lemon), Chipotle peppers (seeds included) and their soaking water. Blend on low and increase to

high speed until cashew cream is silky and smooth.

2. Adjust taste as desired. Store in a glass jar for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Putting it all together:

1. Heat cast iron skillet or grill over high heat.
2. Coat corn with olive oil, sprinkle it with sea salt and place on the cooking surface.
3. Turn corn as kernels turn golden brown to build up the flavor, approximately 10 minutes.
4. Rub ears with the Smoky Spicy Rub. Continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes.
5. Remove corn from heat and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
6. Smother with the Vegan Chipotle Crema, add more Smoky Spicy Rub, garnish with cilantro and serve with additional lime wedges as desired. Enjoy!

4. Cooling Thai Basil Mint Coconut Cashew Sauce

Summer dressings and sauces are easy to make and vary with the bounty of fresh, available herbs like mint, basil, cilantro and parsley. This sauce combines mint and (Thai) basil along with dried coconut and soaked cashews for a creamier base. Once you have a few go-to sauces that you enjoy for the summer season you are good to go! They are so versatile and can double as salad dressings, dipping sauces, and sandwich spreads. They also go well with grilled, marinated, or roasted vegetables, grains, meats and fish. 

Ingredients:

• 1C medium shred coconut (or freshly grated if you have it!)
• ⅓ C cashews, soaked for 2 hours + rinsed
• 1 ½ C basil leaves, packed -you can try using various types of basil including Thai, Tusi
• or Opal varieties in addition to the more common Italian Globe Basils.
• 1 C mint leaves, packed
• Juice of 1 lime, adding more if desired
• 1 Thai green chile, destemed + deseeded, reduce amount to decrease heat
• 1”-2” chunk of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped (choose desired spiciness)
• 1 ½ tsp salt, more to taste
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• 1 cup water, add more for a thinner consistency

Procedure:

1. Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Scrape
2. down sides of the blender as needed to incorporate all the ingredients.
3. Store in a glass jar for up to three days in the fridge. The color and flavors will be best on the first and second day. Enjoy!

5. Fig + Fennel Almond Galette(V+GF)

Nothing says summer quite like fresh figs and fennel. Not only are figs and fennel seeds highly regarded as beneficial, healing foods, they also taste amazing together! The almond flour galette crust is easy to make, and can be used as a base for both sweet and savory fillings with a few simple adjustments. Once you learn how to make the dough, you will be ready to make many different combinations to fill a galette in any season.

Ingredients:

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven to 375F. Quarter the figs lengthwise and place in a small mixing bowl.
2. Add the lime juice, vanilla, salt, fennel seeds, and ginger to the figs, and gently combine.
3. Sprinkle the arrowroot powder over the figs and gently mix to incorporate. Set aside.
4. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, arrowroot and salt. Add in the maple syrup, almond extract (if using), and oil and mix thoroughly to combine.
5. Slowly add in the water, a tablespoon at a time. Only add as much as is needed to form the dough so it holds together. If you add too much water, add additional almond flour to soak up the excess moisture. The dough should easily form a ball without sticking to your hands.
6. Form the dough into a ball and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover the dough with another piece of parchment and press to flatten.
7. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thick. Then peel back and remove the top piece of parchment.
8. If you are using a jam layer for the base of the galette filling, spread a thin layer of jam onto the dough, allowing plenty of room at the edges to fold over the galette crust.
9. Arrange the figs in the center of the dough. You can choose the nicest slices to showcase in the center of the galette.
10. Gently fold over the edges of the dough to form the galette crust. If the dough cracks, (remember this is gluten and egg-free), simply use your fingers and a touch of water to reshape and seal the cracks as you shape the galette.
11. Sprinkle a bit of coconut sugar along the edges of the crust and center figs.
12. Reduce the oven temperature to 350F and bake for 30 minutes or until galette edges turn golden brown.
13. Allow the galette to cool for 20-30 minutes before slicing and serving.
14. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. ENJOY!

Fits Perfect For Cooking in Comfort 

Whether you are cooking indoors or out on the patio, cooking in comfort makes the experience ever so enjoyable. But cooking in comfort and feeling beautiful while doing so makes the experience even more fruitful.  Our Cropped Boho Pant feels luxuriously soft and cozy. This cozy pant pairs amazingly with our deliciously soft white tank made of KiraGrace PowerDry material that will keep you dry amidst the heat of summer cooking. Browse the Skort Shop for outfits that can also withstand the kitchen+ summer heat while still proving to be chic.