Making the Most of the Harvest

Summer’s bounty is, well, bountiful, as we make our way into August. I have been slicing cucumbers into salads and shredding summer squash almost nightly. I never seem to catch up! Don’t get me wrong, I am so in love with my vegetables that I could eat them for every meal, and often I do just that!

I hope you have tried out some of the recipes I have been sending out if you are a member of my newsletter–if you are not, please sign up today so you don’t miss out! I have been making zucchini fritters and pancakes which are a favorite of my husband, and last weekend I tried the cucumber salad with a lime/Greek yogurt dressing that was really superb!

Still have veggies to spare? Here are two more ways to make the most of the harvest. First, make use of your Vitamix and juicer. While you are whirring up a fruit smoothie for you and the kids, add a cucumber or small squash to the mix. You will not taste it, and will get all the benefits of adding in another vegetable to your day. Also, try adding in handfuls of your favorite garden herbs such as lemon balm and mints. They blend up beautifully!  You can also whip up a cooling, refreshing gazpacho which will take care of several cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, all in the Vitamix. Very tasty, nutrient-dense, and low calorie, too!

For those of you who have freezer space, I encourage you to freeze up some of these goodies. If you have no experience with putting foods up for winter, I suggest you go to the library and pick up a book! It is very easy and rewarding. Quite simply, most fruits will freeze as is, for later use in baked goods and smoothies. Just put the washed and dried fruits on a cookie sheet and freeze them for a couple hours before you put them in bags so that they freeze indiviually and not in a big frozen clump. In this way, you can remove just as much as you like, and not have to thaw the whole mess! Vegetables need to be quickly steamed before freezing, so they are a bit more work. What I do is very easy: I lightly saute the squash, for example, with some garlic and mash it up or puree it in the Vitamix and then freeze. This is great to add to soups during the fall and winter months. It adds smoothness and creaminess while also adding vitamins. You can use rigid freezer containers for these, as they stack well in the freezer and take up minimal space. Try this with tomatoes, too.

I hope you will continue to really ramp up your consumption of the season’s finest fruits and vegetables. Local produce packs such a high nutrient punch, that you will feel great and look great and be able to keep up with all your summer activities! Remember that the precious phytochemicals are only found in plants– “phyto” means plants, and it is these nutrients that promote health and longevity and also provide us with anti-cancer and heart-healthy nutrients. Bon Appetit!