My summertime eats tend to be dramatically different from my wintertime fare.
Gone are the days of rich hearty soups and creamy pastas. They’ve politely stepped aside, or maybe they dropped a shoulder and threw an unexpected elbow to make room for a bounty of salads, a mountain of diced veggies, a big bowl of fruit, and a simple snack platter. The idea of firing up the oven or spending hours laboring over the stove just isn’t appealing right now. Instead, I’m craving all things light and preferably refreshing. Hello Sangria.
It’s easy to tailor our eats to the weather when it’s just the Hubby and I. Giant green salads for dinner, not to be confused with the jolly green giant, although in this house that legume will likely make an appearance at one point or another. Carrots, bell peppers and piles of hummus for lunch: sounds perfect. Smoothies for first breakfast: sign me up. It’s much harder to eat this way though when you have company in town, the kind who might want to ingest full meals, especially after a day of water sports and rigorous tennis playing, and by rigorous I mean we brought Starbucks to the court. So what’s a girl to do?
Wait, are you looking to me for an answer? That’s probably a bad idea, although I am going to share what I fed the Hubby and my house guests on Sunday, especially because one of them told me WIAW’s are her favorite posts so I thought it might be nice to choose a day she actually got to experience. See it, live it, love it or something to that effect.
Here we go:
Sunday breakfast turned into Sunday lunch because it took me a long time to make it. I was moving rather slowly and to be honest, recipe testing requires work and measurements and then writing down said measurements. I’m telling ya, that last step is fairly important, especially if you want to remember what you did. In any event, I fed them my first draft of a Lightened Up Stuffed French Toast with fresh Strawberry Puree. It’s possible I need to work on my drizzling skills.
We skipped a traditional lunch because I didn’t make one, and instead snacked on some Castel olives, which melt in your mouth like butter; not that I would know what melted butter tastes like (cough, cough). We also split a dragon fruit, some Roasted Candied Almonds, and iced coffee from Starbucks before hitting the tennis courts.
Dinner was a picnic plate full of food, which involved a green salad with blueberries, banana chips and blue cheese, alongside some brown rice, veggie stir fry, Savory Butternut Squash Muffins and a Sweet Potato Chickpea Burger with a Creamy Cilantro Sauce. I might have eaten two of the muffins, and by ‘might have,” I mean I definitely did.
While dinner was absolutely delicious, the food wasn’t the best part. Instead, it was the view and of course the company, but that goes without saying.
Dessert was a bowl of vanilla ice cream, topped with fresh figs which we roasted in the oven with butter, honey and cinnamon. It was the perfect ending to a lovely day.
What do your summertime eats look like? Is it the same as when you have company?
I want this! All of this! Put that on the itinerary you’re making if I ever come to Cleveland 😉
The figs sound amazing and don’t get me started with the French Toast!
In the wintertime I crave hearty casserols and stews and in summertime I love fruits and veggies and BBQs. Definitely on the lighter side!
Juli @ 1000lovelythings recently posted…What I ate Wednesday #49 – Whole30 Eats Week 4
Well you’ll have to come in the summertime then because my meals shift with the seasons. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
All of these look delicious! Butternut squash muffins sound delicious, and I know that my suddenly picky child would actually love them 🙂
I am also still working on my recipe testing skills. I used to hate writing down what I do as I do it (still do), but otherwise I forget. Blogging has really helped me in that department because I never did it before in spite of my husband’s complaints because nothing ever turned out quite the same. He’s much more pleased in that regard now.
Your drizzling skills are also much better than mine – I don’t drizzle but rather ‘plop’ things down in a big puddle.
Yuliya recently posted…WIAW: Paleo style!
The butternut squash muffins are fabulous. I replace the ham with some cheese and call it a day; a delicious day to be exact.
I usually don’t write it all done. Instead I taste test along the way, but when I’m trying to work on a recipe for the blog, then I post out the pen and paper and take copious notes.
I think the plop is a highly effective presentation mechanism as well. 😉
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
Gah your eats make me love summer more than ever…I’m especially drooling over that dessert at the end- YUM! Our summer eats seem to be totally in sync- smoothie breakfasts followed by salad lunches! Dinners usually involve grilled foods in some form and my cravings (and intake) of frozen desserts (e.g. ice cream/fro yo) shoots up! With the rainy season in full swing here in Mumbai, I’ve been craving comfort food in the form of hot dishes for the most part. Although I’m still holding on to my smoothies, soups & stir fries have replaced my lunchtime salads!
Khushboo recently posted…Pick your battles
I would grill all the veggies right now except our grill is broken. Gah!!
I want to come to Mumbai. I’m fascinated by this second city you call home.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
Lovely eats! But is there no week in review this week??
Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy recently posted…Life in Pictures Link Up #1
Alas the Week In Review is no more. 🙁 I didn’t have the participation so I shut it down about a month ago. I’m still mourning the loss.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
Oh no… That’s a shame. I’m sorry it turned out that way. I think you should keep going nonetheless; eventually people start taking note of it, like i did!
Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy recently posted…Life in Pictures Link Up #1
You’re so sweet, although it lasted almost a year. I even did a good bye post for it. http://cleaneatsfastfeets.com/2014/06/02/week-review-swan-song-edition/
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
Oof, that dessert looks like summer PERFECTION.
My summer eats definitely tend to be lighter and more refreshing also. I’m digging the smoothies, overnight oats (actually, I always dig those), and raw veggies. Oh, and coconut water! It makes me think I’m somewhere tropical.
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves recently posted…WIAW: A Poem
Oh coconut water is a great idea. I need to get on that stat. Thanks for the tip.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
I’m with you on light and refreshing. This happens to me too when summer comes around. I don’t want to be in a kitchen, I’d much rather be grilling outside, and if the food prep involves no cooking at all, even better. I love the fresh figs with ice cream, that looks super delicious!
Marnie @ SuperSmartMama recently posted…WIAW #11 – Chapel Hill Edition
The figs and ice cream was fabulous. Next time, I’d grill them though and get all sorts of carmelization stuff happening.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
that stuffed french toast looks AMAZING!
my eats are definitely a bit more “planned” & pretty with company around. i feel like food is such an important (& memorable) part of entertaining, so it means a lot to me to share it with the people i love!
Yes, I agree with you 100%. I like to share the love via food, and I think pretty food tastes a bit better.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
Ah all your eats just scream summer! So yum!
Audrey @ In Shape Cupcake recently posted…WIAW 7/9 + Quest Bar Giveaway!
Thanks. Here’s to summer. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
That breakfast looks amazing! Happy WIAW!
Marjorie recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday 40 on Weight Watchers. Plus Multivitamin Update.
Thanks. Happy WIAW back atcha.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
Your eats look delicious! I swear, rich hearty soups and creamy pastas are the ONLY reason I am able to get through winter!
Carmy recently posted…U-RAAW!
Mmmm….they’re the reason I actually love winter.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
Your wats look absolutely delicious! That ice cream sounds like a perfect way to end the day.
ChickGettinFit recently posted…WIAW #25–Candian Smoothies
Ice cream is generally an end of day winner. I even had a bowl tonight. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
What a delicious day! I’ve never had dragon fruit but it looks SO good – I must keep an eye out for it!
I’m a big fan of picnic-style eating in the summer too – lots of fresh fruit and veggies, and finger food really! Oh and ice cream goes without saying 😉
Cat recently posted…(WIAW) What I Ate Wednesday #42: I Love My Job
The dragon fruit tastes a lot like kiwi and it about four times more expensive. I’m glad I did it once, but I’m not likely to make it a regular thing.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
Awesome!! I’d write what I ate but it’s exactly the same : ))
Imagine that!! Maybe you should start blogging and doing your own WIAW posts. Or you can just text me your eats for a day. That’d work too.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
GENIUS ice cream creation. I had fresh figs for the first time a couple weeks ago, an entire flat of them. I just ate them all plain as they were because I was lazy and didn’t experiment. I should have done this…it looks way better. I’m with you on light meals with A LOL of fruit. I’m nervous for my morning bathroom trip with all the grapes I ate today….
Brittany recently posted…Does It Make Me…
You crack me up. I was a little nervous after all the fig action, but everything was as right as rain. 🙂
Grill the figs next time. They caramelize and turn into pouches of pleasure.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
I’ve never had a fig before, but I love how fancy they make everything sound 🙂 Almost as fancy as that french toast (sauce plop and all).
I’ve yet to entertain any company out of my bedroom in “our place” but I’d like to think I’d pull out the fancy stuff… or at least the sangria!
Sarah Pie recently posted…Slices of life #7
You’ve never had figs??? You need to get on that stat!!
Maybe you can entertain me, with sangria of course. 😉
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
That breakfast looks like it should be served at the best diner in town! Holy hot damn! Don’t let your neighbors see the pics, they might be knocking on your door tomorrow! LOL!
GiGi Eats recently posted…This is an Emergen-C!
They probably did see the pictures already, especially since I took it outside to photograph it. Ha!!
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
Ok girl, I booked a flight to you. One way. Cause I am moving in with you and your hubby and I will pay you for cooking me all that food – especially that dinner, the roasted figs and this (insert immora curse here)-delicious looking French Toast. I blame you for eating the letters of my keyboard!!
Lucie@FitSwissChick recently posted…How I handle bad days
Wait, you’ll pay me? It’s a done deal. I’ll get your bedroom ready for you.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Summertime Edition
All of your food looks so delicious! Love the dessert too!
I’m with you on ditching soups & pastas during the summer months and opt more for fresh fruits & veggies! 🙂
Karen @ Kama Fitness recently posted…Climbing & Planking Interval Training {Who ever said Mountain Climbers were easy?}
Yes summertime is all about fruits and veggies for me.
Meghan recently posted…A Blast from the Past
I think your jizzle looks good. 😉
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Emergen-Cs and Mock-tinis
Jizzle it… just a little bit.
Meghan recently posted…A Blast from the Past
you taunt me with these posts.. i meant taunt in a good way, like i want to eat everything and come to breakfast…err.. lunch at your house. k?
I’m down with it.
Meghan recently posted…A Blast from the Past
You are such a liar. You do NOT know what melted butter tastes like. I think this blog is a fallacy.
Hahahaha fallacy. Sorry. Asparagus.
When I have company, eats don’t actually change too drastically- because…I’ll message you why. I don’t want either of us to receive hate mail, stevia attacks or margarine packets thrown at us.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Healthy Tiramisu Oatmeal Pudding
Dude, you need to melt your butter and syrup together the next time you have pancakes. Game changer right there.
Meghan recently posted…A Blast from the Past
That all looks fantastic – especially the french toast and the dessert! The food I make is definitely different by the seasons. I have some beautiful short ribs in the freezer right now, and I just can’t make myself heat up the house to braise them. Instead, I’m grilling everything in sight and making huge bowls of salad and various veggies from my CSA.
Melissa @ Step Into My Kitchen recently posted…Summer Squash Pesto Galette