Chilled Watermelon Curry Soup

As summer is drawing to a close on the calendar, I’m eagerly awaiting the fall weather. Unfortunately, it seems we’ll have to wait a while. The temperatures here lately have been in the 90s and humid.

This soup brings together my love for curries and my need for light, refreshing meal options that the whole family will enjoy. (Yes! Otto loves it, too. He’s such an adventurous eater.) It’s sweet and spicy, bright and (oddly) thirst quenching. Admittedly, it eats a little more like an appetizer than a main course; that said, you could easily serve it for lunch or dinner. Enjoy!

Spinach Tomato Salad with Creamy Greek Dressing

Brent brought home two packages of Campari tomatoes from Costco last weekend. We planned to use some in one meal but Brent bought more than needed because we both enjoy eating Campari tomatoes as a snack (yes, sometimes I eat them like small apples). That said, we somehow managed to get through the week without eating most of them. So, this weekend, I asked Brent to make a salad with them to serve along side burgers when we had friends for lunch on Saturday.

The salad he crafted is simple but packed with great flavor. It’s light and refreshing, but the meaty-ness of the Campari tomatoes makes it very satiating. It was so good, I had him make again on Sunday so I could eat it again. You can serve it as a side or mix in a protein (such as shredded chicken) to make it an entree in and of itself. The salad will be tasty right away, but letting it rest a while in the fridge helps the flavors meld and develop. We hope you enjoy this salad as much as our friends and we did!

Creamy Roasted Cauliflower and Mushroom Sauté

Creamy Roasted Cauliflower and Mushroom Sauté Recipe [paleo, primal, gluten-free, keto]

This week Heather is out of town for a business trip, so Otto and I are having a bachelor week. We’re super fortunate to have the support of our neighbors and community to help me with Otto’s drop off and pick up to daycare while Heather is away. Additionally, Heather and I did a lot in advance of her trip to keep this week low stress. One of those things was this recipe.

Otto, for some wonderful reason, loves umami flavors and is fairly indifferent to sweets. This recipe was a big hit with him, and he actually liked better as is than when we blended it up into a chunky puree for him. Regardless of how you take your solids, we know you’ll love this dish. It goes great with a big piece of steak or on its own.

Summer Cauliflower “Couscous” Salad

Summer Cauliflower Couscous Salad Recipe [paleo, primal, gluten free, vegan] (1)

The mom’s group in our area is very active, and so large that it’s subdivided into groups based on the children’s ages. I’m a “Llama Mama” and this year, it was the Llama Mama’s turn to host the annual pot-luck family picnic. I volunteered and also took a side salad. Now, a typical picnic side salad dish might involve leafy greens or cold pasta and chopped veggies plus some form of cheese and dressing. Given that we’re gluten- and dairy-free and I know at least a couple of the moms in the group are vegan, I wanted to avoid those “normal” options.

As I planned for the day, I was chatting with a college friend. Feeling somewhat nostalgic, I reflected on the things she often made when we were roommates–Matza Ball Soup, latkes, bagels with cream cheese and lox (OK, no, she didn’t make that one from scratch). Now, couscous isn’t a “traditional” Jewish food (it originates from Northern Africa) but it’s commonly enjoyed in Jewish communities and I can remember having cold, crisp couscous salad in the spring and summer or hot couscous with toppings in the fall and winter. This rendition of a cold couscous salad pays homage to those while being vegan- and paleo-friendly. We hope you like it and choose to serve it at your next picnic or barbecue!

Roasted Rainbow Beets and Spring Onions

For nearly a month, every time I walked through the produce department of our local Whole Foods, I’ve seen large and vibrantly colored spring onions. I didn’t care for onions as a kid, but I’ve learned to appreciate the flavor they add to dishes. I even enjoy caramelized onions on my burgers! The spring onions were beautiful. I suddenly couldn’t stop thinking about them.

Meanwhile, there were also “rainbow” beets. Rainbow beets! I’m not a rainbows and butterflies and ribbons and bows kind of girl. That said, sunny spring days make me feel a little more colorful, and I love colorful food. How could I resist them? Onions and beets taste great together. I’ll admit, though, I was more excited that they would look great together in photos. We served this pretty little dish for dinner on Easter with smoked brisket and it felt perfectly appropriate. We hope you enjoy it!