This is one of those perfect summer meals. It's light, healthy and uses a bunch of those just-picked vegetables so we don't have to freeze them. No garden of your own? Visit your local farmer's market for a great selection of super fresh veggies! Not only are they good for you, but they taste divine as well. Yum!
What is your favorite healthy summer meal?
When we think Southern food, corn bread comes to mind. This recipe is our favorite because we like our corn bread to have a little sweet heat. It pairs well with the obvious Southern dishes such as black-eyed peas and collard greens, but we also eat it with salads, chili and soup. Speaking of chili and soup, fall will be here before we know it!
Every summer, Jonathan's mom plants a huge garden with several varieties of tomatoes, bell peppers, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, green beans, peas, corn, pumpkins and even sunflowers! Last year, we were inspired by her efforts and started our own small garden. Every tomato, bell pepper, anaheim pepper, jalapeno pepper, egg plant and cucumber we harvested brought us so much joy, but we also saw firsthand just how much work goes into tending a garden. This summer, we didn't plant a garden because of our upcoming move, but we were happy to discover that five of our tomato plants reseeded. We've been enjoying a few fresh tomatoes every day, and the new homeowner will be eating Roma and grape tomatoes until the first frost. Talk about a selling point!
Joking aside, we realize just how fortunate we are to receive tons of fresh produce that is organically grown and basically free, and we know most people don't have the space or enough direct sunlight to plant gardens of any size. However, by supporting local farmers and gardeners, everyone can purchase the freshest fruits and vegetables, make a difference to their local economies and eat one of these delicious, perfect for summer, sandwiches!
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Do you have a garden? If so, what do you plant?
Growing up, one of my family's favorite places to eat was Caesar's Mongolian Bar-B-Q in Cerritos, California. Joan and her husband had been taking my parents there since the mid '70s, and the owners knew them well. When my sister and I came along a decade later, the owners would spoil us with 7-Ups with cherries and extra almond cookies. In the past decade, the original owners retired and the place has been remodeled, but Jonathan and I still make a trip there whenever we're in town. He likes the food as much as I do, and he doesn't mind humoring my nostalgic heart.
When we're not in California (ahem, not much these days!), we have several go-to Chinese restaurants in Memphis, but most of the time, we cook at home because it's cheaper and we can control what goes into our bodies. These wontons were a recent creation we made and loved. We hope you enjoy them!
