It is August 1st! We are all saying to ourselves right now, how is summer going by so fast!? I often find myself in panic mode when August hits. Thoughts of have I done enough this summer, have I truly embraced each day, and what do I still need to do in order to make sure my summer is complete often sets in right now. The end result to this is I find myself becoming stressed and a little bit down once August roles around.
I am trying to take on a new approach this month. Instead of worrying about how many days are left until summer is over, I want to wake up most days and not have a plan. I don’t want to worry about the school year starting and walking into Target wondering when are we getting our school supplies. I don’t want to fill the August calendar up with social plans and last minute bucket list endeavors. I just want to get back to the basic roots of what makes summer so enjoyable! Whether that be taking a bike ride, grabbing a book and reading outside, planting myself at the beach for the day or packing a family picnic for dinner.
I also want to get back to cooking more this month as well. I find most summer nights we are eating on the go rather then at home. Baseball schedules and days on the run often lead to drive thru and take-out dinners! Hitting up my local farmer’s markets lately has inspired me to head back into the kitchen though. And with that, I want to share some really easy recipes perfect for al fresco dining or picnicking. Two wonderful ways to be outdoors and embracing the month of August!
Recipes for Outdoor Dining
I love anything made with quinoa but this recipe absolutely can be substituted with rice or any other favorite grain. Fresh herbs, peas and a delicious light lemon vinaigrette makes for a perfect summer dish! Full recipe details found here
Fresh grown cucumbers are always in abundance during the summer. This simple cucumber salad is so flavorful and refreshing that is made all the more desirable by it’s low calorie content!
Recipe:
3 cucumbers peeled and diced
1 small onion sliced
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 Tbsp Salt
2 Tbsp Sugar
Dash with Dill Weed
Mix all in a bowl. Chill and serve
Not necessarily a recipe but have you ever squeezed fresh limes onto watermelon? Summer game changer that elevates this refreshing treat that much more!
Outdoor Dining Essentials
Packing a meal on the go can be arduous. I am rounding up some items that make picnicking that much easier!
Picnic Basket. No picnic is complete without a picnic basket of course! I love a traditional wicker one. We bought ours at a garage sale years ago but I found a similar one that I linked here.
Chilled Serving Bowls. With spending long days on the boat, I was in need of additional items beyond a cooler to keep food cool. I found this set of chilled serving bowls with lids and I am so happy with them! With a built in cooling wall, simply stick them in your freezer ahead of wanting to use them. Fill them with your prepared foods and items will stay cool on the go!
Govino Wine Glasses. An upgrade to plastic, these wine glasses are shatterproof, reusable, dishwasher safe and perfect to travel with.
Turkish Towels. I initially bought them because I love the look of them, but turkish towels are extremely functional. Compact, highly absorbent and lightweight, they are a practical alternative to the everyday towel. What I love most about them is sand does not stick to them like a traditional beach towel.
If you like this post, you’ll also love my recipe for Oatmeal Scotchies!
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Thanks for stopping by!
L, M