Versatile Summery Meals + Have a Great Summer Weekend!

Tomato Salad with greek olives, capers, spring onion, fresh parsley and virgin olive oil. {The nicest capers to use for this dish are the small ones, which are not too aggressively vinegary.}

I love salads and eat them almost every day. I cannot think of any vegetables that I don't like. I like almost all veggies, eggplant, white beans, green beans, broccoli, potatoes, whatever! But my favourite summer vegetables would definitely...

be tomatoes . (Tomatoes are not vegetables but fruit, but I consider them vegetables. Just because.)

Note: Tomatoes deserve better treatment than the salad drawer of the fridge, which knocks the life out of their flavour. This is because tomatoes originate from South America and are essentially hot-blooded. Keep them at room temperature instead and they will continue to ripen on or off the vine.

Frankly, Mrs Tomato, I Love You! ;)

For those of us with little inclination and even less time to spend in the kitchen, here are a few meals that are fresh, quick and easy, require less or no cooking, and are the perfect way to enjoy summer vegetables at their peak of flavour.

ABOVE Caesar's Salad. Chicken grilled strips mixed with fresh lettuce, rocket, corn, croutons, Parmesan shavings and hard cheese mix, covered with Vinaigrette sauce.

LEFT Crunchy Green Salad. Crispy bacon, Blue cheese and Pear and mixed greens, covered with a mustard and red wine dressing.

Note: The pear in it makes all the difference.

RIGHT Simple Avocado Salad. Crisp, mixed salad leaves, sliced avocado, radish, covered with lemon dressing.

Guacamole (Avocado dip) and Tortilla chips. I can't get enough of this! Really.

Guacamole

Ingredients

3 ripe avocados
1 red onion, finely chopped
2 green chilies, finely chopped
2 tbsps of roughly chopped cilantro (coriander leaves)
Juice of half a lime
Sea salt

Avocados can help make salads more colourful, tasty and engaging. I love their rich texture.

Tuna and Caper Sauce.

A delicious, healthy and easy sauce which is ready in less than 10 minutes. Tuna really makes a meaty-tasting sauce recipe that can be used on any pasta.

Tuna and Caper Sauce

Ingredients

1 Can Tuna (chunks or solid in water), drained.
1 Tablespoon capers, drained
1 Garlic clove, finely chopped
1/2 Cup fresh cream or skim milk
1/2 Cup extra virgin olive oil
Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, optional
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Heat olive oil in a frying pan. Add garlic and cook until softened.
Add tuna chunks and fresh cream. Remove from heat.
Add hot pasta, flat-leaf parsley and freshly ground black pepper.
Toss to combine.

Good, fresh ingredients, simply and quickly prepared, can make a remarkably satisfying and visually appealing meal (As my Grandmother used to say).

What are your favourite vegetables?

Since today is the first day of summer, I'd like to wish you all a great summer. May your sun be smiling at you! Hope you have a great weekend. xx