This time of the year, we like to go to farmer’s markets and buy delicious produce at reasonable prices. As Iowans, we love our sweet corn, but there are plenty of other favorites, like heirloom tomatoes, kohlrabi, and spinach. These recipes will give you a start on planning a month of meals highlighting fresh produce. Be sure to check out our MealSolutions™ for more great recipes and suggestions!
Sunday, August 1 – Respect for Parents Day
Today would be the perfect day to let the kids make dinner,
and our Bean
Quesadilla makes it easy for them. Topped with salsa made with fresh
farmer’s market tomatoes, these are sure to be delicious — and, if you're
lucky, the kids will even clean up the kitchen.
Wednesday, August 4 – Chocolate Chip Day
Could there be a better way to celebrate chocolate chip day
than by eating chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate? Satisfy your craving
by whipping up a batch of our Triple
Chocolate Mint Brownies. If this isn’t death by chocolate, we don’t know
what is.
Saturday, August 7 – Mustard Day
Here in the Midwest, we love to add the warm zest of mustard
to just about everything. One of our favorite uses is in our Peppery
Tuna Salad. This savory salad features mustard, roasted red peppers, and Simply
Organic Get Crackin’ Peppercorns. Serve with your favorite farmer’s market
vegetables to create a fabulous summer treat.
Tuesday, August 10 – Raid the Fridge
Our Summer
Vegetable Salad is a great way to use those beautiful farmer’s market
veggies you have in your fridge. Be creative and add whatever personal touches
you like! Served alongside buttered noodles, this salad personifies veggie
excellence.
Friday, August 13 – Family Dinner
Bring the whole family to the table tonight by treating them
to an All-American classic: Sloppy
Joes. At just $1.25 per Joe, you don’t even need to hesitate when the kids
ask for thirds!
Sunday, August 15 - Julia Child’s Birthday
Julia Child was famous for her love of the textures,
flavors, and colors of fresh, seasonal vegetables. Pay her tribute by taking a
trip to your favorite farmer’s market to buy fresh spinach
and tomatoes to make our Spinach
Lasagna.
Tuesday, August 17 – American Dance Week
Feeling spicy? Put on your dancing shoes and samba down to your
farmer’s market to pick up some fresh tomatoes and make a batch of salsa.
If you like a little more heat, we suggest adding half of a seeded Ancho Chile.
If you like a lot more heat, try adding two seeded Serrano Chiles.
Thursday, August 19 - Potato Day
The Peruvians are famous for cultivating over 200 kinds of
potatoes, and quite a few of these heirloom varieties are likely available at
your local farmers market this time of year. To enhance our Zesty
Mashed Potatoes, we suggest using a floury heirloom potato. Don’t know
which ones are floury? Just ask your farmer!
Saturday, August 21 – Dinner and a Movie
Just about everybody loves going out to eat on Saturday
night, but all those dinners out can take a toll on your pocketbook. Instead, make
your home-cooked meal a treat with our Lemon
Pepper Fettuccini. At just $1.13 per serving, you’ll save enough money to pay
for a movie afterward!
Sunday, August 22 – Sunday Brunch
There aren’t many things that satisfy quite like a good old-fashioned
Sunday brunch. Parked alongside cage-free eggs and whole wheat toast, our Potatoes
Rancheroes are an economical source of deliciousness ($0.76 per serving).
Thursday, August 26 - Dog Day
The dog days of summer are coming to an end, but National
Dog Day has officially arrived. Thus, we suggest preparing Vegetarian
Chili Dogs, which are packed with protein but low in fat.
Saturday, August 28 –
Catfish Month
American Farmed Channel Catfish are one of the most
affordable and sustainable seafood options available today. We suggest using
catfish to make Fish
Tacos, ($1.24 per serving), topped with a cole slaw made of farmer’s market
red cabbage, carrots, and your favorite slaw dressing.
Tuesday, August 31 - Trail Mix Day
Keep yourself energized during another workday by making
sure you have a steady supply of Garlic
Snack Mix. If you or a loved one has a tree nut allergy, try it with organic
soy nuts, which are low in fat and inexpensive ($0.93 per serving).
Please share with us your ideas for simple ways to go organic and celebrate summer with natural food.
(Serving costs are based on average national retail prices.)
