Are you interested in doing something productive and fun this summer near your Portland apartments? Something that comes to me is going to your local farmer’s market, whether it be alone or with friends and family, to stock up on some much-needed, fresh groceries. The great thing about the turn of the seasons is that there are so many new fruits and vegetables available for you to enjoy.
Here’s a list of some vegetables in season this summer: radishes, cucumber, beets, bell peppers, carrots, zucchini, garlic, corn, and rhubarb.
And here’s a list of fruits in season this summer: apricots, plums, cherries, blackberries, nectarines, strawberries, peaches, tomatoes, passion fruit, melon, lemons, and limes.
Here’s a yummy recipe for Grilled Chicken Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette:
Ingredients
2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Vinagarette
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup blueberry preserves
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/8 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
Salads
1 package (10 ounces) ready-to-serve salad greens
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup canned mandarin oranges
1 cup crumbled goat cheese
Directions
Toss chicken with oil, garlic, salt, and pepper; refrigerate, covered, 30 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together vinaigrette ingredients; refrigerate, covered, until serving.
Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat until a thermometer reads 165°, 5-7 minutes per side. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing. Place greens on a serving plate; top with chicken, blueberries and mandarin oranges. Whisk vinaigrette again; drizzle over salad. Top with cheese.
So this summer, make sure to go to your local farmer’s market so you can stock up on the freshest, healthiest produce there is. In addition, consider checking out this site if you need ideas for inspiration when it comes to coming up with recipes for your delicious produce. So now that’s TWO summer activities you can enjoy near your apartments in Portland you can visit a local farmer’s market and you can attempt a new healthy recipe from home. What will you do to make the most out of this summer?