Farewell Sweet Summer!!

It’s the official last full week of summer.  And, the summer growing season is winding down too. I’m looking forward to cooler temps and the leaf color change on the many trees on our property. It’s been a hot one this year and I’m ready to open up the windows and enjoy those cool evening breezes.

The beautiful thing about summer break are the many opportunities to feed your soul.

We slow down.

We sniff in the aromas of summer.

We eat from the garden.

We preserve some of those foods.

We count fireflies.

We have family reunions.

We visit the beach.

We stay up late and sleep in later.

We grill meals.

We sit on the porch and swing.

We run through the fire hydrant.

We endure the heat and mosquitoes.

We hate to see it go.

If you’re kinda dreading the end of Summer Break, plan to savor every moment that is left. Then tuck you some summer away to enjoy later.

Can some peaches for a cobbler in November.

Make a bowl of potpourri of your favorite summer scents.

Save you some seeds from your favorite summer foods for next year’s garden.

Wrap up in your favorite summer throw to watch a good movie for some self-care.

Create a slide show of the memories you’ve made this summer and look at them when it’s cold outside.

Spend some time in meditation…..reflecting on the blessings of your Summer Break.

I promise…..your soul will be revived……

Cooking is what makes me happy.  Some of my favorite dishes are with foods from our summer garden.  So, here are a couple more of my favorites.. They’re great Breakfast Ideas and would be perfect for this Labor Day Weekend.   I really wish I could show you the pictures of the peaches we grew.  But, those durn squirrels. ate. every. single. one. of. them.again.   I have, however gotten some delicious ones from a local farmer’s market and they have been perfect for everything I’ve made and I canned some too.  You and your loved ones will enjoy them. This is the last year those squirrels get our peaches…..for real.

Peaches - Ward off diseases like diabetes and heart disease.  They and plums killed the most aggressive form of breast cancer cells in a 2010 study at Texas A&M.  The fiber content helps to reduce risk for colon cancer.  Is a source of iron and magnesium.

Peach Crisp

Topping

3 tablespoons sweetener

3 tablespoons canola oil

1/3 cup water

½ teaspoon salt

1 ½ teaspoon coriander, optional

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup whole grain flour

3 cups quick or rolled oats

Combine wet and dry ingredients separately.  Mix together.

Fruit Mixture

7 cups sliced peaches – fresh, frozen or canned, drained

¾ cup juice from drained fruit

½ cup your choice chopped dried fruit

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons sweetener

Dissolve cornstarch and sweetener into fruit juice.   Mix with sliced fruit and place in large casserole dish.  Top with oat topping.  Bake at 350o for about 45 minutes.  Good hot or cold.  Experiment with sweeteners like honey, concentrated fruit juice, date sugar, evaporated cane juice crystals and Sucanat.   This variation used honey.  Also try flavorings like almond and ginger.

Serves 10-12

Breakfast Hash

This is one I came upon purely by accident.  I was visiting some friends and there was not enough tofu to feed the group waiting.  Through necessity, the cook invented this delicious breakfast hash.  It was a really big hit at our cooking class.  I sometimes make a single serving for myself.

You will need equal amounts of the following ingredients:

Your favorite recipe scrambled tofu with red and green peppers-leftover works quite well

Crumbled onion flavored tater tots

Broccoli flowerets

Crumbled Vegetarian Breakfast Sausage – Morningstar Farms, Gimme Lean, Beyond Meat

Into a large skillet pour a little olive oil.  Brown crumbled veggie sausage until crisp.  Add tater tots and keep stirring until desired color/crispness.  Add broccoli flowerets, cover and let steam for about 5 minutes on low heat.  Uncover and add scrambled tofu stirring in gently.  Heat until tofu is warm.  Serves 6-8

By the Way, I’ve launched Auntie Donna’s Plant Powered Goodness Meal Prep Service.  If you’re in the Huntsville Area, I would love to cook for you!!  Visit our link www.stillshoutin.com to get your order started.  Why cook when I can do it for you?!?!?

Farewell Sweet Summer!!  Thanks for the Memories!!  It’s Wellness Wednesday Yawl!!

I’m Still Shoutin’ Ova Here!!

Donna

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