Chow Vegan

Good Eat • No Meat

Minty Summer Fruit Salad

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Minty Summer Fruit Salad

While I’m not a big fan of heat waves, I do enjoy what else summertime brings – a bounty of fresh, delicious, sweet fruit.

Since I got all of the fruit (except the lychees) from the local farmer’s market, it doesn’t really need much more to make it any better – just a bit of lime juice and mint.

Minty Summer Fruit Salad
Serves 2

1 white peach
1 pint strawberries
6 lychees, fresh or canned
1 lime
1 tablespoon mint, minced
Agave nectar

Chill the fruit before using, wash and slice the peach and strawberries. Slice the lychees. In a mixing bowl, juice the lime. Add the mint and a drizzle of agave nectar to taste, mix well. Add the fruit to the bowl and make sure everything is well coated.

To plate, fan out the peaches. Pile the strawberries on one side, top with the lychees. Garnish with additional mint.

No Croutons Required is a monthly food blogging event hosted by Tinned Tomatoes and Lisa’s Kitchen. This month’s theme is a vegetarian soup or salad showcasing your favorite herb or one you haven’t experimented with yet.

Minty Summer Fruit Salad is my entry for the event. Mint is one of my favorite herbs, but I usually add it to savory dishes (I don’t know why, it’s just how I am). The minty fruit salad is a refreshing change from my normal usage of the herb, so it’s an favorite and kinda an experiment. And now it’s my favorite experiment.

Spicy Mushroom Hand Roll

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Spicy Mushroom Hand Roll

I love sushi but I’m getting a little tired of the same ol’ avocado roll, the ubiquitous cucumber roll or a variation of pretty much the same vegetables in a combination roll. I have been to a few Japanese restaurants that do have innovative veggie rolls, but those are usually the exception.

It just seems like the possibilities for creating new and interesting veggie sushi is endless and really unexplored. So I’m going to venture forward and give it a shot myself.

For this first attempt, I didn’t have any sushi rice and knew better than to try to substitute it with long grain rice. I made a hand roll instead with king oyster mushrooms in a spicy sauce, avocado, cucumber and romaine lettuce.

I was very happy and pleased with this taste combination. It’s got a nice balance between the spicy and the cool, the chewy and the crunchy.

But I do need to work on my nori toasting technique – 1. I almost burned myself waving it around a flame 2. The nori did catch on fire (it was quickly put out) and 3. Now it smells all burnt-like in the kitchen.

Despite all that, I believe it’s a successful, good start.

Blueberry Banana Smoothie

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Blueberry Banana Smoothie

In the summer, I practically live on smoothies. On especially hot days, I don’t even bother with niceties such as a straw. I just chug-a-lug it for an immediate cool-down. I like to freeze the fruit I’m using so I don’t have to use ice cubes but it’s still nice and cold.

One thing about blueberries though – always make sure to brush or at least check your teeth before leaving the house. It’s not a pretty sight to be talking to someone with blueberries specks all over your mouth.

Blueberry Banana Smoothie
Makes about 16 ounces

1 banana, peeled, sliced and frozen
1/2 cup unsweetened soy milk
6 ounces vanilla soy yogurt
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
Dash of cinnamon (optional)

Toss all of the ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately.