As much as your children dread it, the arrival of SEPTEMBER also means back to school! In addition to your busy work schedule, commute and yoga classes, you're often left scrambling to figure out what to make for dinner. Break this cycle, and start getting your family involved in the process!
Remember to incorporate delicious local produce from your local farmers' market, or by purchasing it fresh in the grocery store. Using local vegetables and fruits allows you to experience produce at its most flavourful peak, as well as explore foods you may have never tried before, such as arugula or roasted beets.
Have your kids select the vegetables they would like to use in their meals. Then, have them research the type of dishes they would like to create with these foods by going online, or pulling out your recipe books.
Meal idea # 1:
Grilled Red Pepper Chicken Breast with Roasted seasonal vegetables and Seven Grain Salad
• Brush Summer Fresh Roasted Red Pepper Dip over chicken breasts and grill.
• Have your children wash and prepare pre-sliced beets, zucchini, peppers and carrots in an oven safe dish and roast for 10 minutes. These vegetables are in their peak, and can be found at any local market, or local grocery store.
• When chicken and vegetables are cooked through, place on plates and serve with Summer Fresh Seven Grain Salad.
Meal idea # 2:
Whole-wheat sautéed arugula & Bruschetta pasta with baked cheesy garlic loaf and tri-colour chick pea salad
• Toss cooked whole-wheat penne pasta with Summer Fresh Bruschetta and sautéed arugula, a tasty leafy green that is best when freshly chopped.
• Pour Summer Fresh 3 Cheese & Artichoke Cheesy Dip over garlic loaf. Make sure loaf is in oven safe pan. Bake until cheese is golden brown.
• Have your children prepare each plate, with a portion of Summer Fresh Tri-Colour Chick Pea Salad as a tasty side dish.
Meal idea # 3:
Make-your-own-taco-night!
• Have older children shred lettuce and cheese, and dice onion and bell peppers.
• Lay out a variety of soft and hard taco shells to fill.
• Start with Summer Fresh Deluxe Bean Salad as a taco filling, top with lettuce, onion, peppers and cheese. Corn is another great option to include this time of year. Try boiling some farm fresh peaches'n'cream cobs and cutting off the kernels to use in your taco filling.
• Provide a variety of toppings, including Summer Fresh Medium Salsa, Summer Fresh Mexicali Dip, and Summer Fresh Spicy Artichoke & Asiago Dip.
Meal idea # 4:
Sweet Curry Stir-fry with Pad Thai and Taboulah Salad
• Take a trip to your local market, or pick your own fall veggies for a delicious weeknight stir-fry! Cut a variety of peppers, onion, eggplant and garlic. Add peas and bean sprouts, along with Summer Fresh Sweet Curry Dip. Sautee in wok, or deep fry-pan, until tender.
• Transfer Summer Fresh (800g) Pad Thai into oven safe dish and heat for 7 minutes.
• Once veggies are done, pour over Pad Thai.
• Serve Summer Fresh Taboulah Salad as a side dish.
Meal ides # 5:
Breakfast for dinner - Maple Walnut Pancakes and whip cream
• Following package directions, prepare pancakes.
• Spread Summer Fresh Maple Walnut Topping and whipped cream and serve!
