🌞 🌺 Get Your Greens SUMMER Challenge 🌺 🌿

SafariGalNYC · June 21

🌞 First day of summer!

Welcome to the Get Your Greens Challenge! 🌿

Summer is always a great time for fresh produce..

🌱 We’ve been doing the Greens challenge monthly as a way to eat healthier- everyone’s goals are different.

🪴Whether you want to eat more greens or include more fruits and vegetables in your diet…

Wishing everyone a healthy Summer! 🍋

Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.

– Hippocrates

SafariGalNYC · June 21

thought I would start with an amazing bowl of mixed vegetables and greens from Spain 🇪🇸

a olio, citrus, pomegranate vinegrette on a bed of fresh lettuces , radish, endive, peas, tomatoes.

Proteins: egg, guanciale

yakkystuff · June 23

Looks fresh & so good Safari!

Still achy and into broth veg soups. Quinoa for the grains today.

yakkystuff · June 23

Juice is pretty good, stirred in a splash with PB2 powder into my greek yogurt.

yakkystuff · June 24

@Rainbow2300 - we smoke with wood chips on the charcoal bbq. Was so surprised how flavorful it makes veggies! I'm going to pick up some tofu to try, thx

yakkystuff · June 25

I went to the tracker to check nutrition of a meal with new to me foods, oh my...

After my initial reaction to the increased difficulty - i had a 2nd thought - oh well, I want to eat myself healthy, so quit fussing and figure this new thing out... now, what was the food?

Cinnamon dusted

Let's eat ourself healthy!

SafariGalNYC · June 26

🌿 nature made- found the most beautiful figs at the market!!

yakkystuff · June 26

They look fresh & delicious!

Saute shrimp, rice & mix veg.

SafariGalNYC · June 27

@yakkystuff - that looks awesome!! 🍤🥦🥕

yakkystuff · June 27

They brought in family sized Ceasar salads from the market pretty good :)

SafariGalNYC · June 29

In fresh tomato Heaven..

SafariGalNYC · June 29

Some green juice and yoghurt with fruit.

Green juice: kale, spinach, mango.

Yogurt: plain Greek yoghurt with a fresh fig, dried coconut, date, papaya and kiwi. 🥝

yakkystuff · June 30

Wow, that juice is brilliant and the bowl jewel toned inviting!

Home cooked bowl tonight, spiced meat, spot of rice, chili spiced kidney beans and lots of vegs.

Dished separately then stirred. Will use the various batch cooked components in various ways this week.

SafariGalNYC · June 30

@yakkystuff - a veggie smorgasbord there!! 😋

breakfast this morning: smoked salmon with mixed greens, radicchio, feta, carrots

yakkystuff · July 2

Mmmm, smoked salmon!

Fresh berries in season with cinnamon dashes.

yakkystuff · July 3

We had a surprise 1st bloom this year on a tree that was here when we moved in a few years ago. Thought it was a scrub tree - just hadn't removed it yet.

Not sure if this is a sweet or tart apple coming on. Have never seen a cascading apple like this.

mkksemail · July 3

That is SO cool, yakky !!!

yakkystuff · July 3

Missing you @mkksemail - whatchya eatin?

Batch prepped garden vegs & roasted the cabbage, it was good.

mkksemail · July 3

Rrrrfffff, I've been wrapped up in my knees (visco gel injections weekly, starting last week, 1st of 3 in left knee; Tues was 2nd of 3 in left knee, 1st of 3 in right kee; next week finishes the left knee, the week after finishes the right knee), trying not to melt in the outrageous humidity (we don't have central air!), and the start of the Hogwarts challenge last week. I've been reading, but not posting much!

Last week's greens were primarily green beans, made as part of a challenge for Hogwarts last week. Wendy's salad on Tuesday for dinner. Ice cream for dinner yesterday 😬. The Hogwarts meal was fun, and I batch cook like you, so we ate it 3x, and still have 1 dinner for 2 left:

Copy/paste:

2.) CATEGORY 2 - FOOD: 8 pts completed

✔ A4: Potions - 2 points: Make a healthy meal or dish from France, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Belgium, or The Netherlands. Please post the recipe and/or a photo.

✔ Main Dish - Portugal: Peri-Peri Chicken Espetada

- super delicious! (img from link) "Espetada is a Portuguese dish where food is cooked on skewers. All kinds of meat and fish can be used." I did not make my own Peri-Peri sauce (I used Trader Joe's Peri-Peri sauce), but you can! I also broiled them without skewers, to make it less labor-intensive, so I suppose technically it wasn't Espetada, but that's okay.. I was surprised at how much we like it! (link)

Ingredients (serves 4 tho I made 8 svgs, marinated for 3 days ahead of time, prep time minimal!):

Chicken thighs. I used boneless skinless chicken thighs but you could also use skin-on boneless chicken thighs.
Peri-peri sauce. I used my homemade peri-peri sauce but bottled sauce will also work.
Olive oil.
Sugar / Honey. You could use a sugar substitute too if you prefer.
Salt and pepper.

✔ Side Dish - all 6 countries-inspired: Grilled Fruit Skewers

Trader Joe's recipe (link) … maybeee? these regions-inspired? Google AI says:

Based on the provided information, grilled fruit skewers would likely be considered a BBQ or grilling recipe in France, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Belgium, and The Netherlands, although perhaps not a traditionally specific national dish. Here's why:

Grilling fruit is common in these regions: Several sources indicate that grilling fruit is a popular summer activity and cooking technique in these European countries. For example, Portugal, being close to Spain, Italy, and Greece, has adopted many similar grilling customs, including grilling fruits. Beka Cookware, likely based in Europe, mentions grilling fruits as a popular summer treat. Asamodo, likely a Dutch company based on the ".nl" in the URL, includes these countries in a list of places where grilling is practiced, specifically mentioning fruits.

Grilling fruit caramelizes the sugars: The primary reason for grilling fruit is to caramelize its natural sugars, enhancing the flavor. This is a common effect sought in grilling across various

cuisines.

BBQ and grilling practices vary: While grilling is widely practiced in these countries, the term "BBQ" might be used interchangeably with grilling or refer to specific techniques like smoking, which are less common in some areas. A Reddit discussion notes that in some parts of Europe, "BBQ" is synonymous with "grilling".

Recipes and suggestions support this: While there isn't specific mention of "Grilled Fruit Skewers" being a national dish of any of these countries, there are recipes and mentions of grilling fruits like peaches, oranges, and plums. The idea of putting fruit on skewers for grilling is presented as a general concept rather than a country-specific recipe.

In conclusion, while grilled fruit skewers might not be a cornerstone of any specific nation's traditional BBQ or grilling culture within these countries, the act of grilling fruit and using skewers for grilling is recognized and practiced, making them a fitting addition to a BBQ or grill menu in this region.

Again, I skipped the skewering, and broiled them on a carbon steel sheet pan for 15 minutes (giving a stir-around at 5 mins & at 10 mins). I was also making French green beans, so instead of a separate recipe, I combined the beans with the fruits, and liberally drizzled all with olive oil & lime juice, and liberally sprinkled all with the chili lime seasoning called for in the Grilled Fruit Skewers recipe. Really tasty! and again, minimal prep time ;-). Especially since the fruit came pre-cubed and the beans came ready to use, no shucking or cleaning required :D.

Ingredients

(serves 4 tho I made 8 svgs, everything pre-cut and pre-washed, skipped the skewers, prep time minimal!):

Skewers
1 cup cubed TJ’s Watermelon
1 cup cubed TJ’s Pineapple
1 cup cubed TJ’s Cantaloupe
2 TJ’s Lime, cut into wedges
Your favorite TJ’s Oil, for grill grates
TJ’s Chile Lime Seasoning Blend, to taste

✔ Side Dish - France … via Spanish & Portuguese colonists who brought them to the European continent from Central America: Extra Fine French Green Beans

From Trader Joe's (link):

"Not all French green beans are actually grown in France—the cultivar actually gets its name from the explosion in popularity they sparked among the French once Spanish and Portuguese colonists brought them to the European continent from Central America. Trader Joe’s French Green Beans, however, are the real deal. They’re grown for us by a trusted French produce supplier, who flash-freezes them at the very peak of their freshness, to ensure that once you heat them up at home, they’ll be as sweet and tender as they’d be if you’d picked them yourself.

Well suited for serving as a side dish, especially when paired up with some diced onions and Slivered Almonds, we’re particularly fond of their extra fine profile, which gives each bite a crisp, satisfyingly snappy texture. During the holidays, they’re a great option for featuring in a classic green bean casserole, and can be pickled, blanched, or deep-fried any other time of year. For a quick, elevated veggie dish, give them a light steam before sautéeing in olive oil with lemon zest, salt, and pepper, then top with Shaved Parmiggiano Reggiano."

… but I combined the beans with the Grilled Fruit Skewers recipe for a combined broiled sheet pan side that was delicious :D.

✔ Dessert - Portugal: Portuguese Custard Tarts

box contains 4 svgs, we got two boxes, to match the 8 svgs made for the meal. Also from Trader Joe's (link) :

"As the old cliché goes, necessity is the mother of invention, but there’s something to be said about the parental capabilities of simple practicality, too. For example: a few centuries back, monks and nuns in Portugal began using egg whites to starch their habits, which created a real surplus of egg yolks within monasteries. Rather than let them go to waste, they began developing yolk-centered desserts, the most successful of which came to be known as pastel de nata, or, as its known throughout the rest of the world, the Portuguese Custard Tart.

While our Custard Tarts may come from less purely practical origins, they are imported from Portugal and prominently feature the same creamy texture and flaky, melt-in-your-mouth crust that have made this dessert a favorite in bakeries the world over. Preparation is as simple as 20 minutes in the oven, 15 in the air fryer, or 55 seconds for a single Tart in the microwave. Once hot and ready, they’re especially delicious when sprinkled with a bit of cinnamon and paired with a steaming cup of coffee or tea. Speaking of practical, our spring- seasonal Trader Joe’s Portuguese Custard Tarts are sure to practically fly out of our freezers, so be sure to pick up a box (contains four Tarts) while supplies last."

… ohhhhhmyyyygoooddneesssss these were so good ! 😋 Hubby said they'd be great with berries on them. We have both frozen mixed berries, and frozen blueberries in the freezer, so we'll try them both ways, for leftover meals.

Nutritional Info for the whole meal:

Cals: 589
Net Carbs: 36g
Fat: 30g
Protein: 40g

Recipes search/Inspos: France, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Belgium, or The Netherlands bbq or grill recipe

(This was a super-fun assignment! Xx)

yakkystuff · July 4

Oh my goodness, now I'ma droolin! Lol It all looks so good.

What a treatment path on your knees there @mkksemail - Ouch! Hope it helps!

mkksemail · July 4

TY luvvie! Xx

(PS - the challenge meals were super good!!)

yakkystuff · July 4

Have 3 lunchsacks of baby cremini mushrooms to use... exploring!

Enjoyed in morning saute for breakfast. No pics tho.

mkksemail · July 4

Delicious beef shepherd's pie (with corn), and broccoli seasoned with TJ's Chili lime Seasoning, for dinner. Was supposed to be peas & diced carrots side, but the store left that off my order, so I pulled some frozen brocc from the freezer, instead.

I do have pix, but can't post pics from Android Pixel, and I'm on my phone right now 🤷‍♀️