Sunny Summer Kitchen

So what is your favorite avocado toast-- it's trendy and yummy, and we are always looking for new ideas!

I've often been told that switching to a Whole Food Diet means that you won't eat anything that "tastes good." And that couldn't be further from the truth!

While it is true that your taste buds will change to allow you to taste food at a whole new level, the richness of food combinations you can create while primarily eating whole foods is amazing.

This is something we make almost every morning-- it's a version of avocado toast, and it's an easy pick me up that we incorporate into breakfast or a snack. It's so simple!

Simply start with a good bread-- while I'd prefer to make my own bread, this one was made locally in our Publix bakery. But splurge on the good stuff-- it makes a big difference!

Pop it in your oven (I do 350 for 10 minutes) until you get the level of toastiness that you prefer. For this I like to keep it just a little on the soft side.

Once it's out, rub it with a fresh clove of garlic and brush on olive oil, salt, and pepper. It takes about 1 Tbs. per slice. Then cut each slice of bread in half and cover with a sliced avocado and tomato-- or even better, whatever you like on your avocado toast. Then drizzle a bit of balsamic reduction. Balsamic reduction is easy enough to make (the store bought is loaded in added sugar)-- and will stay in the fridge awhile. Simply heat some balsamic in a sauce pan until thickened into a nice syrup. Store in a glass jar or bottle!

If you are trying to clean up your diet, but are missing bacon try adding a bit of smoked paprika to your dish. It brings the smokey goodness of bacon without the nitrites, nitrites, and fat! It’s a great option! I’m making a vegetarian red beans and rice for dinner and I’m using the smoked paprika on place of pork. And it’s loaded in flavor!

Grown-Up Ranch Pasta Salad

As a child, I really loved ranch pasta salad-- you know, the stuff from the box. As an adult, I know that it's got a lot of ingredients that I don't want to put in my body. So I decided to play around and create a grown-up version that's full of vegetables and healthy ingredients-- but still has that classic ranch taste!

As most of you who follow me and my blog know-- I try to stay away from processed foods. I will make some exceptions, but they have to have good organic ingredients that pass the test!

Simply Organic's Ranch Dip Mix is an excellent alternative to the "other stuff" in the packet. Although I always prefer homemade, I use this brand when I'm tired or just busy! They use the best organic ingredients and don't have fillers that you don't need.

Ingredients
1 packet of Simply Organic's Ranch Dip Mix
1/2 c. Sour Cream
1/2 c. Mayonaisse
1 can of kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
8 oz. penne pasta (cooked)
a handful of grape tomatoes, quartered
1 zucchini chopped
1 bell pepper (I used an orange one!)
1 small onion
olive oil to taste
2-3 dashes of SMOKED paprika

Directions:
Start by cutting your onion and pepper into slices and sprinkle with olive oil. Combine onto a sheet tray and roast at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.
While that is roasting, add your mayonnaise, sour cream, and seasoning packet to a large bowl. Sprinkle in the paprika-- the smoked paprika gives it that "bacony" flavor. Stir well-- add in the zucchini, pasta, tomatoes, and beans. When the onions and peppers are done, stir them in. Let it set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, but this is easily made ahead for the next day!
Enjoy!

It’s soup making day at our house. The ultimate fall comfort food. I’m making a stock with chicken skin and bones, carrots, celery, onion, peppers, sage, parsley, garlic, and oregano. The house already smells amazing. This evening we will strain it and add in peas, carrots, corn, green beans, chicken, rice, and beans. What’s your favorite go-to soup?

The average person eats one ton (2,000 lbs) of food per year. If you are putting highly processed foods into your body, then your body will not function the way it was designed to do. You can’t complain that you feel like crud if you are fueling your body with crud. Your body was not designed to eat food out of a factory. It was designed to eat food in its natural state. That means Whole Foods, mostly plant based. If you are going to eat something processed then choose organic, non-GMO.
If you are trying to get healthy food is the key. Excercose is fantastic for your body, but diet is the biggest part of the equation. Eat well, my friends!

Really interesting article on sugar, inflammation and heart disease, from Harvard. It was released in 2019 and shows the deadly affects of sugar. You are 38% more likely to die of heart disease if you consume a high sugar diet. For those wanting to change their bodies, have a healthier heart and far fewer aches and pains— cutting out added sugar makes a big difference!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar

The sweet danger of sugar - Harvard Health People consume too much added sugar—extra amounts that food manufacturers add to products to increase flavor and extend shelf life—which can have a serious impact on heart health....

First of all, we are back! We decided to take a brief hiatus during the holiday season because we were busy beyond belief. So we took a much need respite, we went camping and spent some much needed family time. We've recommitted to healthy eating, managed to not get too far off track, and are back on the path to veganism. ...

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Using Leftovers: Pasta Salad - Sunny Summer Kitchen Use left over pasta for an easy and flavorful salad that can easily transition into a meal! Easy options can turn this into a vegan delight!

New recipe coming soon! ❤️ We are excited to get back in the kitchen after our brief holiday hiatus! Let’s get back to healthy eating and living our best lives ever! ☀️ We spent a big potion of the break camping and getting back to nature! How did you spend yours? Leave your answer below!

We don’t eat a lot of processed foods at our house. But occasionally we like a store bought dressing. And sometimes I’m just too tired to make one. And this is our hands down favorite. This isn’t a sponsored post—just sharing what we love. Great organic ingredients and naturally low in added sugar and calories. Perfect for our lifestyle!

Verna May Hart here is the recipe for the French Onion meatballs. ❤️

Meatballs and French Onion Sauce - Sunny Summer Kitchen A new and easy way to enjoy French Onion Soup! This recipe is quick and easy, and has an amazing taste your family will enjoy!

In case you missed the memo, I love cheese. Really good cheese. And while this has a tendency to hit my wallet hard, it's worth every yummy bite! And while I'm trying to cut down on the amount of animal proteins I eat, this is one recipe in which I will make an exception! My obsession with cheese began early, and led to my love of some really rich foods. ...

http://sunnysummerkitchen.com/?p=322

Meatballs and French Onion Sauce - Sunny Summer Kitchen A new and easy way to enjoy French Onion Soup! This recipe is quick and easy, and has an amazing taste your family will enjoy!

When we first got into juicing we were a bit worried that it was going to cost a fortune. We bought the machine and our glass bottles for about $40 out of pocket— since we had a coupon and gift card. That wasn’t too bad. But what about all the organic produce we would need? I just calculated the price for our last juice. For 8 servings of 18 oz. each it was $1.75. That’s less than a vending machine bottle of Coke in most places. It’s about knowing how and where to shop! Organic carrots at Sam’s Club cost $3.48 for 5 lbs. our batch had 10 lbs. so that’s $6.96. Add in a bag of organic apples from Sam’s Club, and that’s 5 lbs for $6.16. We had some apples left over but we will do our calculation based on the whole bag. So that puts us at $13.12. At Whole Foods a small piece of organic ginger is less than $1.00! $0.88 to be exact. (And Whole Foods is not overly expensive when compared to Aldi and Publix. I did a big across the board comparison of organic— it tied or beat Walmart prices!) So that puts us at $14.00 for 8 servings— and you’ve got $1.75 per serving. For HEALTH. Nothing synthetic, no food coloring. Just delicious, real food!

This is the difference in good health and nutrition. I look and feel like a different person, because I AM a different person than the constantly exhausted, overheated person I was 7 years ago. My husband was different too!

What’s YOUR favorite vegetable? Mine is probably celery or zucchini! I can’t wait to hear what your is!!

https://youtu.be/iRSrrFOTlDY

Vegetables (2001 Remaster) - YouTube Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupVegetables (2001 Remaster) · The Beach BoysSmiley Smile℗ 2001 Capitol Records, LLCReleased on: 2012-01-01Producer: T...

This is a really interesting article about corn! It makes up the majority of the standard American diet— it’s a grain, not a veggie. And worse—there isn’t much there nutritionally.

https://www.marksdailyapple.com/corn-is-not-a-vegetable/

Corn Is Not a Vegetable | Mark's Daily Apple Check out a recent post in the Diet & Nutrition section by junior apple Annie B. She writes to tell us about a recent adventure to Boston Market, where

This week has been... funky. We've got a hurricane sitting over the coast and the weather has been blah. It's been 4 days without the sun, and when you live in the sunshine state you start to expect a lot of sun. Daily sun. But it's grey, sticky, 80 degrees, and drizzly. So our entire household has had the doldrums. (Thank you, Hurricane Eta!)...

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Bright Bean Salad - Sunny Summer Kitchen This plant based bean salad will bring a brightness to any meal. Full of protein, its a great dish for any time of the year!

Today’s juice is brought to you by reds and oranges! I made a small batch— (3 1/2 bottles) and it has a whole pineapple, 2 1/2 lbs. of carrots and 1 1/2 red cabbages! The color is gorgeous and it’s super yummy. Doing a much bigger juice tomorrow. But we have plans for the beautiful weather today! 

Here is more information about our juicing adventure. Kimberly Edwards this might help you understand our process. ❤️

Welcome to Juicing - Sunny Summer Kitchen Can you get in 9 servings of fruits and veggies? If not, juicing may help you achieve your goal to a healthy diet!

My life, right now at least, is flipped upside down. My new cooktop still hasn't been delivered, and we are now at the one-month mark for not having a stove. After my horrendous burn, I'm hesitant with cooking on the grill and camping stove. I'm slowly making myself do it, but I still feel my body repel when I get close. [ 1,337 more word ]

http://sunnysummerkitchen.com/?p=299

Welcome to Juicing - Sunny Summer Kitchen Can you get in 9 servings of fruits and veggies? If not, juicing may help you achieve your goal to a healthy diet!

Look at what is real food and what is just edible food-like substances. Choose food that is as close to the way God creates it to be. We have a huge health crises in pur nation caused by the fact that over 60% off our food supply is processed junk. The harder a food tries to get you to see it’s health benefits the less likely it is to have any. You don’t see the carrots trying to convince you that they are healthy... labeling in this country is designed to mislead and to make corporations lots of money. It’s not for your benefit. And it’s working. Don’t be fooled.

At our house, we love pizza. A lot. After all, it's easy, economical, and a fun meal on game night or the nights we snuggle up to watch a great movie. But pizza sauce? Whether it's in a delivered pizza, in a jar, or on a frozen pie-- it tends to be loaded in unnecessary added sugar. So I decided to make my own! [ 233 more words ]

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Lets Get Saucy: Pizza Sauce - Sunny Summer Kitchen Pizza sauce that is healthy and has no added sugar? We've got the perfect, simple recipe to make pizza a healthy treat!

If you read my earlier post, you are aware that my cooktop is... kaput. And with the pandemic there is a shortage of appliances. So we are becoming the Kings of the Grill! And this is such an easy recipe to put together-- if you use the right tips, tricks, and techniques it makes it easy to grill as well. [ 563 more words ]

http://sunnysummerkitchen.com/?p=284

Chicken Kabobs: Easy Grill Meal - Sunny Summer Kitchen Easy, delicious kabobs can be real treat if you use these tricks and trips to make them much easier to make! Healthy and delicious!

Over the next few months I'm going to share with you the reasons that we choose to eat a whole food diet. But I'm going to be brutally honest. This has been a really bad week. Not just bad, but the kind of bad that makes you want to drink a bottle of wine and hide under the covers kind of bad. [ 1,172 more word ]

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Why Eat Whole Foods? Reason 1: The Healing - Sunny Summer Kitchen Whole foods help your body heal. Read my story of healing and get tips to eating a whole food diet for ultimate health!

I love French fries. The kind of love that can add a lot of pounds really quickly. There is something that crisp exterior with the soft inside that makes it the perfect food. So I began playing around with alternatives that could still offer a lot of flavor and texture without being fried or made of potatoes. That's not to say that potatoes aren't a healthy food to eat-- we occasionally eat them, but we try not to have that much starch in our diet on a regular basis. [ 367 more words ]

http://sunnysummerkitchen.com/?p=254

Meatless Monday: Zucchini Fries-An Easy Alternative - Sunny Summer Kitchen A great, healthy alternative to French Fries that are made with whole ingredients. You will be making these for your family often!

To say that my dogs are special needs is putting it lightly. We have two wonderful, older basset hounds that we adopted from Suncoast Basset Rescue in 2011. They are both wonderful, funny, loving hounds that bring joy and happiness to our lives. But they both have medical issues-- Newman has a mystery issue with his skin and hair. We've seen half the specialists in the state and spent thousands of dollars having special tests run. [ 822 more words ]

http://sunnysummerkitchen.com/?p=262

Homemade Dog Food: For A Healthy, Happy Dog! - Sunny Summer Kitchen Easy homemade dog food to keep your dog as healthy and happy as possible. We worked with our vet to create this recipe!

For those at game night— here is the recipe for the hummus! It’s so simple.

Easy Lemon Hummus- A Party Pleaser - Sunny Summer Kitchen An easy and delish hummus recipe that will keep your guests coming back for more. Simple enough to make as an everyday snack as well!

Hummus is something that most people love to eat, but most people don't realize how very easy it is to make. It's one of the easiest dishes to make (and make ahead of time!) for parties and events. And with holiday season around the corner, this is a healthy snack to serve with fresh veggies or crackers. It's even better with fresh, warm pita chips! [ 559 more words ]

http://sunnysummerkitchen.com/?p=249

Easy Lemon Hummus- A Party Pleaser - Sunny Summer Kitchen An easy and delish hummus recipe that will keep your guests coming back for more. Simple enough to make as an everyday snack as well!

Contributed by: Adam Beauregard Composting! It is rewarding for you and for the Earth. It reduces the food and paper waste you send to the landfill, and lets you use compost for soil enhancement. I mention paper because often the paper we "recycle" ends up in a landfill anyway because it gets too contaminated in single-stream recycling operations. Compost is an excellent soil enhancer because it adds valuable nutrients and structure to otherwise poor soil. [ 718 more words ]

http://sunnysummerkitchen.com/?p=240

Composting 101 - it's easy! - Sunny Summer Kitchen Composting made easy! Read the tricks and tips for how to get started reducing your waste and living an even greener life with composting!

At least once a week I try my best to throw in a meatless meal-- not that we aren't meat eaters, but it's a nice break for our health and is a great option for anyone wanting to cut calories. Often, I don't TELL my husband that the meal was a vegetarian option until after he's eaten it. And most of the time, he never misses the meat! [ 425 more words ]

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Meatless Monday: Veggie Quesadillas - Sunny Summer Kitchen This meatless quesadilla will have you wanting more, but not missing the meat! A great vegetarian alternative and easy to make!

For as long as I can remember I've loved Greek food. I think it's because as a kid my dad would drag us to any and every Greek restaurant he could find--he became passionate about it when he lived there during his years in the Air Force. It's so full of flavor! My husband and I will actually drive several hours each way, to go to visit… [ 269 more words ]

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Greek Chicken - Sunny Summer Kitchen This Greek chicken is made with fresh ingredients that bring a punch of flavor with minimal effort! It's the perfect weeknight meal!