TWOSOME'S CRUNCHY SUMMER SALAD, vegan, low fat/cholesterol, high fibre

Out of this world Fantastic Crunchy Summer Salad

Wonderful vegan treat courtesy of Cameron Diaz

Greens and fruit combos are wonderful in the summer and this 1   is really, really terrific...even when we are cowering under umbrellas during startlingly heavy showers!

This Crunchy Summer Salad is perfect to celebrate the Android version of 67goingon50's first cookbook 'Fabulously Frugal from 67goingon50', out now on Lulu Bookstore (details on Welcome to the Blog, nav bar above).  It's also a great send-off before 67goingon50 embarks on its annual summer break.  

Crunchy Summer Salad is from actress Cameron Diaz in conjunction with her organic wine Avaline.  And, like her, it is definitely not run-of- the-mill. 

The vegan medley is packed with good stuff: crunchy veg, creamy fruits, fab colours, spice without heat and a load of satisfying proteins and vitamins.

It's basically an assembly job - no cooking, yay! - but there is 10 mins of chopping.  Then another 10 mins to gather and measure ingredients for the complex but yummy yummy sweet, spicy, umani dressing.

The result is worth every minute.

To save time and effort, singletons can store half the greens, keeping the avocado and fruit separate, for adding to the plate before dressing and serving.

The salad is not frugal but not exorbitant.  It's a true 'treat' meal.  

Cost: £4'50'ish (possibly less depending on what's in the fridge) (8/23)

Feeds: 2 but multiplies easily, and is great for a buffet table

Ingreds:

2 c salad greens (mixed or single) torn in bite-sized pieces
1/2 c raw snow peas, top and tailed, strings removed & julienned along the width of the snow pea

1/2 c raw carrots in long-ish matchsticks (or 1/4 cup carrots plus 1/4 cup small raw cauliflower florets)

1/4 c cucumber, deseeded, in thin'ish half moons

1/4 of a mango or melon (or a decent sized peach or nectarine), peeled and in large bite-size chunks

1/2 avo, sliced (squeeze over 1/4 of a lemon to prevent browning; season with salt & pepper) Also: see Method below

1/2 c mixed herbs (67 used mint & parsley; basil & chives will do for a change)

Dressing:

1/8 cup cashews, toasted

1 tb maple syrup (or honey or brown sugar)

1/8 to 1/4 chilli crisp or 1/2 tsp hot sauce of choice

juice of lime

1/2 tbsp Dijon

1/2 tb fresh ginger

1/2 tb miso paste (or tahini or equiv half veg stock cube)

small clove garlic grated

1/2 tbsp soy sauce 

1/8 cup sunflower oil

1/2 tbsp toasted sesame oil

Garnish 

1/8 c toasted cashews

1/4 cup puffed rice (health food shops) or cold cooked brown rice (opt) 

1 lime wedge 

Method:

SINGLETON'S COCKTAIL: MELON, CHERRY & GINGER FROSÈ:, fresh fruit, opt for no-alcohol

Enjoying your solitude watching summer sports events?

Make the most of it with an easy-peasy fresh and fruity long cocktail. 

This is such a great time of year for fresh fruit, and chilled melon & soft fruits help tone down the effects of blistering heat while jazzing up a (slightly) boozy beverage.

67's recipe adds rosé wine to melon and cherries and serves it over  plentiful ice.  

For a change, replace rosé with pink prosecco or champagne, melon with peaches, and cherries with blackberries. 

For kids and tee-totallers fizzy water is the way to go but the flavour will be lighter and needs pepping up with something like fresh or dried mint.  

Melon Cherry Frosé Cocktail is an easy flavoursome drink guaranted to cool you off.

Cost: £2'ish (7/23)

Makes: 1 long (and slightly heady) drink; multiplies easily

Ingredients:

2/3 cup fresh melon cubes (67 used 1/4 Golden melon, peeled & de-seeded) 

generous handful ripe cherries, pits removed (1/4'ish cup; in the absence of a mechanical pit remover, try a paper clip with one side extended or remove flesh with a small sharp knife) 

1 generous teaspoon liquid from jar of ginger in syrup

1/4 cup rosé wine

ice cubes

1 tsp fresh or 1/4 tsp dried mint (optional)

Garnish: fresh cherry & cube of melon

Method:

NO-BAKE SASSY SUMMER PUDDINGS: make-ahead, lower fat

YUMMY!

Summer rainstorms & bigger appetites call for layered 
puddings, this one with apple (see Budget Creamy  Puds below)

Want to get ahead and provide classy, creamy fresh fruit filled puddings at summer barbies and buffets that delight all ages?

And without cooking?

Try these (often lower-fat) sassy puddings from 67goingon50.

They're easy to put together, can be made hours ahead and stored in the fridge unitl needed.  Most also have half the fat and more fresh fruit than usual home-made puds & commercial offerings.  

Make these simple, sensational treats in individual glasses or in one pretty bowl with a small'ish! ladle  and plenty of small bowls (it'll go fast).

Budget Creamy Fresh Fruit Puddings:

Easy yoghurt-based desserts with a knock-out glaze that look like a million pounds but costs pennies! Includes layered puddings.

Pineapple Muscovado Sugar lower-fat Creamy Pud

Two-tone Chocolate Orange Pud

Rich layers of velvety dark and pearly white chocolate is a classy pudding made from a single base.  It's rather rich; small portions will more than satisfy.

   

Posh Strawberries 'n Cream with a Sweet Ginger Twist:

Strawberries 'n Cream but not as we know it, Jim...it's even better!

Sophisticated twist on a classic: sweet ginger in syrup with ginger nut biscuits; tasters said: '...unexpected but stunning!'

Special Occasion: Creamy, Boozy Fruity Chocolate Pudding

Dream-like pudding for a special occasion: beautiful, fabulously creamy with 'bits', wonderful brandy undertones. Easy, lower-fat; uses up left-over chocolate.

 

                     Please leave a comment in the box below

This recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.  It may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.

FREEZING SUMMER BERRIES FOR WINTER

Strawberries ready for freezing

updated June/24

If you're in a position to take advantage of the glut of fresh fruit which will soon be available, get ready to prepare the lower-priced berries for freezing.  They will bring so much brightness in crumbles and pies winter when darkness and cold dominate.  

Freeze berries in their natural state or make them into easy-peasy low-sugar jam/compotes for freezing in individual containers.

Both methods are easy-peasy but you might want to invest in equipment  to make life easier: a ridged pizza pan keeps berries in rows and easily separated; a griddle pan or a plastic microwave bacon tray will do a similar job.

Low-sugar compotes and jams are simplicity itself; freezing them in tight fitting jars saves all that messing about preparing sterilised jars.

The Art of Freezing Berries

Freezing Blueberries on a cheap 'n cheerful microwave bacon tray. 'When the summer months are a memory, frugal home-frozen berries add a jewelled sparkle to crumbles, pies & cakes.'

Frugal Low/No Sugar almost instant Jam/Compotes

'Astonishingly good for so little effort! I'll always prefer this to store-bought.'  (with low-fat/sugar Scotch Pancakes)

Please leave a comment in the box below

B Lee/Bright Sun Enterprises accept no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.  This advice  has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.