Tag Archives: summer

CaliCornia Shrimp & Avocado Pizza for Labor Day

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CaliCornia Shrimp Pizza is a quick and easy meal solution made on Naan bread or pre-made crusts.

Even though the calendar has turned to September and I still am getting acclimated to our back-to-school routine, it certainly feels like summer every time I step out the door. Officially, it IS still summer until fall arrives on September 22nd and no one can stop me extracting every last kernel of enjoyment from the season.   On these last warm-weather weekends, my family will eat our dinners al fresco, practice handstands barefoot the grass and usher in the autumnal equinox with our final trips to the lake.

Handstand at Lake

A fantastic outdoor meals for the end of summer or Labor Day weekend is CaliCornia Shrimp Pizza – this quick, easy and amazingly tasty pizza reminds me of the sunshine state with a laid-back vibe and showcase of Mother Nature’s best bounty. Succulent roasted shrimp, sweet corn and creamy avocado slices blend with melted fresh mozzarella and ranch dressing (I used OPA! by Litehouse™ Greek Style Yogurt Ranch Dressing). A crispy yet soft and chewy crust is easily “made’ with Naan bread or pre-baked crusts. Other convenience items like frozen shrimp and a southwestern roasted corn blend with peppers (found in freezer section), means I spend less time making meals and more time with my feet up on the chaise lounge recovering from the long run or workout of the day. And, if I’m lucky I can get one of personal pizza deliver guys (my sons) to deliver me a piece so I don’t have to move another muscle!

CalCornia Shrimp Pizza makes a speedy mead for busy weeknights - grill or make in the oven.

 

Relax and enjoy a laid back slice on Labor Day – Calicornia Shrimp Pizza @litehouse #recipe

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What are you eating during this long holiday weekend? Taking any dips in the ocean, lake or pool? Do tell! Share in the comments below! XOXO — Jennifer

CalCornia Shrimp Pizza makes a speedy mead for busy weeknights - grill or make in the oven.
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CaliCornia Shrimp Pizzas
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
17 mins
 
Enjoy these quick and easy shrimp pizzas from the grill for a relaxed weekend meal -- naan bread or pre-baked crusts save you time!
Course: Appetizer, Main Dish
Cuisine: American, Southwestern
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 lb frozen large pre-cooked, shelled and cleaned shrimp, thawed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 slices naan bread or personal pizza crusts
  • 3/4 cup lite ranch dressing (divided) I used OPA Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 lb fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into thin rounds
  • 1 cup southwestern-style frozen corn, thawed with any liquid drained of excess liquid
  • 1 large avocado, peeled pitted and sliced
Instructions
  1. Heat oven or gas grill to 400 F degrees.
  2. In small bowl, toss together thawed shrimp with olive oil, cilantro, salt and pepper.
  3. Place shrimp on rimmed baking sheet and heat up in oven for4 to 5 minutes. Or, skewer and heat up on grill for about the same amount of time, taking care not to overcook. Remove shrimp, but leave oven/grill on.
  4. Spread each crust with approximately 2 tablespoons of OPA Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing, reserve remaining to drizzle on top of finished pizzas.
  5. Place slices of mozzarella on pizza and sprinkle with about ¼ up of thawed corn blend. Top pizzas with roasted/grilled shrimp.
  6. Place pizzas in oven or on grill with lid closed and heat up for another 5 to 7 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and edges are turning golden brown.
  7. Remove pizzas and top with sliced avocado and drizzle with remaining OPA Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing.

Watermelon Spritzer Star of Al Fresco Fun

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thefitfork watermelonThe summer season takes too long to get here and then leaves so fast.  I’ll personally miss the extended daylight to get in all my outdoor activities and wearing running shorts, flip flops and a ponytail 24/7! At least in Texas, we have a few more weeks (make that months) of warm weather to pack in some farewell picnics and patio dining. I don’t know about you, but I adore al fresco dining – something about eating outdoors makes me eat slower, savor the actual taste off food and linger a little longer over good conversation. With Labor Day weekend coming up, my family, friends and I will have plenty of opportunity to bond in the back yard and down at the boat dock.

Watermelon White Sangria Spritzer

Spritzers are always a favorite with the adults in my family – and since I’m not a big drinker (full disclosure, I’m a lightweight who might fall on her face after one full drink — but I can have “half”), I appreciate a cocktail that has a lighter touch of alcohol. Beso Del Sol White Sangria made such a delicious base for my Watermelon Spritzer, I’m so glad I had the big box because I had to go inside mid-party and stir up another batch!  Beso Del Sol White Sangria is made from 100% Spanish wine blended with fruit to create a refreshing and sweet drink that is ideal for any warm weather get-together. While my Watermelon Spritzer recipe adds extra fresh fruit and flavored sparkling water, this wine is also delicious on its own merits served chilled or over ice.

Beso De Sol White Wine Sangria is perfect for a spritzer!

To make the Watermelon Spritzer, simply add a glass one-third full of your favorite seasonal fruit (I used watermelon, grapes and peaches). Next, add chilled Beso Del Sol White Sangria to approximately the half-way point, more or less to taste and tolerance. Top with cold lemon-lime sparkling water, stick a sugar cane swizzle stick in it and enjoy!

Since it’s still pretty hot, I’ll want to make sure EVERYONE has a cold drink in hand – I am the coolest mom in town, after all! The kids will love a virgin alternative where I’ve swapped in lemon-lime soda for the wine – I also have rounded up a few other fun, fruity and thirst-quenching drinks that are perfect for your Labor Day al fresco dining.

These five fruity drinks are perfect for your next party and there are options with alcohol and virgin.

Blackberry Nectarine Margarita (with smoothie option)

Watermelon Sangria Spritzer (today’s feature, see recipe above)

Watermelon Coconut Cherry Sippers (non-alcoholic)

Mojito Mint Iced Tea (non-alcoholic)

Raspberry Acai Sipper (non-alcoholic)

Watermelon Spritzer for #AlFreso Labor Day party @Beso_Sangria #igottabeso #spon

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What are you drinking this weekend?! Please share in the comments below – XOXO, Jennifer

This post was sponsored by Beso de Sol, all opinions and recipes are my own.

 

Hatch Salmon Cakes Recipe + More Green Chile Fish Dinners

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Hatch Green Chile Salmon Cakes with Summer Veggie Saute gets a kick of southwestern green goodness from Stubbs Green Chile Anytime Sauce.It’s that time of year – Hatch Green Chile Season! I’m sure I’ll have several new recipe creations to share with you, but let me start off the Hatch love fest with three delicious dinner ideas using fish and Hatch green chile. The first is a brand new recipe of mine – Hatch Green Chile Salmon Cakes with Summer Veggie Saute!  If you have dietary needs, this recipe is Paleo friendly, gluten-free, dairy free and low carb.

Hatch Salmon Patties with Zucchini and Tomatoes makes a southwestern-inspired summer dinner.

There are fire-roasted Hatch chiles in the patties and also a delicious sauce stirred into the veggie saute. I’ve made Hatch sauces from scratch before, but the Green Chile Anytime Sauce from Stubbs BBQ Sauces was awesome and had all that familiar flavor of Hatch, lime and garlic – it’s quite spicy, which my husband and I love! It’s perfect for a sauce, marinade or dip! I was sent bottles of the Anytime Sauces to experiment with, and I love them — check out their entire line of Anytime Sauces that also includes Sweet Black Pepper and Texas Sriracha versions. Yeehaw!

Enjoy some heart-healthy fish and the flavors of the southwest with this easy-to-make, one-dish dinner.

I can’t help but blog about Hatch Green Chiles all I can each year during their short August to early September season. These Hatch salmon cakes aren’t the first time I’ve paired up fish with the chile pepper – my Hatch Green Chile Trout is a personal favorite for quick-to-fix, one skillet meals (I keep a stash of roasted chiles in the freezer at all times).

Tilapia Green Chile Nachos with Stubbs BBQ Green Chile Anytime Sauce

Stubbs BBQ has lots of  Hatch Chile recipes on their site using the Stubbs Hatch Anytime Sauce. Up next in my Hatch Queue are the Green Chile Tilapia Nachos!

2011 HAtch green chili tv segment crop

Don’t feel like fish? Check out some of the award-winning recipes I’ve hatched up in years past like Hatch Green Chile Chicken Cheesecake and Hot Mess Hatch Green Chile Burgers on Squash “Buns”.

The next recipe I NEED to make is this one for Green Chile Grilled Cheese Sandwiches!

Green Chile Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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Hatch Green Chile Salmon Cakes with Summer Veggie Saute

Are you a Hatch Green Chile fan? Please share your Hatch love in the comments below – XOXO, Jennifer

Print
Hatch Green Chile Salmon Cakes with Summer Veggie Saute
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
27 mins
 
Spice up a healthy fish dinner with the amazing flavor of Hatch green chiles and get out of your salmon rut!
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American, Southwestern
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 1/4 cup fresh wild salmon, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup minced roasted, peeled and seeded hatch green chiles
  • 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 large eggg, lightly beaten
  • 6 tablespoons almond meal divided
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 1/2 pounds zucchini, sliced into 1/3” discs and quartered
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup Stubbs Everyday Hatch Green Chile Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
Instructions
  1. In medium bowl, mix together salmon, chiles, green onions, salt and pepper until combined. Next stir in egg and ¼ cup of almond meal.
  2. Form salmon mixture into four 1-inch thick patties; sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons almond meal over each patty, lightly pat down. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-heat. Cook patties in hot oil until golden and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer patties to paper towels to cool off a bit while cooking veggies.
  3. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in same skillet. Add zucchini and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes or until starting to soften, but not getting soggy. Add halved tomatoes and continue to cook, stirring, for another 1 minutes. Add hatch green chile sauce and stir for a few more minutes until heated. Stir in 2 tablespoons of green onions.
  4. To serve, place mound of veggies on plate and top with salmon cake. Drizzle with additional Hatch sauce if desired.

4 No-Cook Jicama Wraps for Dog Days of Summer

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These No-Cook Jicama Wrap ideas are the perfect meal solution for the dog days of summer.

I have a jicama wrap for you . . . and a jicama wrap for you . . . and a jicama wrap for you (I’m pointing to all of y’all)!  I’ve been having this love affair with jicama for a while now, you’ve probably seen some of the posts here and on Instagram– this is one of my favorite, Three No-Cook Jicama Recipes for Summer. I now have a new addition to the no-cook meal solutions — Four No-Cook Jicama Wraps!  It’s the perfect solution for the dog days of summer — and speaking of the “dog days,” check out my Lucy helping me with yoga!

I revisited this jicama obsession when I noticed that my grocery store started stocking jicama “tortillas” in their produce department. They are made in-house and sold in the convenience prepped veggie section – I did a little jump for joy when I first spotted them sitting there waiting for me. I’ve drooled over all the jicama “taco” recipes on Pinterest, but I’ve never been able to slice my jicama that thin (cause I’m not losing a finger on the mandolin)! Yay, now I have people that do that for me!

I originally made this collection of jicama tacos (or wraps or rollups – what does one call them?) to showcase the OPA by Litehouse™ Greek Yogurt Dressings.  I love those dressings, they taste so rich and indulgent but they have fewer calories than traditional dressings . . . and more protein, too!

Some of the perks of these jicama rollups – the are Paleo friendly depending exactly what you put on top; they are crispy, crunch and low calorie; and, whoot-whoot – there is no heating up the kitchen with the oven.

Fig, Blue Cheese and Arugula Jicama Wraps

Sliced Black Mission Figs + Arugula + Artisan Reserve Blue Cheese + Balsamic Syrup + OPA by Litehouse™ Blue Cheese Dressing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Bean and Mango Relish Jicama Wrap makes a sweet and spicy vegetarian meal -- no cooking!Black Beans+ Mango Pico de Gallo + Cilantro + OPA by Litehouse™ Jalapeno Ranch Dressing

 

 

 

 

 

Carrot, Pea and Radish Jicama is so much tastier than bunny food! Matchstick Carrots+ Thawed Frozen Peas + Radish Slice +Fresh Dill + OPA by Litehouse™ Feta Dill Dressing

 

 

 

 

 

Quinoa, Tomato and Ranch Jicama Wrap makes a quick and easy summer lunch -- no cooking!Quinoa + Tomato Slices + Flat Parsley + OPA by Litehouse™ Ranch Dressing

Full disclosure on this one — the quinoa is cooked, obviously. It was leftover — use any leftover grain that you have like brown rice, wheat berry, couscous and so on!

 

Don’t forget to check out my past round-up of Three No-Cook Jicama Recipes for Summer.

Jicama is a root vegetable that tastes a bit like a mild apple. It doesn't oxidize when cut -- the perfect crunchy ingredient for salads and summer no-cook recipes.

4 No-Cook Jicama Wraps for Dog Days of Summer #CLblogger #LivingLitehouse

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Are you a fan of jicama? What is your favorite no-cook recipe for the dog days of summer? Please share in the comments below!

 

Endless Happy Watermelon Days #LivingOnTheWedge + Recipes & Giveaway

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Happy National Watermelon Day from TheFitFork.com

Monday August 3rd,  is National Watermelon Day . . .  well, officially anyway. In my world of #LivingOnTheWedge, I celebrate my favorite fruit every single day that I can – and thankfully, in Texas, we have a really long watermelon season! But, I couldn’t let this specifically mandated day of melon mania disappear without its just and juicy due.  So, I’m hosting a giveaway courtesy of Watermelon.org (see bottom of post to enter) and sharing some fit, flavorful and fantastically creative recipes from my Fitfluential Ambasador friends.

All these smart ladies also tout the fantastic nutritional ways watermelon can support an active lifestyle – I’m talking natural sugars needed to fuel fitness, electrolytes to maintain water balance, and vitamin C to bolster immunity. Plus, did you know watermelon is the lycopene leader among fresh produce?!  Also, some studies are showing that athletes who drink watermelon juice before a hard workout benefit from a lowered heart rate and reduction in next-day muscle soreness thanks to blood vessel dilation and improved circulation cause by the amino acid L-citrulline.  Check out the healthy recipes below and make one today!

These unique watermelon recipes are refreshing, revitalizing and perfect for summer meals and outdoor entertaining.

(recipe descriptions starting at top, moving clockwise)

Watermelon Coconut Rice Bowls - CotterCrunch.comCoconut, Rice and Watermelon Salad Bowls  from CotterCrunch.com: If you’re tired of the same-old, same old -salad, this beauty in a bowl will surely catch your attention. Coconut cream, jasmine rice, watermelon chunks and raisins mingle together in one amazing bowl of nourishment! Light, refreshing, gluten free, and delicious!

 

Beluga Lentil, Watermelon Caprese Salad - UprootFromOregon.comBeluga, Lentil & Watermelon Salad from UprootFromOregon.com: This Beluga Lentil and Watermelon Caprese Salad is an unexpected upgrade from the traditional caprese you might see on an Italian menu – juicy tomatoes, torn mozzarella, and basil leaves are complimented with staying power of protein from black lentils. Oh, and the watermelon . . . swoon!

Sugar Free Watermelon Sorbet - Fitfluential.comSugar Free Watermelon Sorbet (Video) from Fitfluential.com: Check out this video that will lead you through the surprisingly easy steps of making a big dish of frozen watermelon deliciousness – it’s just lightly sweetened with stevia and the natural sugars of watermelon.

 

Rosemary Watermelon LemonadeRosemary Watermelon Lemonade from PlaidandPaleo.com: This tall glass of lemony goodness is uniquely yummy thanks to the use of herbs and ice-cold watermelon. Honey is used as the sweetener to keep every sip free of refined sugars.

 

Watermelon Margarita - Arismenu.comRestaurant Style Watermelon Margaritas from ArisMenu.com: When day’s end need a little happy, this flavor-packed libation will rock your either your socks or sandals off – or both depending on your style!

 

 

Watermelon Gazpachio - PancakeWarriors.comEasy Watermelon Gazpacho from PancakeWarriors.com: Soup in the summer has never been more refreshing than with a chilled bowl of this tomato and cucumber based gazpacho – the secret ingredient is naturally watermelon, and it is absolutely wonderful to the last slurp.

 

Celebrate special summer days with a healthy "cake" made from watermelon!If you need even MORE recipe inspiration, check out my Watermelon Living On The Wedge Pinterest Board or visit the recipe collection at Watermelon.org.

I celebrated MY July birthday with a recipe I created for just for ME! It was a healthy Chocolate Cherry Watermelon “Cake” and I did end up sharing the real deal with family and friends – and the recipe with you. Not only is this cake a show stopper, there is lots of good in every slice with very little guilt!

 

 

Ice Cold Watermelon perfect healthy treat for summer -- only 80 calories per cut and 92 percent water to stay hydrated.

Have you seen the other ways I’ve been celebrating watermelon and #LivingOnTheWedge this summer? To name a few, I hit nearly every watermelon stand and farmer’s truck this side of the Mississippi River, kicked off the warm-weather season with a crazy Watermelon Pool Workout, a CrossFit Style Partner WOD used watermelons every which way imaginable on picnics.

Endless Happy Watermelon Days #LivingOnTheWedge + #Recipes #Giveaway @WatermelonBoard #sponsored

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Giveaway = Watermelon Prize PackEnter my Watermelon Gift and Goodies Giveaway — one lucky reader will get the following prizes to help celebrate watermelons every day of the year —-> -Pool Float (Awesome), Apron, Socks, Scarf, Kitchen Scrubber, Note Pad, Pen, Book and Star Cookie Cutters (for making watermelon stars!).

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