Seasonal eats - Fresh ideas for June

Welcome to the summertime!  In the UK, we have hit it - its pouring with rain, thunder and lightening and soooo hot you cant sleep or breath.  Hay fever is here so we are all coughing and sneezing, eyes streaming and faces puffy!  Yay - hello summer.

Although - saying that, the mornings are definitely brighter earlier and as long as its not shockingly bad weather wise, its light enough in the evenings (until quite late in fact) to hit the pub garden after work for a quick pimms/gin/cider.....or get down to the beach for a few beers....Anyone?

*For our pick of the 10 best summer cocktails - please sign up for the newsletter here

So summer season is here and as well as the light and the beer gardens and the hay fever, I have been indulging a few of my favourite fruits and veggies that are great, fresh and local this time of year.

Seasonal veggies

Think GREEN and look for:

Broad Beans
Chicory
Runner Beans / String Beans / Green Beans
Mangetout
Peas
Mint

Then still in season are:
New potatoes
Radishes (check out my lovely bunch!) 


Spinach
Spring Onions
Watercress




*We shared a super summer recipe via @Simplycookcom on Twitter yesterday using these ingredients - see that and re-share here


And saving my favourite to last - ASPARAGUS *See our first ever blog "A is for Asparagus" for summer seasonal asparagus recipes and info


Seasonal Fruits

So think green for the veg and RED for the fruits this time of year:
Raspberries
Cherries
Tomatoes
And my summer favourite - STRAWBERRIES

*Check out the recipe on Facebook or Instagram for the beauties below - yes we fried strawberries for a summer supper yesterday!

Seasonal Meat and Fish:

Of course in the UK (in the summer rain) BBQ season is upon us so outdoor grilling of still in season LAMB is your best bet for freshness, cost and indeed to buy British if you are thinking local.

Makerel, Salmon, Sea Bass and Trout are also great this time of year - try fish on the BBQ for a healthy option - and shellfish - well June is all about the CRAB.

GROW YOUR OWN?

You haven't yet?  No problem get prepared for next year because strawberries and tomatoes especially are 2 of the easiest you can grow at home.  You don't need a garden or allotment, just a couple pots on a patio or window ledge will be fine. 

Here are some growing tips from (nothing but the best) The Royal Horticultural Society.  And if you didn't plant already that's still ok - you can buy the plants and keep them this month.  Look after them nicely, as per instructions in the links below and harvest in a few weeks - July strawberries and toms are just as super tasty and sweet!

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/strawberries

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/tomatoes

Ok, and last but not least - completely off the seasonal subject as not usually one we talk about this time of year is celery. But I want to finish this with a mini CELERY CELEBRATION!  You might have seen our website news in March spreading awareness for Nutrition and Hydration week (https://nutritionandhydrationweek.co.uk/) where we talked about vegetables that can hydrate as they hold a very high water content.  Well celery was one of those and its so super simple to grow your own - did you know that?  

*Hydration is something to keep in mind during June and the summer months too, so please read the info here: http://www.nitakothari.com/day-2-nutrition-hydration-week-2016/  

And look at my little celery plant growing on my kitchen window sill after only 2 days >>>>>>>>>>>>>

How exciting!  I'm so impressed that this is actually working - celebrate celery and do one yourself!  

*I will keep you updated on the growth and development of this little one via the newsletter (just click to signup and see the little one grow plus find out more on how to grow your own)

So there you have it - seasonal stuff for JUNE

Enjoy the sun, thunder, beer gardens and hay fever, and make sure you eat some strawberries, grow something yourself and sign up for healthy summer cocktail recipes plus updates on our baby celery success. 

You can also share your home grown goodies and any summer recipes with us via social - Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Any questions, just drop us an email: info@nitakothari.com 

www.nitakothari.com

 **Please remember this is advice ONLY (as is all other information contained in this blog, the website and social media related to it) None of the info or advice is intended to override any recommendation from your GP or health professional**

Smoothie "Recipe" Round Up

You might have noticed my rough attempt at putting food stuffs together (ingredients), usually blending them, and coming up with a delicious smoothie, soup, or other pot of goodness, but as this has been ad-hoc I thought I’d take the opportunity this week to treat you all to a little round up of what I loosely call my smoothie “recipes”.  Pics and ingredients are all below.  Most quantities are changeable – even each time I make them – my blending is definitely not a science, so I’ve added a rough estimate of quantities, but please feel free to play about and find the way you like things if you do attempt any of the smoothies here.

I’d like to add a quick word on blenders…..I use a £7.99 Argos own brand blender and I blend, I don’t currently juice as I like to use the whole fruit/veg and other ingredients too, I don’t like to waste as much as juicer does and I want the fibre that blending the whole piece provides.  Also I am lazy and like to make these in the morning quick, easy, no nonsense and no washing up (I just rinse the blender immediately after use).  You can of course juice some of the recipes below but I would advise using much larger quantities of fruit and vegetables – especially of the more watery fruits and veggies and you won’t need to add the water/juice as listed. 

Back to the blending - You can of course use the professional blenders, or a handheld if that’s what you have or prefer, but the reason I mention this is to let you know you don’t HAVE to use the pro brands.  Lots of people ask me what blenders/juicers I’d recommend, well there you have it – seriously – if I can knock these up in my £7.99 generic appliance that I’ve been using for the last 4 years, then really, if you can’t afford it, there is no need to pay 10 x that much for a fancy one.  Of course if you want a fancy one – go for it! They do look nicer, they work faster, they can be small and sleek and of course have their benefits……

Anyway, SMOOTHIES……

Go To Green Smoothie:

Ingredients: 

1 x granny smith apple

1 x kiwi fruit

1 stick celery

Lemon juice (from about ½ a lemon)

1/3^rd cucumber

1 inch raw ginger

Handful raw baby spinach

Handful raw curly kale

Splash apple juice

½ glass water

Method:

Chop all, add to blender, BLEND (add more water or juice as required for best consistency)

Bright & Boosting Green Smoothie:

Ingredients:

1/3^rd cucumber

Handful raw baby spinach

Handful raw curly kale

1 stick celery

½ lime

1 x kiwi fruit

½ glass water

Method:

Chop all, add to blender, BLEND (add more water as required for best consistency)

Breakfast Smoothie:

Ingredients:

1 glass of milk (skimmed/hemp/oat)

1 small pot natural or Greek yoghurt

A good handful of whole almonds

Handful of coconut (pieces not flakes)

1 banana

1 tbsp milled flaxseed

Method:

Add ingredients to blender leaving a few whole almonds and coconut chunks to mix through/sprinkle on top whole, BLEND (add more milk as required for best consistency)

Red Wake Up Smoothie:

Ingredients:

1 x large orange

2 x carrots

1 inch fresh, raw ginger

1 x enormous beetroot

½ glass water

Method:

Peel and chop all, add to blender and BLEND (add more water as required for best consistency)

Berry Shake:

Ingredients:

1 glass of milk (skimmed/hemp/oat)

1 generous handful fresh blueberries

1 generous handful raspberries

1 tbsp flaked almonds

1 tbps milled flaxseed

Method:

Add all to blender leaving a few almond flakes to sprinkle through and add on top, BLEND (add more milk as required for best consistency)

Give them a go if you fancy and let me know what you think?  You can share your smoothie snaps and any additions/ingredients swaps etc via our Facebook page or on Twitter.  You can also find more of our recipes and images on Instagram and Pinterest.

To follow our blog, please see nononsensenita.blogspot.co.uk or follow us on Google+

For more info or any queries on the ingredients, blenders, or anything else please see www.nitakothari.com and/or email us on info@nitakothari.com

**Please remember this is nutritional advice ONLY (as is all other information contained in this blog, the website and social media related to it) None of the info or advice is intended to override any recommendation from your GP or health professional**