The Year of Squash

We love squash so much in my kitchen that I realized I've made enough different squash recipes to use a new one each month of the year! Here's the year in squash:

January: winter squash soup with kale and white beans

February: African peanut squash stew

March: spaghetti squash with beets, feta and walnuts

April: gratin with baked butternut squash, leeks, goat cheese, and hazelnuts

May: butternut squash risotto

June: Vegetable Napoleon: summer squash, zucchini, portabella mushrooms, tomato, caramelized onions, on bed of sautéed spinach with saffron jus

July: sauteed yellow squash and zucchini "pasta" / summer squash topped with fresh pesto

August: grilled farmer's market vegetables (squash, onions, portobello mushrooms, etc.)

September: butternut squash bisque

October: Native American kabocha squash soup with black beans

November: Thanksgiving squash casserole (savory with cheesy yellow squash or sweet butternut squash with pecans)

December: roasted winter squash with sage maple glaze

Soul of Summer

As today is the official first day of summer, here's a list of interesting healthy meals to try this season:

• Vegetable Napoleon: grilled summer squash, zucchini, Portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, carmelized onions on a bed of sauteed spinach with saffron jus
• Grilled shrimp with peach and blueberry salsa
• Spiced pomegranate crusted tuna with grilled corn and asparagus
• Summer squash topped with fresh pesto
• Spinach salad with fresh mango, sunflower seeds, and a shallot-apricot dressing
• Fresh avocado and orange salad with chili lime dressing, topped with sprouts

To welcome in the heat wave, last night for dinner we had Cajun spice-crusted flounder with grilled corn, zucchini and red bell peppers, served out on the back porch of course. Summer is the time to really take advantage of all the fresh local produce in season, and eat it outside!