Summer, peas slow down
— will august slip away like a bottle of wine?
Hi friends! Summer is in full swing. People are going on holiday/vacations, wedding season is here, it’s prime time for all of the outdoor activities, and stone fruit and tomatoes are taking center stage for summer produce. This month’s newsletter is filled with food to help cool you down and recipes that are quick n easy to not keep you away from all of those summer plans. Let’s continue to be where our feet are as best we can in what can quickly feel like the fastest season of them all.
Sweltering Summer
Ways to use herbs + spices this summer:
— mint in cocktails + mocktails
— pasta salad
— hibiscus iced tea
— white bean salad sandwich (v)
— olive tapenade
EAT
August mood board
— oven-less dinners
— ceviche
— watermelon by the half
— cold dips like hummus, tzatziki, bean dips, or this yummy lentil tomato dip
— gazpacho (read: cold soup!)
— peach crumble (lazy version: grilled peach with a sprinkle of cinnamon, paired with vanilla ice cream and granola)
— potential August intentions: Camping. Farmer’s markets. Head to the nearest body of water near you for a cool down during the hot days (lake, creek, ocean, etc.). U-Pick farm for fresh fruit. Go to a winery to sip on vino + play cards.
What I’m cooking
Breakfast:
Viral Frozen Peach + Greek Yogurt
Strawberry Matcha Breakfast Bars (can be made DF)
Dinner:
Ceviche - you can swap a ton of different fish for this light, cold, delicious dinner
Taco Salad - ground turkey/beef, beans, corn, bell pepper, jalepeño, crushed tortilla chips, avocado slices, + Primal Kitchen’s Cilantro Lime Dressing
Shishito Pepper Salad w/ Sizzled Mint + Sesame
Caprese Pesto Tart - honestly you could pivot through a couple different cheeses on this; ricotta, burrata, mozzarella, dare I say goat cheese, etc.
Drinks:
Strawberry Mint Mojito Mocktail
Dessert:
No Bake Mixed Berry Custard Tart
Peach Crumble/Cobbler
Additional ideas:
For Each Season’s ‘Summer Recipes’ Pinterest Board
LISTEN
Summer Playlist:
— I’ve actually had this playlist for years, so it’s fun that I get to share it with you guys! Continually forming the vibe with songs that remind me of days filled with sunshine, lighter loads, and lots of adventure!
— little playlist I made from a recent lake trip. slower vibes perfect for a summer night around a fire, playing games, sipping on wine, or whilst reading a book.
READ
Why Muscle Matters & How to Build It
— Muscle is so important for aging, injury prevention, posture, glucose metabolism, hormone regulation, and everyday activities. Dr. Andy Galpin is one of the best in sports performance and exercise science to educate us on just how important muscle mass is and a plan for you on how to increase it.
SLEEP
going back to the basics this month! there’s so many fancy [read: expensive] tips, tricks, + tools on the internet about how to “hack” every health habit nowadays. This is your friendly reminder that our body knows what to do. Let’s do the small things to get out of our own way and settle in to sleep.
— Consistent schedule, bedtime and wake time within 30 minutes day-to-day
Research shows that a consistent bedtime and wake time helps your body align its circadian rhythm, which in turn increases your time in deep sleep. Deep sleep is a critical point during our sleep where muscle recovery occurs, hormones are released, we create memories, the brain detoxifies, and our immune system is strengthened.
— Avoid caffeine 8-10 hours before bedtime
An easy way to check when you have a rough night’s sleep.
— 3, 2, 1 method: last meal 3 hours before bed, stop working 2 hours before bed, and off electronics 1 hour before bed
REFLECT
“In the age of speed, I began to think, nothing could be more invigorating than going slow.”
— This is included in this month’s newsletter as much for myself as it is for you guys. I think I feel the undertones of speed especially in the summer where the sunny weather is so treasured in the PNW. Because of this fast pace, it almost takes away from the opportunity to stop and enjoy it. I need to sit, I need to pause, I need to breathe. I don’t want to zoom through special moments around friends + family to squeeze more in with the consequence that I don't squeeze the most I can out of the memories being made. Let’s put effort into slowing down.
“I pour selectively. I don’t water everything.”
— In the same vein as the previous quote. Even in the midst of technology and squeezing more into a day, we still only have a finite amount of time. We can’t do it all. What will we spend our time on? What will we invest in? Quality > quantity.
“I made camp in your promises and waited ‘til the morning.”
— Pause. Wait. Trust in the Lord’s perfect timing.
COMING SOON
— hydration guide coming soon to Substack [for paid subscribers]. An early edition was accidentally sent out [oops, that was me] and unfortunately still needed revising.
— new recipes coming this month as we revel in all the juicy + bright flavors of summer
— London city guide coming this month to Substack [for paid subscribers]
Enough from me!
Looking forward to continue soaking up and hopefully taking some pauses through the rest of summer. Until next month!
Making the most of each season,
Mads