Organic Summer Recipes

By Kolleen Mitchell, LAc

Easy, fresh, seasonal!

Summer Squash Casserole

• 6 yellow or pattypan summer squash

• 1 cup onions, chopped

• 1 clove minced garlic

• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

• ½ stick butter or Earth Balance type substitute

• 2 slices white bread (may be gluten free)

• 1 medium bowl ice water

• 1 egg

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1cup cracker crumbs (may be gluten free)

Step 1: peel and cut squash into cubes, cover with water and boil 5 minutes or until tender

Step 2: sautee onion, garlic and parsley in butter for 2-3 minutes

Step3: meanwhile, soak bread in ice water, wring out and finely chop. Add bread to the garlic and onion mixture, stirring 2-3 minutes

Step 4: Add drained squash to mixture, cooking/stirring another 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 5: Place in casserole dish or baking pan, cover the top with cracker crumbs, dot with remaining butter then bake 20-25 minutes.

Easy Mediterranean Pasta Salad

• 16 oz. whole wheat rigatoni

• 12 pitted black olives sliced

• 1 16 oz. container tomatoes, drained, chopped

• 1 small red onion , chopped

• ¼ c. Parsley minced

• ¼ cup parmesan cheese

• Salt and pepper to taste

Cook rigatoni until “al dente”, let cool, and add remaining ingredients. Toss and serve with some organic mixed green salad. Best served cool or cold and even better the next day!

Delicious Digestive Punch

This is a great digestive smoothie! Papaya contains papain which is a wonderful digestive enzyme geared towards breaking down proteins. Pineapple containes bromelain , another digestive enzyme. This would be great following a summer cookout.

• 2 medium bananas

• 1 ripe mange (chunks)

• 1 ripe papaya (chunks)

• 1 ½ c. fresh , ripe pineapple

• 4 cups seltzer

Blend ingredients in blender and add agave nectar to taste.

Black Bean Brownies

This health-nut’s classic is easy and ready in minutes. High in protein, fiber, iron, and low in calories…what a treat!

• 1- 15 oz. can of organic black beans rinsed and drained

• 6 egg whites

• 4 oz. unsweetened chocolate (powdered or melted)

• 1 tbs. organic butter or Earth Balance type substitute(melted)

• 3 tbs. all purpose flour

• ½ c. chopped nuts (optional)

• ¼ c. fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Coat 9x13 in. pan with natural non-stick spray

Blend drained beans and egg whites in food processor

Add all ingredients then sprinkle blueberries on top before baking.