Summer Time and the Cookin’ is Easy
There is nothing that screams summer more to me like sunshine, days at the beach, Farmers Markets and simple summer salads. Perhaps it’s the summer heat and my complete lack of desire to turn on the stove, or perhaps it’s my laid back attitude during the summer months, however our go-to recipe for summer is always salads. Any kind of salad will due, but honestly, the simpler the salad recipe the better. I like to pick up my salad ingredients from local Farmers Markets and now that we’ve moved back to Orange County, there is a plethora of Farmers Markets to choose from. There are trendy markets that offer dog sitting services while you shop the local produce, there are markets that cater to only locally grown produce, dairy and meats and there’s your standard Farmers Market like the one stop at frequently. We picked up the ingredients for this California Farmers Market summer salad recipe from the Fullerton Wednesday Farmers Market.
Tasting Parmigiano Reggiano Spread!
Fullerton Farmers Market Ahoy!
The Fullerton Farmers Market features a large variety of California grown nuts, fruits, vegetables and dairy. We met up with an old college friend of mine to go and she purchased organic Californian grown tea leaves that smelled divine. My youngest children and I had a great time choosing the ingredients for our California Farmers Market summer salad recipe and he loved tasting all of the locally grown samples.
Parmigiano Reggiano Spread
Parmigiano Reggiano Spread – Feta, Pesto and Sundried Tomatoes
100 Billion Dollar Business
Did you know that California grows nearly half of the fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in the United States? That’s crazy right? It’s nice to know that California farmers and ranchers play a critical role in growing the delicious, healthy, safe and affordable foods that feed families across California and the U.S. and we have easy access to the very best at our local farmers markets. Since the food that is grown in California drives not only our own state but also the entire United States economy, California’s farming and ranching community is highly aware of the need to make the most of our natural resources and are committed to using water efficiently and responsibly – that’s something to feel good about too!
NUVO Olive Oil
Red leaf lettuce, avocado, NUVO Olives, Green leaf lettuce
California Farmers Market Summer Salad Recipe
With a few simple key ingredients that pack a punch of amazing flavor, healthy fats and good protein, this California farmers market summer salad recipe is going to rock your socks off.
Simple ingredients for a dynamite Summer salad!
Ingredients:
Red Leaf Lettuce – torn
Green Leaf Lettuce – torn
NUVO Olives
Avocado – diced
Parmigiano Reggiano Spreads feta cheese, sundried tomato and pesto – mixed
Directions:
Creating a salad is super simple and this simply summer salad recipe with ingredients from a local farmers market is no different. However, be sure to wash your farmers market produce thoroughly and use them within a few days (if not the same day) as purchasing. Place your torn lettuce into your bowl of choice, cut up your avocado into delicious cubes and place them along with the NUVO olives on top. We mixed up the Parmigian Reggiano feta cheese, sundried tomato and pesto spread into a thick dressing thinned with a little bit of the juice from the NUVO olives and waahla! An incredible summer salad was born. I like the insanely easiness of this summer salad and it’s incredible locally grown produce flavors.
California avocado for days
The amazing pop of zest from the NUVO olives paired with the creamy avocado was out of this world. Did you know that lettuce is not bland? That’s right! The lettuce we buy from grocery stores is not the same tasting as the lettuce you get right out of the ground. To truly enjoy the flavor, texture and crispness of lettuce you must pop into your local farmers market!
Salad on a fork!
The only addition I would add to this dynamite summer salad would be California farmers market tomatoes. Since they’re a later summer fruit, unfortunately there wasn’t any available when we went. I would also love to try and make homemade croutons next time too! What would you add to your summer salad?
Supporting locally grown produce has never been so easy! Check out Cultivate California for more valuable information on how to keep California on your plate.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
