I’ve been on family vacation this week, and this experience, first of all, has been amazing. North Carolina has just blown my mind with its Nicholas-Sparks-esque beachy beauty and I’m all wahhhh about going home tomorrow. I love me some Minnesota lakes, but the tall grass + ocean + white sand + dolphins jumping out in the water (NO I’M SERIOUS) is like something straight out of the best movie you ever saw. Secondly, I haven’t made many new recipes this week because I have been making some old favorites along with my family. Which might seem like a bummer, but no! It is so superfun for me because I really hardly ever get to repeat my favorite recipes at home. Usually I am so focused on trying new recipes for the blog that Bjork and I don’t have time (or space in our fridge) (or space in our bellies) to make any old favorites. This week has been a blast as I’ve gotten to relive some of my favorite, freshest, summer-friendly blog recipes with a crowd of 10+ to eat through all that food. So I thought it might be fun to highlight some of the things we’ve been cooking and eating this week at the beach as well as a few things that we would have been cooking and eating if we had more time here on our little vacay. Like, for example, if we were to stay here for another year. I’m not saying, I’m just saying. Alright, here we go! 12 fresh recipes for your summer vacation. Commence sun, sand, and really good food.
Rainbow Chicken Salad
We made this one per the request of my sister and it was yummy as ever! We ran out of grapes at one point so we tossed in some strawberries (it’s rainbow, duh) and it was the bomb dot com. Some of us points to self even like crunchy onions tossed into the mix. I love this salad to the moon and back.
Flax and Blueberry Vanilla Overnight Oats
There’s nothing as awesome as a filling breakfast at the beach that’s also refreshingly cold. Especially when it’s hot and humid and you have all the doors and windows open to experience the joys of the waves crashing on the beach and just wow, North Carolina, I love you. One night I had the forethought to throw a massive batch of these in the fridge and in the morning – voila! Overnight oats for ten. It was delicious and customizable and ours had chia seeds in it because: fun.
Fruit Pizza
Per my brother-in-law’s request, this fruit pizza was made for his birthday dinner celebration shindig. It was gorgeous and delicious, as are most things with colorful pieces of fruit arranged over a creamy cheesy frosting layer and spread on an underbaked sugar cookie crust.
Crockpot Pork Adobo with Black Beans
Half of my family is Filipino, so it’s only appropriate (and delicious) that one night was Filipino food night. I made the adobo with rice and beans meaning I played at the beach while dinner cooked all day up in the kitchen and made the house smell amazing. My sister Roselyn made a heavenly mango float for dessert. <– look that one up because I don’t have a recipe yet but you need it for your summer vacay eating. SO GOOD.
Garlic Butter Mushroom Provolone Melts
I get really really really superperson hungry after a few cool surfer girl wave-catches on the boogie board. So when it’s lunchtime: hello major eating. Sandwiches and chips and fruit and crackers and leftovers from last night and give me it all. I even sometimes wanted a glass of milk with my meal, which is like wha?! I never do that except apparently when I’m starving after ocean play. But this sandwich? Ohhhk yes please. Filling and cheesy and perfect for the post-swim-lunch.
The 4 Ingredient Green Smoothie
I was definitely made fun of as I blended this thing up for breakfast at the beginning of the week. But then something weird happened which was everyone gathering around me and asking for a taste. Joke’s on you, family. Green smoothies for life.
Spicy Peanut Chicken Soba Noodle Salad
Hot cold anytime every time all the time with anything. This salad is THE BEST of summer eating. And I am such a sucker for saucy noodles.
Shrimp and Avocado Salad with Miso Dressing
One word: fresh. Avocado, spicy shrimp, cucumber, and then that cool creamy miso dressing. I scream, you scream, we all scream for Shrimp and Avocado Salad with Miso Dressing!
20 Minute Lemon Pesto Penne
Twenty minutes. If that isn’t enough to sell you, how about all those yummy veggies and the amazing leftover pasta that you’ll get for beach lunching tomorrow? This is efficient and delicious summer vacation food.
My Sister’s Citrus Scones
I really wish my sister would have made these for us on our vacation this week, but alas, she had other things to do like caring for her 3-month-old son. PS. Why do infants get to eat like every hour? Not fair. But really, these are the best scones I’ve ever had. They are light, but also extremely moist and the citrus flavor is like a sweet spray of freshness in your mouth.
Chopped Thai Chicken Salad
This blog favorite will never get old. It’s fresh, it’s filling, it’s adaptable, and it’s covered with a finger-licking yummy dressing. Now that’s a perfect vacation meal.
5 Ingredient Lemon Chicken and Asparagus
My sister, her boyfriend, and my brother made this one and wowed us with their 5-ingredient magic. This beauty is quick, healthy, and light. Just what a beachy person needs. So now you’re going to tell me what you make on your summer vacation, right? Pleasey please? Hope you all had a great week in your corner of the world, and it’s Friday so yay, and I’ll be back next week with vacation pictures and new recipes from Minnesooooota-home!
