by Chef Audrey Blake

Summer Snacking Sensations

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Featured Seasonal Menu Ideas:
Salads, Salsas, and Wraps
(see recipe links below)

I always think of summer as a casual, fun and carefree time to celebrate the season's bountiful harvest. No five course sit down dinners will be considered for months... just grab a bite and go! However, healthy summer snacking involves quality ingredients, which involves planning. Lets see... ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh mint, fresh dill, feta cheese, fresh mozzarella cheese, sweet red onion, lemons, pita bread, Kalmata olives, good olive oil, balsamic vinegar, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), couscous, cucumbers and garlic for starters.

The salads can be simple--with greens, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and vinegar and oil or made more elaborate by simply adding fin fish or shellfish: cold poached salmon, halibut, scallops or calamari steaks would accompany this salad. As would a cold broiled swordfish steak.

Wraps can be prepared any way you fancy. With pan-fried, saute or grilled fish, cucumber, mango salsa. Ingredients can be mixed and matched and you will end up with delicious gourmet wraps. Of course, hummus with pita bread wedges are good standbys. And for even lighter fare try chickpea, lemon and garlic soup and some crusty bread.

Okay, let's begin with these.

You will find the summer recipes I have prepared to be refreshing and a breeze to prepare and serve. You will feel like you are snacking in the Mediterranean or on the Mexican Riviera in a seaside cafe.

Now, that is the way to have light summer fare to go, simple, scrumptiously tasty and easy to prepare. Top it off with a tall glass of freshly squeezed lemonade... try them all for casual fun dining during the carefree days of summer... Enjoy!

Salads, Salsas, and Wraps
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