The links below may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small compensation at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure policy here. 

I love clean countertops, but I’m fairly certain that ours will not be completely cleared off again until late into September when I finally finish processing the abundance of vegetables our garden is yielding. Both my large workspaces in the kitchen are covered with several varieties of tomatoes, squash, zucchini, okra, and so on.

It’s a good problem to have, but it’s definitely keeping me busy! In the midst of blanching, freezing, and canning, I’m also constantly cooking up ways to enjoy the fresh vegetables in all their seasonal goodness at practically every meal.

I’ve been wanting to put together a list of some of the ways that we’ve been enjoying and preserving our garden produce this year, but what I planned to be a list of about 25 recipes quickly grew to over 60 tasty recipes and ideas. I asked a handful of my favorite recipe developers for ideas and did my own searching through some of my go-to food blogs.

Now this collection includes both the dishes we’ve been enjoying AND many others I can’t wait to try.

50+ Fresh Summer Vegetable Recipes & Resources

As with all the compilation posts I put together, I hope that you find immediate inspiration, and that this list also becomes a resource you come back to for future reference when you just need a fresh idea or a new way to prepare yet another tomato.

If you have any other ways you have been enjoying summer veggies, please share in the comments! And if you want to follow along with my garden and summer recipes, you can follow me on Instagram and check out my daily stories.

APPETIZERS

1. Quick Fried Veggies || This Pilgrim Life
2. Amazing Fresh Salsa || This Pilgrim Life
3. Five Minute Super Greens Pesto || This Pilgrim Life
4. 5 Ingredient Marinated Tomatoes || Pinch of Yum
5. 15 Minute Tomato & Feta Tart || The Kitchn
6. Charred Corn Salsa || The Kitchn
7. One-Hour Garden Focaccia || This Pilgrim Life
8. Watermelon Lime Mocktail || Gimme Some Oven
9. Classic Chimichurri Sauce || Simple Bites (trying pairing with this London broil!)
10. Chocolate Zucchini Muffins || This Pilgrim Life

SIDES & SALADS

1. Rosemary & Parmesan Squash Casserole || This Pilgrim Life
2. Sautéed Garlicky Greens || This Pilgrim Life
3. Instant Pot Corn on the Cob || This Pilgrim Life
4. Blueberry, Corn, & Avocado Chopped Salad || Gimme Some Oven
5. Fresh Tomato & Peach Caprese Salad with Blueberries and Thyme || Simple Bites (looks AMAZING!)
6. Roasted Okra Fries || This Pilgrim Life
7. Roasted Zucchini Spears with “Secret Sauce” || This Pilgrim Life
8. Bruschetta || The Pioneer Woman
9. Chilled Black Bean, Feta, & Cucumber Salad || The Kitchn
10. Summer Squash Gratin || Food & Wine

SOUP

1. Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Soup || This Pilgrim Life
2. Instant Pot Extra Green Broccoli Cheese Soup || This Pilgrim Life
3. Authentic Gazpacho || Gimme Some Oven
4. Honey Roasted Carrot Soup || This Pilgrim Life
5. Garden Green Minestrone Soup || Simple Bites
6. Instant Pot Chicken & Salsa Soup || This Pilgrim Life
7. Chicken & Sun Dried Tomato Soup (Or Pizza Soup) || Our Savory Life
8. Cajun Corn Chowder || Gimme Some Oven
9. Instant Pot Minestrone || Damn Delicious
10. Instant Pot Sausage & Kale Soup || This Pilgrim Life

MAIN DISH

1. Garden Fresh Pasta Primavera || This Pilgrim Life
2. Super Simple Summer Pasta Salad || This Pilgrim Life
3. Red Lentil Fusilli with Balsamic Marinated Tomatoes || Naptime Kitchen
4. Use What You’ve Got Orzo || Naptime Kitchen
5. Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Kabobs || Thriving Home
6. Fettuccine with Sausage & Blistered Tomatoes || This Pilgrim Life
7. Creamy Shrimp Pasta w/ Corn & Tomatoes || Pinch of Yum
8. Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwiches || The Kitchn
9. Copycat Zoe’s Kitchen Dinner (Marinated Chicken & Veg Kabobs) || This Pilgrim Life
10. Zucchini Pizza Boats || Ally’s Sweet & Savory Eats

COMPLIMENTARY RECIPES

1. Simple Thin Crust Pizza Dough (add EVOO, S&P, herbs, mozzarella, & fresh veg) || This Pilgrim Life
2. 10 Easy Homemade Salad Dressings || This Pilgrim Life
3. Best EVER Homemade Ranch || This Pilgrim Life
4. Three-Minute Homemade Mayonnaise || This Pilgrim Life
5. Fresh Pasta || This Pilgrim Life
6. Perfect Quick & Easy Frittata (add fresh veggies) || This Pilgrim Life
7. Sheetpan nachos (add sautéed veg & fresh salsa!) || This Pilgrim Life
8. Taco Night (Cook ground beef from frozen in IP, home-fried taco shells, etc) || This Pilgrim Life
9. Instant Pot Chicken Stock (use for summer soups!) || This Pilgrim Life
10. 20 Ways to Use A Bag of Greens || This Pilgrim Life

PREP AHEAD/ PUT-UP RECIPES

1. How to Use & Preserve Summer Herbs || Simple Bites
2. Tips for Freezing Produce || Simple Bites
3. Instant Pot Enchilada Sauce || This Pilgrim Life
4. Best Fermented Garlic Dill Pickles || Red & Honey
5. Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes || Simple Bites
6. Homemade Pizza Sauce || Ally’s Sweet & Savory Eats
7. How to Make Refrigerated Dill Pickles || Ally’s Sweet & Savory Eats
8. Garlic Dill Pickles (water bath canned) || Food In Jars
9. Pickled Okra || The Spruce Eats
10. Taco Kraut, Kimchi Kraut, Hot Dog Kraut || Food in Jars

HAVE MY COOKBOOK? DON’T MISS THESE RECIPES

1. Cece’s Garlic Green Beans
2. Creamy Garden Soup
3. French Onion & Spinach Dip
4. Italian “Herb” Roasted Chicken with Orzo & Greens
5. Ratatouille with Creamy Polenta
6. Sweet Potato, Sausage, & Kale Strata
7. Homemade Marinara Sauce (I’ve been using 10 cups of chopped fresh tomatoes)
8. 10-Minute Pasta Primavera
9. Pepperoni Margherita Pasta Salad
10. Chili Smothered Potatoes

MORE COOKBOOKS & PEOPLE TO FOLLOW

Cookbooks: 

1. Naturally Sweet Food in Jars
2. Food in Jars: Preserving in Small Batches All Year Round
3. Ball Blue Book of Canning
4. Homemade Pantry
5. Deep Run Roots

Follow on Instagram: (and any and all of the great food blogs included in this roundup!)

1. Rekindled Roots
2. A Modern Homestead
3. Wholefed Homestead
4. Aimee Bourque

MORE LIKE THIS ::

• Summer Lunch Ideas & Printable Menu
• Instant Pot Freezer Soups
• 75+ Frugal Dinner Ideas
• Healthy Grab & Go Picnic Ideas

Sharing is caring! Don’t forget to pin and share. Thank you!

The post 50+ Fresh Summer Vegetable Recipes & Resources appeared first on This Pilgrim Life.

The links below may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small compensation at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure policy here. 

Salads are one of those foods that I eat year-round, but that I CRAVE during the summer. After being in the heat of the summer sun, I love the cool crispiness of a fresh salad. It’s also a great way to enjoy a lot of seasonal fruits and vegetables.

One of our go-to summer lunches is a “salad bar” where everyone gets to make their own salads with a variety of toppings and dressing options. There’s something for everyone, and I don’t micromanage anyone’s salad, as long as they’re eating something from the “bar”.

I have been making our own salad dressings for years, and now that I finally ventured into trying a recipe for Caesar dressing, there’s really no need to buy dressing from the store. It really is so simple to whip up homemade salad dressings.

If you are wanting to make more from scratch, reduce sugar in your diet, and focus on buying whole foods and items with shorter ingredient lists, homemade salad dressings are a great place to start. Plus, they just taste so much better!

Keep reading to find a list of ten easy-to-make homemade salad dressings (our favorites are pictured below), a short list of common ingredients to have on hand for homemade dressings, and a few tips to make fresh salads a little simpler. Don’t forget to save this post for quick reference when you’re looking for what to drizzle on your next salad.

10 Easy Homemade Salad Dressings

1. Best-Ever Homemade Ranch || This Pilgrim Life
2. Homemade Caesar Dressing || Once Upon A Chef
3. Greek Vinaigrette || This Pilgrim Life
4. Homemade Sesame Ginger Dressing || Naptime Kitchen
5. Honey Dijon Vinaigrette || Thriving Home
6. Creamy Avocado Cilantro Dressing || Pinch of Yum
7. Carrot Ginger Dressing || Cookie & Kate
8. Strawberry Balsamic Dressing || This Pilgrim Life
9. Blue Cheese Dressing || Gimme Some Oven
10. Maple Vinaigrette || Wholesomelicious

Ingredients to keep on hand for homemade salad dressings* ::

VINAIGRETTES

• olive oil
• balsamic vinegar
• apple cider vinegar
• red wine vinegar
• lemon juice
• dijon mustard
• herbs & spices
• honey

CREAMY DRESSINGS

• mayonnaise (or eggs, oil, and lemon juice to make your own)
• plain Greek yogurt
• anchovy paste (buy in a tube, keeps well in the fridge)
• cheese (blue or parmesan, depending)

*Certain special dressings have other common ingredients like Worcestershire, soy sauce, maple syrup, etc. But the above list are the most frequently used in multiple dressing recipes.

How to Prep & Simplify Salads

• Prep protein at the beginning of the week
  • cook hard boiled eggs
  • make a batch of Ridiculously Easy Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot and slice
  • cook a whole chicken in the Instant Pot (or roast it in the oven) to use for salads and other meals during the week
• Buy ready-to-go protein options like crumbled bacon, frozen chicken nuggets, etc
• Buy prewashed salad greens
• (OR) Chop & wash lettuce at the beginning of the week
• Slice and chop vegetables and store in food-saving containers that will keep everything fresh
• Stock your pantry with ready-to-go salad toppings like sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, nuts, croutons, dried fruit, etc, and your fridge with toppings that keep well, like olives, cheeses, pickles, etc.
• Assemble all the toppings and dressings “salad bar style” so everyone can make their own. It’s more fun and everyone can get exactly what they want (hence they will be more excited to eat it).

The last tip is just to keep your salad routine simple and consistent. It’s okay if you have a favorite kind of salad and you eat it over and over again. If eating one kind of salad repeatedly (or your kids eating the same kind repeatedly) means that you eat more salads, I think that’s definitely still a win.

Want more delicious veggie recipes and inspiration?!

• Sweet Broccoli Salad
• Rainbow Coleslaw
• Sautéed Garlicky Greens 
• Simple Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• Roasted Carrot Fries
• Collard Greens in the Instant Pot
• Maple Brussel Sprouts & Bacon

Sharing is caring! Don’t forget to pin and share. Thank you!

The post 10 Easy Homemade Salad Dressings appeared first on This Pilgrim Life.

The links below may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small compensation at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure policy here. 

A couple of weeks ago I was in Target by myself while my mother-in-law kept my five kids at her house. Yes, it was glorious. And no, I don’t have any idea how $5 + $3 +$6 + $1 +$2 + $9 = $187.53. #targetmath

This was the first time I had a long break without the kids since getting home from our trip and then having my whole household come down with a nasty bug. My intention was just to make a quick run through Target and then go home to try to tackle some of the mess.

That was the plan.

The reality was three hours later, I was still in Target and it was time to head to my in-laws to have dinner and retrieve my kids. 

{{ Watch my Target Haul video on YouTube }}

I had told my mother-in-law that she didn’t need to worry about dinner since she would have all the kids; I would bring the food.  So there I was in Target needing to make a plan that didn’t involve me going home and actually making anything. 

I’m a big advocate for cooking from scratch and for starting with whole ingredients as much as possible. BUT I’m also an advocate for doing what you need to do. And sometimes that means take-out, and sometimes that means buying ingredients already prepped and ready.

Spotting Hawaiian rolls in the “produce” section of Target reminded me of 30-Minute Barbecue Chicken in the Instant Pot. I quickly checked to make sure my mother-in-law had the from-scratch sauce ingredients on hand (she did).

Now I just needed sides. My kids had been asking for Annie’s mac’n’cheese– one easy side down, one to go.

{{ Why you should make boxed mac’n’cheese in the Instant Pot }}

I don’t know about you, but barbecue always makes me want coleslaw. Typically, I like making coleslaw with green and red cabbage, sliced almonds, dried cranberries, and a super yummy dressing. But I needed something easier this time. 

I stood staring at the bags of coleslaw mix for a few minutes, brainstorming the easiest way to make coleslaw without having to buy several different ingredients.

Then it hit me that lime yogurt already had the creaminess, tanginess, and sweetness that I would need for the dressing. All in one little package. 

EASY Coleslaw Hack

In addition to the lime yogurt, I used mayonnaise to balance out the dressing. Add a little salt, and the coleslaw is done!

This easy coleslaw hack will be so convenient this summer for a quick side at a cookout or picnic. You could even just pick up the few ingredients and mix it on location! 

Recipes to try this with…

• 30-Minute Barbecue Chicken 
• Tastiest Easy Sliders 
• Roasted Carrot Fries
• 3-Minute Mayonnaise
• Quick Fried Vegetables & Best EVER Homemade Ranch
• Creamiest Ranch Mac’n’Cheese in the Instant Pot 

EASY Coleslaw Hack

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• Author: Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes

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Description

Using a container of yogurt which already has lime juice and sweetener means making a batch of coleslaw just got even easier. This coleslaw hack is great for any time you are in a hurry or need a really quick and easy side to share a picnic or potluck!

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Ingredients

• 14oz or 1 bag shredded coleslaw mix
• 5 oz container Greek lime yogurt (I like Chobani)
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

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Instructions

1. Dump the coleslaw mix into a large mixing bowl. Add the lime yogurt, then use the empty container to measure out an equal portion of mayonnaise. Add the salt, then stir well until all the coleslaw mix is coated. Taste and add additional salt as needed.
2. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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The post EASY Coleslaw Hack appeared first on This Pilgrim Life.