Crazy Blonde Life

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My Favorite Summer Recipes Using Locally Grown Vegetables

This is the very best time of the year for fresh seasonal vegetables!  Find them at your local farmers market and support local farmers.  Enjoy the bounty of the season and pour your heart into making special meals for yourself and the people you love.  It's so important to remember to eat seasonally.  So much of our food is shipped for hundreds of miles and sprayed with chemicals that harm our bodies and our environment.  By spending your money in your own community, you send an important message to the food industry that small, local farms are important.  Factory farming has changed the face of our country and the family farm is becoming a thing of the past.  There are farmers who are trying to change that and bring back heirloom varieties of vegetables that are so much more nutritions and delicious.  Seek out these farmers and support them because they are doing important work.

There’s no formal definition of the term local food. But commonly, it means food grown within 100 miles of where it's sold.  More and more people want to know where their food comes from and the farming practices of the farmers that grow and produce it because local food creates community and connection.

Be aware of what you're putting into your body and know that every time you shop, you vote to support local foods and farmers.

Here are some amazing recipes using seasonal ingredients to enjoy!

Burrata with Cherry Tomatoes and Pesto

Fresh Corn and Zucchini Chowder from Little Broken Blog

Grilled Corn & Peach Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes and Basil

Marinated Summer Squash with Hazelnuts and Ricotta from Epicurious

Tomato Pie - A Southern Favorite

Okra Parmigiana by The Spicy Southern Kitchen

Pesto, Zucchini and Peach Pizza with Burrata from Half Baked Harvest

Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches

Summer Squash Gratin with Salsa Verde and Gruyere

Spicy Oven Baked Okra by Shweta in the Kitchen

Please feel free to share your favorite recipes in the comments below!  I'm always looking for something new to try!  You can also follow my Pinterest boards here and here for more dinner ideas!