Savory Watermelon, 4 Ways

Image: Kirti Poddar, licensed under Creative Commons

We hosted my cousins in Seattle the week before we moved. One of the nights they were with us, we sat around the coffee table in our living room (picnic-style, if you will), and started our meal with a Watermelon and Heirloom Tomato Salad, from Kim Barnouin’s latest, Ultimate Everyday Cookbook.

I had chosen the recipe for its simplicity, because it would let the flavors of crisp, sweet watermelon, and the ripe heirlooms blend and satisfy – particularly after a day of summer sight-seeing. Drizzled with a touch of balsamic reduction, it was perfect.

Before that night, I had only prepared watermelon as a snack or healthy dessert – I cubed it, chilled it, and served it on its own. Kim’s recipe introduced me to a world where watermelon can be a part of fuller, more savory courses; part of a summer meal.

For this time of year, as we just want to savor the flavors of summer in their plainest glory, over meals that take little time to prepare, but can be enjoyed over the joyfully long stretch of evening, here are four more ways to prepare watermelon in your main course:

Watermelon Strawberry Gazpacho, Delicious Days

(Veganize by omitting the goat cheese.)

Watermelon and Tomato Salad, The Minimalist

(Veganize by substituting crumbled tofu for the feta.)

Seared Watermelon, Herbivoracious

Radish, Watermelon, and Bulgur Wheat Salad, Marcus Samuelsson

How To Choose the Best Vegan Sausage

One of the best things about going vegan these days is that you can find substitutes for your former-favorite foods. And, not only can you find vegan cheeses and meats, you often have a selection of brands and flavors.

However, not all vegan meats are created equal. Upon tasting, some clearly rise above the rest. And, it's important to know which ones, because you deserve to enjoy your food (especially when many of these products cost $4 - $5 per package - who wants to spend all of their time and money figuring out which one is best?).

This week, Slate published a review of three of the most popular, nationally-distributed brands of vegan sausage - Tofurky, Lightlife, and Field Roast.

Click to read the full review and find out which product won this taste test - and which one you should pick up before your next BBQ:

Taste-testing vegan sausage - which fake meat is best?

LET US KNOW: Do you agree with Slate's review? What's your favorite vegan sausage?

How to Make Going Veg a No-Brainer

Welcome Vegan Consultant Readers!

Thanks for reading my interview with Kelly, and welcome to my blog! In my interview, I advised those considering a vegan lifestyle to choose a set of core recipes to help the transition. Here are some more thoughts on that:

To many ears, “going vegan” sounds difficult and limiting.

“How do you stay the course?” people wonder.

To this question, many will tell you about animal rights, climate change, and your health. Given the facts, how can we not be vegan? And, I agree with all of this.  

But, you may still be thinking, "How do I give up brie cheese and chocolate chip cookies? Practically, in my day-to-day life, it’s too hard to be vegan."

To you, I offer the secret to making it easy.

Grocery Shopping? Go to the Farmer's Market First.

I love the farmer’s market experience.

Image via: The Atlantic

In fact, when my husband and I were on our honeymoon in Kauai, we went to the local farmer’s market. (We weren’t cooking on our honeymoon, but when I saw the ad, I had to check it out.)

I just love being outdoors, in the fresh air, picking through recently-delivered heaps and barrels of local produce, and feeling the raw potential of how those ingredients can be combined, seasoned, presented.  

I also love the fact that buying from the market cuts my grocery bill by about 30% every week.

Now, I know this isn’t something that holds everywhere. When I lived in New York City, the Union Square Farmer’s Market, for example, while inspiring, wasn’t cheap.

However, if you pick the right places to go, research now is showing that farmer’s markets are, in most cases, less expensive than surrounding grocery stores.

This article from The Atlantic outlines the major findings of the research: The Farmer’s Market Myth

The kitchn did a summary post: It’s true! Farmer’s Markets are Cheaper than Supermarkets!

 

To take advantage of this, I go to the produce market first, pick up everything I can get from there, and whatever I can’t get (tortillas, dried beans, bread, Daiya cheese), I pick up at my second stop – the grocery store. This cuts my grocery bill by about $30 a week. Plus, the produce is fresher.

 

Here are seven more tips on making the most of the farmer’s market, from Serious Eats: 

LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET US KNOW: Is your local farmer's market is cheaper than the supermarket? Do you use any of the tips offered by Serious Eats? How do you make the most of the farmer's market?