Summer Cooking in Your Oakland Apartments

Looking for something fun to do this summer near your apartments in Oakland? A great idea would be to go to a local farmer’s market, whether it be alone or with friends and family, to stock up on some much-needed, fresh groceries. The great thing about the turn of the seasons is that there are so many new fruits and vegetables available for you to enjoy.

Here’s a list of some vegetables in season this summer:
• Radishes
• Arugula
• Cucumber
• Beets
• Bell Peppers
• Carrots
• Zucchini
• Garlic
• Corn
• Rhubarb

And here’s a list of fruits in season this summer:
• Apricots
• Plums
• Cherries
• Blackberries
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Peaches
• Tomatoes
• Passion Fruit
• Melon
• Lemon
• Limes

Here’s a delicious recipe for a Garden Chickpea Salad:
Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/4 cup chopped tomato
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
SALAD:
3/4 cup canned garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 medium carrot, julienned
1 small zucchini, julienned
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup thinly sliced radishes
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts
3 cups spring mix salad greens

Directions
For dressing, in a dry small skillet, toast cumin seeds over medium heat until aromatic, stirring frequently. Transfer to a small bowl. Stir in tomato, lemon juice, oil, garlic, salt and cayenne pepper.
In a bowl, combine chickpeas, carrot, zucchini, green onions, parsley, radishes, cheese and walnuts. Stir in 1/3 cup dressing.
To serve, divide greens between two plates; top with chickpea mixture. Drizzle with remaining dressing.

So this summer, make sure to go to your local farmer’s market so you can stock up on the freshest, healthiest produce there is. In addition, consider checking out this site if you need ideas for inspiration when it comes to coming up with recipes for your delicious produce. So now that’s TWO summer activities you can enjoy near your apartments in Oakland – you can visit a local farmer’s market and you can attempt a new healthy recipe from home. What will you do to kick summer 2019 off the best way possible?