Summer Cooking in Your Oakland Apartments

Are you interested in doing something productive and fun this summer near your Oakland apartments? Something that comes to mind is going to your 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, cucumber, beets, bell peppers, carrots, zucchini, garlic, corn, and rhubarb.

And here’s a list of fruits in season this summer: apricots, plums, cherries, blackberries, nectarines, strawberries, peaches, tomatoes, passion fruit, melon, lemons, and limes.

Try this delicious recipe for a healthy grilled garden pizza:

Ingredients
2 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
1 loaf (1 pound) frozen pizza dough, thawed
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan or Asiago cheese
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh spinach
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions
Sprinkle tomatoes with salt; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, divide dough in half. Roll or press each to 1/4-in. thickness; place each on a greased sheet of foil (about 10 in. square). Brush tops with 1 tablespoon oil.
Carefully invert crusts onto a grill rack, removing foil. Brush tops with remaining oil. Grill, covered, over medium heat until bottom is golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Remove from grill; reduce grill temperature to low.
Top grilled sides of crusts with Parmesan or Asiago cheese, tomatoes, corn, onion, and mozzarella cheese. Grill, covered, on low heat until cheese is melted, 4-6 minutes. Sprinkle with spinach and basil.
Health Tip: Fresh mozzarella has about the same calories and fat as part-skim; they are both lighter than a lot of other cheeses like cheddar, Muenster and provolone.

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 make the most out of this summer?