Arugula and Quinoa Salad with Nectarines, Mint, and Goat Cheese

While a luscious peach cobbler recipe is probably the classic summer peach recipe, I'm instead sharing with you a much lighter (and healthier!) savory nectarine salad.

This salad has been one of my go-to summer salads for years now. It's borderline embarrassing how frequently I eat this salad during the summer. Since it's easy to throw together and relatively healthy, it's great for busy nights when you just want something simple and delicious.

The best parts of this salad are the peaches and fresh mint! The herb lends a freshness to the dish, while the nectarines bring sweetness and juiciness to the dish. With a glass of white wine, it's a perfect summer meal.

Don't have nectarines on hand? No worries--switch out the nectarines for peaches, strawberries, or apples!

I particularly like the visual appeal of having a pile of arugula with the ingredients separated, but feel free to toss the ingredients all together in a bowl as well.

Arugula and Quinoa Salad with Nectarines, Mint, and Goat Cheese

Serves one

1/2 lemon

1.5 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 cups of arugula

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup cooked quinoa (I particularly like the tri-color quinoa)

1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves

1 nectarine, sliced

Squeeze the half lemon, and combine the lemon juice with the olive oil, whisking until a dressing forms. Lightly toss the arugula with the lemon dressing. Season the arugula with salt and pepper to taste. Pile the arugula onto a plate.

Place the goat cheese, quinoa, mint, and nectarine slices around the arugula. Enjoy!

Summer Produce Guide: Peaches & Nectarines

Stone fruit season is finally here--hooray for recipes chock full of peaches and nectarines! A juicy and perfectly ripe peach is the epitome of summer for me. Z and I buy peaches and nectarines all summer, and we particularly love them paired with blue cheese and bread (soooo good, trust me!).

That being said, there's nothing worse than splurging on stone fruit to find that it's not quite ripe yet, or just isn't as flavorful as you were expecting. This guide will help you not only pick out the best nectarines at the grocery store, and also make sure they stay at their peak longer.

Check back here on Wednesday for one of my favorite summer recipes that includes peaches!

Stone Fruit Produce Guide

What is a white peach/nectarine versus a normal peach/nectarine? White peaches and nectarines have a white flesh (hence the name) and a higher sugar content than traditional peaches and nectarines. If you are looking for a extra sweet treat, give these varieties a try!

Buying

Peaches and nectarines are a little more forgiving than most fruit, because they can actually ripen after they've been picked. For both peaches and nectarines, you'll want to smell them. They should smell delicious. 

Ripe peaches will also have some give when you squeeze them. If they feel similar to a tennis ball, you have one to two more days until full ripeness. If a peach looks bruised, it's already reached its peak.

For nectarines, I recommend looking for a slight softening along the seam. Unlike peaches, you should avoid soft nectarines. 

Storing

Peaches and nectarines are best left on the counter, out of direct sunlight. This will allow them to ripen, and it will also prevent a mealy texture. If your peaches are mealy, it's likely because they were picked too early, stored in a refrigerator, and then brought back to room temperature by the grocery store. Never a good sign! 

Summer Produce Guide: Berries

Berry season, and all of its glory (like chocolate covered strawberries), is finally here! Get ready for a full week of berry delicious things from Hilary Stone Soup, including a dessert recipe on Wednesday with strawberries and blackberries.

Summer doesn't just mean sunshine, beach, and warm weather. It also means beautiful and delicious produce at the farmer's market and grocery store. So, in honor of all the fabulous produce, I'm sharing some produce guides and produce-focused recipes.

This week produce guide is for everyone's favorite, berries! Don't forget to check back on Wednesday for a great recipe.

Buying:

Strawberries: First and foremost, buy organic strawberries. Strawberries have some of the highest pesticide levels, even after washing. The next two things to look for are color and smell. Most grocery store varieties of strawberries are bright red at the height of ripeness, and pale color typically indicates the farmer was a little too eager to pick the berry. The strawberries should smell extremely fragrant and delicious. Shape and size shouldn't be priorities--often the smaller berries are the most flavorful!

Blackberries/Raspberries: Smell is equally important with blackberries and raspberries. If you can't smell the berries, don't buy it. If you see the hull on these berries, it means the berry isn't ripe enough. If you see staining or mold inside, then the berry is too ripe. Consumer in 2 days--blackberries and raspberries do not last long.

Blueberries: Look for a frosty-blue berry that is plump and firm. Shriveled berries and any mold on the bottom of the package is a bad sign. 

Storing:

Overall, moisture is the enemy here. There's nothing worse than paying for berries, only to find that they are moldy after a few days. To get rid of pesky mold spores, you're going to give your berries a vinegar bath. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups water with 1 cup of vinegar, and then give you berries a nice dunk. 

Afterwards, rinse the berries in a colander under cold water. This will get rid of any lingering vinegar taste. Then, to get rid of the moisture, you'll want to dry the berries very thoroughly. To help with drying, you can actually line your salad spinner with 3 layers of paper towels, and then spin your berries for 15 seconds to dry them. 

Store the berries in a paper-towel lined plastic container, with the lid partially off to allow moisture to escape. 

Theses tips will help your berries stay fresh for all of your recipes! 

Farmer's Market Guide

When Z was in India, I wandered over to the Farmer's Market in Noe Valley on a Saturday morning. I used to go to the Farmer's Market every Sunday in DC, but since I've moved to SF, I haven't had the work schedule to accommodate our neighborhood's Thursday evening Farmer's Market. The 20 minute walk to Noe with plenty of cute shops like Mill, and the abundance of produce I came home with was exactly what the doctor ordered.

There's a successful way to do the Farmer's Market, that won't leave you hangry and struggling with random produce bags on your way home. These are my top 5 tips for doing the farmer's market right!

1. Wear comfortable shoes

This is not the time for your new platform heels. Who knows what type of seating you will find at the market and how long you are going to walk for. This is the time for Birkenstocks and your Nike kicks!

2. Grab coffee ahead of time

Avoid being hangry at the market by grabbing your cappuccino before you head to the market. There's nothing worse than being hungry and grocery shopping. Plus, you'll be more awake and friendly in the case you run into anyone you know!

3. Bring small bills

First and foremost, bring cash. I often fail at this, and I have to rely on Z always having cash on hand. Don't follow my example! Most farmer's markets don't accept cards, and since so many items are under five dollars, bring a lot of one dollar bills. 

4. Taste!

This one should go without saying. The best part of a farmer's market is getting to taste the produce before buying. In particular, I like to walk around the entire market before buying...the best stand might be at the very end (gosh, I really am a true maximizer)! 

5. Bring your own bags

Individual stands will give you produce bags, but eventually you want to put these all into one or two larger bags to carry home. Place the sturdier produce (some lettuces, apples, root vegetables, asparagus) on the bottom, and then place more delicate items on top (herbs, berries).