Greetings from beach-land!
I’ve been on family vacation this week, and this experience, first of all, has been amazing. North Carolina has just blown my mind with its Nicholas-Sparks-esque beachy beauty and I’m all wahhhh about going home tomorrow. I love me some Minnesota lakes, but the tall grass + ocean + white sand + dolphins jumping out in the water (NO I’M SERIOUS) is like something straight out of the best movie you ever saw.
Secondly, I haven’t made many new recipes this week because I have been making some old favorites along with my family. Which might seem like a bummer, but no! It is so superfun for me because I really hardly ever get to repeat my favorite recipes at home. Usually I am so focused on trying new recipes for the blog that Bjork and I don’t have time (or space in our fridge) (or space in our bellies) to make any old favorites. This week has been a blast as I’ve gotten to relive some of my favorite, freshest, summer-friendly blog recipes with a crowd of 10+ to eat through all that food.
So I thought it might be fun to highlight some of the things we’ve been cooking and eating this week at the beach as well as a few things that we would have been cooking and eating if we had more time here on our little vacay. Like, for example, if we were to stay here for another year. I’m not saying, I’m just saying.
Alright, here we go! 12 fresh recipes for your summer vacation. Commence sun, sand, and really good food.
Rainbow Chicken Salad
We made this one per the request of my sister and it was yummy as ever! We ran out of grapes at one point so we tossed in some strawberries (it’s rainbow, duh) and it was the bomb dot com. Some of us *points to self* even like crunchy onions tossed into the mix. I love this salad to the moon and back.
Flax and Blueberry Vanilla Overnight Oats
There’s nothing as awesome as a filling breakfast at the beach that’s also refreshingly cold. Especially when it’s hot and humid and you have all the doors and windows open to experience the joys of the waves crashing on the beach and just wow, North Carolina, I love you. One night I had the forethought to throw a massive batch of these in the fridge and in the morning – voila! Overnight oats for ten. It was delicious and customizable and ours had chia seeds in it because: fun.
Fruit Pizza
Per my brother-in-law’s request, this fruit pizza was made for his birthday dinner celebration shindig. It was gorgeous and delicious, as are most things with colorful pieces of fruit arranged over a creamy cheesy frosting layer and spread on an underbaked sugar cookie crust.
Crockpot Pork Adobo with Black Beans
Half of my family is Filipino, so it’s only appropriate (and delicious) that one night was Filipino food night. I made the adobo with rice and beans meaning I played at the beach while dinner cooked all day up in the kitchen and made the house smell amazing. My sister Roselyn made a heavenly mango float for dessert. <– look that one up because I don’t have a recipe yet but you need it for your summer vacay eating. SO GOOD.
Garlic Butter Mushroom Provolone Melts
I get really really really superperson hungry after a few cool surfer girl wave-catches on the boogie board. So when it’s lunchtime: hello major eating. Sandwiches and chips and fruit and crackers and leftovers from last night and give me it all. I even sometimes wanted a glass of milk with my meal, which is like wha?! I never do that except apparently when I’m starving after ocean play. But this sandwich? Ohhhk yes please. Filling and cheesy and perfect for the post-swim-lunch.
The 4 Ingredient Green Smoothie
I was definitely made fun of as I blended this thing up for breakfast at the beginning of the week. But then something weird happened which was everyone gathering around me and asking for a taste. Joke’s on you, family. Green smoothies for life.
Spicy Peanut Chicken Soba Noodle Salad
Hot cold anytime every time all the time with anything. This salad is THE BEST of summer eating. And I am such a sucker for saucy noodles.
Shrimp and Avocado Salad with Miso Dressing
One word: fresh. Avocado, spicy shrimp, cucumber, and then that cool creamy miso dressing. I scream, you scream, we all scream for Shrimp and Avocado Salad with Miso Dressing!
20 Minute Lemon Pesto Penne
Twenty minutes. If that isn’t enough to sell you, how about all those yummy veggies and the amazing leftover pasta that you’ll get for beach lunching tomorrow? This is efficient and delicious summer vacation food.
My Sister’s Citrus Scones
I really wish my sister would have made these for us on our vacation this week, but alas, she had other things to do like caring for her 3-month-old son. PS. Why do infants get to eat like every hour? Not fair. But really, these are the best scones I’ve ever had. They are light, but also extremely moist and the citrus flavor is like a sweet spray of freshness in your mouth.
Chopped Thai Chicken Salad
This blog favorite will never get old. It’s fresh, it’s filling, it’s adaptable, and it’s covered with a finger-licking yummy dressing. Now that’s a perfect vacation meal.
5 Ingredient Lemon Chicken and Asparagus
My sister, her boyfriend, and my brother made this one and wowed us with their 5-ingredient magic. This beauty is quick, healthy, and light. Just what a beachy person needs.
So now you’re going to tell me what you make on your summer vacation, right? Pleasey please?
Hope you all had a great week in your corner of the world, and it’s Friday so yay, and I’ll be back next week with vacation pictures and new recipes from Minnesooooota-home!
I am from North Carolina, and I grew up in Carteret County. Proud of my beach beginnings as a youngster and a true and bonified….Tarheel!!! Yes! I am a true North Carolinian in all the sense of the word. Love your recipes and plan to try some, even it is Winter. I am in living in Raleigh, NC.
Also proud of my NC Tarheels also known as UNC Chapel Hill. Go HEELS!!!
Thanks for this article! I also got some inspiration on my last Naples food tour!
We just returned from a beach trip and used several of your recipes. All were a huge hit. Thanks for sharing.
Lindsey your recipes look very delicious & colorful. I will certainly try some of them this month on our beach trip. do you have any recipes for kids?
Saundra
I live in North Carolina! It is gorgeous here! The beach fare looks amazing! Will definitely be trying some of it.
The Shrimp and Acacado Salad is making mouth water!! My friend just got me these handmade skewers from Morocco. Since I am feeling inspired – I am gonna grill the shrimp first with my fancy schmancy new skewers. : )
Sounds yummy! Enjoy! š
WOW…these recipes look AMAZING..Thank you!!!!
I’m eating lunch at work…at my desk… watching SNOW fall (wahh wah) when I saw this post as I scrolled through. UMMM YUM. I want all of these!. and also the beach. and dolphins. really anything but the midwest winter š
We are 3 hours away and have a place at Emerald Isle! We head down at least once per month. North Carolina beaches will spoil you. I tell family members that live elsewhere that they have no clue what they are missing.
Thank you for the wonderful recipes! I am always looking for meals to make while we are beaching it!
How fun! We absolutely loved the beaches in NC!
So glad you liked our home state!!! We all think it is pretty spectacular too! We will be at our favorite beach in NC the first of August (counting the days!!). I plan on trying your Garlic Butter Mushroom Provolone Melts on some gluten free bread. Our favorite meal at the beach? Anything made with local vegetables.
You’re in my neck of the woods! Although, we rarely beach at Emerald Isle. We usually head down to Oak Island. But, Emerald Isle is sooo nice! I am definitely going to be trying the salad with the miso dressing!
Oh Nicholas Sparks… Probably one of my all-time favorite authors. Other than “A Walk To Remember,” I loved all of the books better than the movies. (Something just way too cute about those actors!) Looks and sounds like everyone was super happy and well-fed for your entire vacation!! š
We leave for NC on Friday. The menu looks like Chicken Caesar Salads, Burgers, Carnitas, and most importantly – Low Country Boil (my favorite vacation tradition)! We’ll go out to eat once or twice, and Friday is always “Clean out the Fridge” night š
How fun! We were going to do a boil of some sort but then we opted for a different special dinner at the last minute.
How fun that you got to go to one of my favorite places. It’s so relaxing for a mini family reunion and just about any other event in life. Congrats on your big announcement! I am glad to hear that you will be sticking to only one extra job and, a little selfishly, I am glad you chose this one. Will be trying several of your summer vacation recipes soon. They do look scrumptious!
Thanks for the recipes today. My family and I are headed to North Carolina in a couple of weeks, isn’t it just an amazing place to vacation? I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan so staying near Rodanthe is perfect. May I ask what area you visited?
Yes! we were in (on? at?) Emerald Isle.
I love the idea of a fruit pizza.
I love this post!! These are some of the recipes I’ve been meaning to try so great reminder š MUST make that Thai salad NOW!
yes! That one is a fan favorite! š
UGH, I have GOT to get myself to those shores – the photos I see are always just gorgeous! And I totally know what you mean about making stuff twice; it’s kind of a big deal when we either have a totally normal dinner or one that we’ve already had before! YUM!
Seriously pack your bags now. It’s so beautiful.
Um, I’m sure there was food in this post, but I totally skipped it as I realized that you are in my town! We were already planning on going to the beach tomorrow…if you see some random fangirl you should start running:)
I hope you had a wonderful time with your family. I was going to say that the ocean is still a bit chilly, but then I remembered that you crazy northerners probably find it hot. Congrats on your big decision. I hope your new life journey affords you more family bonding opportunities.
That’s so funny Andrea, every morning when I would go for a run on the beach I thought of all the commenters who had said they lived in the area and wondered if I would see any of them. š WE LOVED IT! NC is so gorgeous.
Yes these are all perfect summer recipes! I want to make all of these ASAP! Simple and fresh!
Also I LOVE those cups the green smoothies are in. And the straws. Target?
Hope you have a great last day on vacation!
The cups are goodwill (eeee! love it) and the straws are some kind of ultra pretentious fancy paper store that’s the opposite of goodwill. š How’s that for a good combo?
I have longed to go to the Carolinas—-so I liked hearing your positive comments.
Great bunch of recipes. I pinned several. Continue to have a
FAB time.
Wow! All of your recipes look so amazing it’s hard to choose, but I’m drooling over the Garlic Mushroom Provolone Melts and the Shrimp & Avocado Salad w/ Miso Dressing. YUM! Thanks for sharing these recipes. Your vacation looks beautiful – so sorry it is almost over.
If I might ask, where did you beach vacation in North Carolina? My hubby and I recently relocated from Iowa to South Carolina and we’re wanting to know where to hit up the greatest beaches! Any suggestion would be amazing!!
Emerald Isle – highly highly recommend it!
So much fresh perspective on summer cooking! Yumm-o!
We always make ceviche with the freshest catch! My husband loves to go out deep sea fishing so we always have SUPER fresh fish! Served up with some yummy guac and tortillas and I’m licking my lips right now!
We also love a good shrimp/crawfish/lobster boil depending on what region of the country we’re in! Nothing better than the freshest local seafood. Other nights we enjoy getting the grill going with a selection of meats and veggies! Grilled corn-on-the-cob is my favorite summer treat!
Wow – sounds so good! fresh seafood is the best.
So many scrumptious looking recipes!! I’m especially fond of the beautiful fruit pizza, I’m sure it was delicious. Considered them pinned…can’t wait to try them. I am such a Nicholas Sparks enthusiast. Enjoy your the remainder of your vacation š