Hale Summer

While the summer solstice isn't until the 21st of June, May is the precursor month, and in my opinion one of the best times of the year for food. The weather is cold enough to still serve hot soups and winter roots, but it gets warm enough to serve fresh, crisp salads and iced beverages. Meals can be served inside by the hearth on a rainy evening, or out in the park on a sunny day. The weather is realatively consistent and mild, making it the perfect time for, well, just about anything! Go nuts!

One of my favorite early summer drinks is the Japanese bottled green tea, Ito En Oi Ocha. Though iced tea is considered more of a mid-late summer drink, this delicious, unsweetened tea is the perfect blend of delicacy and unique flavor for this season. I have to ration myself while drinking this tea, I would literally drink it non stop if I didn't have to eat. Another great drink is perrier, or any other mineral water  for that matter. Add some grapefruit or cranberry juice to the sparkling water, and you have a homemade soda that is much healthier a store-bought brand, and is just as delicious.

Now for snacks. So on the unhealthy side, I adore salt and vinegar potato chips, especially if they are vinegar heavy. Then there are also the Limón Lays, which are so deliciously lemony, and the only type of Lays I like. Though these are incredibly fattening, and will clog up your arteries if you eat them too much, they are perfectly fine if eaten in moderation. On the healthy side, I love to eat chia seeds and almonds all year round. Living in the 21st century modern world, you have access to all sorts food year round, wether or not they are in season, so I typically visit the regional Whole Foods or Trader Joe's to grab a bag of snacks. Trader Joe's has amazing pita chips as well, which are in between healthy and unhealthy, and I eat an ungodly amount of them.

I plan on making some posts about individual meals later, so thats why I didn't include them. But these drinks and snacks are great additions to your spring/summer picnics!