Blessings and more blessings fam! I hope your summer is starting in a wonderful way. Now that school is out, I’m definitely living my life like it’s golden and have already taken a few summer sojourns to California, Puerto Rico, and a few other places in between. I’ve communed with Olokun on the shore of the Pacific ocean, and with Obatala and Osun at the El Yunque National Forest and I’m feeling refreshed and so ready for our Embracing Emi summer retreats coming up in just a few weeks. There are still a few spaces left, one of them has your name on it *smile*

I don’t know about you but my appetite – and desire to cook – tends to take a little bit of a nosedive in the summer. When our energy levels get low, we sometimes have a tendency to eat unhealthily because it's convenient, but we can still keep it easy for the summer without totally compromising our health. Here are a few of my favorite easy summer eats, let me know if you try ‘em out. You can find a few of my other easy, healthy recipes here. I'll be making a few of them at the retreats, can't wait to share them!

Fruity Yogurt Parfait

What's in it
½ cup granola
½ cup fresh fruit, diced (I like strawberries, bananas, peach and mango best)
½ cup plain or vanilla yogurt (I like organic Stonyfield yogurt)
1 tsp pure maple syrup

How to make it
With this, if it’s only for me I’ll just dump it all in a bowl and stir it up. But if you’re entertaining summer guests, layer it in a clear glass (a margarita glass or ice cream dish works very well) for an attractive treat. I like to do granola, yogurt then fruit on top and drizzle the syrup, but you layer however you like! Here's a nice one.

Easy Quiche (pictured above)

What's in it
2 deep dish pie crusts (buy the pre-made frozen ones or make it yourself)
6 eggs
2 cups half and half
1 10 oz. package pre-washed baby spinach, shredded
1 bunch scallions, diced
1 TBSP olive oil
2 cups shredded cheese (1/2 cup reserved; I like cheddar, cheddar jack or Swiss)
2 TBSP garlic power OR 8 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp ground thyme
6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and diced (optional)

How to make it
Heat olive oil in a pan and add spinach and scallions (and garlic, if using fresh garlic). Heat just until spinach is wilted and you begin to smell the scallion, then remove from heat and let cool. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, cream and spices. Stir in cheese, spinach and bacon, if using. Pour half of the mixture into each of the two pie crusts and sprinkle the reserved cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until set. Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy and stay cool! Remember to thank our mother earth for her gifts. Ase!