Happy August from Dallas Dental Arts! Though summer has looked a little different this year with social distancing measures in place for our health and safety, there are still plenty of ways to get outside and soak up the sun before fall arrives.
Most of our staff spend their summer days outside staying active. On a nice day, you can find them bike riding or taking a walk around White Rock Lake. A few other beloved summer activities include beach days, swimming, and cooling down with some ice cream or watermelon.
Sometimes it can get too hot to cook during the warm summer months. But don’t worry! There are plenty of great meal ideas that don’t require standing over a hot stove. Our favorite easy summer snacks are watermelon and frozen grapes. Or if you’re looking for a quick healthy meal, you can blend some greens and fruits together into a delicious smoothie. Need a new dinner idea? Here’s one of our tried and true favorites for you to try:
INGREDIENTS
ALMOND BUTTER LIME DRESSING:
-3 tablespoons smooth almond butter, preferably unsweetened
-3 tablespoons neutral vegetable oil such as avocado or canola
-3 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
-1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
-1 teaspoon sriracha
-1 teaspoon kosher salt
-2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
-1 plump garlic clove, grated
-8 ounces rice stir fry noodles, I use Thai Kitchen or Annie Chun's cooked according to package directions, drained and rinsed in cold water
NOODLE BOWL
-8 ounces rice stir fry noodles, I use Thai Kitchen or Annie Chun's cooked according to package directions, drained and rinsed in cold water
-2 cups matchstick-cut carrots, about 1/2 pound carrots
-2 cups half-moon sliced seedless cucumber
-4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced on the diagonal
-1 shallot, thinly sliced
-1 cup loosely packed each fresh cilantro, mint and basil leaves
-Handful mixed baby greens
GARNISH IDEAS:
-Sesame seeds
-Crushed roasted peanuts or chopped roasted almonds
-Thinly sliced fresh red chili pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
-Whisk all ingredients for the dressing together in a bowl until smooth.
-In another large bowl, toss the drained noodles with the carrots, cucumber, scallions, shallot, herb leaves and 1/2 of the dressing.
-Serve in bowls over mixed greens, with additional dressing spooned over to taste. Garnish with fresh red chili, peanuts and/or sesame seeds. Enjoy!
In office-related news, this month we celebrate Kristin's 30th anniversary with our office. She's been a hygienist with Dallas Dental Arts since 1990 and we couldn't be happier to have her as part of our team! The next time you’re in our office make sure to wish Kristin a happy work anniversary.
Times continue to be uncertain but we must all do our part by helping stop the spread of the coronavirus and staying positive. Once we make it through all of this, imagine how strong our country and economy will be! We hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summer.