Boy is it muggy today! Our bike ride and run in the heat wasn’t too bad. We made it to SouthPark (4 miles on bike) and put down our big red blanket in a spot we are hoping will be in the shade come sunset. Then we locked up our bikes and ran – not sure how long or far, but I’m guessing between 3 and 4 miles – around the neighborhoods near the mall. So pretty! Then we biked 4 more miles home. The whole shebang took about an hour and a half.
Once home, we made tonight’s gazpacho (yes, I realize it’s not really Italian, but we make it every year and it has TOMATOES and it’s RED so I’m including it in the red, green and white theme for tonight). Find the recipe here: Gazpacho. It’s really just one of those that you can tweak however you like. This year we have navy beans instead of garbanzo and basil added and a roasted yellow pepper. No corn.
While the grill was on we roasted up some more squash and nibbled on ‘em.
Then I made the best salad!!!
It was worthy of its own recipe page: Tuna + Cottage Cheese Salad. My friend Justin said yesterday that he loves cottage cheese with tomatoes and tuna. I thought that sounded excellent, and decided corn would make it even better. And then we just kept adding delicious things!
Tuna, cottage cheese, summer squash, tomato, corn, basil, creole seasoning, avocado served over spinach –
With our last box of melbas – these are so good for dipable salads.
And this juicy plum
Shortly after lunch Karen brought over these Figgy Oatmeal Bars she made for a picnic. Perfect ending!! (If you Google the recipe, you’ll probably find it. They are not low-fat and contain lotsa butter, but they are super delish).
Off to put a cold compress on my forehead on the couch 
It’s almoooosst AC time!
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
I have been eating tuna/cottage cheese together for years and people think I am crazy but I find it such a great combo. Glad you think so too!
Never heard of beans in gazpacho but sounds like a nice addition for some thickness, fiber, and protein! Bon apetit.
Hey kath!
gazpacho looks great! im actually in my weight loss stage so im counting calories . . . do you, by any chance, have the calorie math on the gazpacho?
thanks!
I made something similar but with canned salmon instead of tuna.
Looks delicious!
HelpMeghanRun.com
I love summer but I don’t love muggy days!! That figgy bar looks like the perfect lunch dessert!
That gazpacho sounds lovely – especially eaten outdoors with friends!
That salad looks and sounds amazing. I love lots of flavors all thrown together.
I’d never have thought of the cottage cheese/tuna combo! I’ll have to try that salad
That tuna salad combination looks really, really good!
Tuna with cottage cheese is such a good idea! I usually just mix tuna with hummus, but I will definitely try your new version!
Wow, sounds like you had an intense workout with that heat!!! Be sure to take it easy and stay hydrated!
What an awesome way to refuel. That looks SOOO delicious! And I’m totally loving that plum on the side… YUM!
What a great spread of food! I’m thinking I’m going to try out that gazpacho recipe. I used to work at a coffee shop in high school that had hands down, the best gazpacho recipe I’ve ever had – so I’m always looking to try and re-create it. Have a blast at the symphony!
The salad looks great!
I make something a bit similar mixing a can of tuna with diced baked root vegetables, fresh basil, cooked quinoa, chopped tomatoes and avocado, and a pottle of hummus. It’s delicious.
That salad looks amazing! I love everything with cottage cheese so I’ll definitely be trying it out
Thanks for the reminder to make gazpacho! I love making a traditional Spanish one with tomatoes and cucumbers and TONS of spice!
I only started eating fish this year and I’ve been looking ideas on tuna salad, thanks for the cottage cheese idea!
Love the salad! I’ve been mixing cottage cheese with tuna or salmon lately, too. Perfect mayo replacement.
Jenn
Cottage cheese rocks – goes with so many flavors.
Are you at all worried that someone might take your blanket? Unfortunately, where I live…if I left a picnic blanket out at a park unattended, someone will take it away.
I have had a hard time getting into cold soups but that gazpacho looks really good. I might have to try it.
Have always like tuna and cottage cheese. Glad to see I’m not alone. Will have to try your recipe.
I’ve never gotten into cold soups, just can’t wrap my mind around the concept. I’ve had gazpacho and all I can think is, “this would be really good simmered with oregano until the veggies are tender.”
Those fig bars look so good. I love fig anything. I love the tuna tomato cottage cheese idea. I’ll have to play with that and see what I come up with!
you said the magic word – fig.
Oh man! Those Figgy Oatmeal bars look fantastic.
Love the tuna creation.
your lunch looks amazing, and so does your breakfast below — that layer of dark red cherrys … it just makes the meal look irresistible. jealous!!!!! Haha
-Muffy
tuna and cottage cheese-that justin is so smart!
Love love love gazpacho! And BTW, I just Googled “figgy oatmeal bars” and the first recipe that came up was a low fat recipe on the Fat Free Vegan blog. Nice!!
Jen,
I’m sorry I don’t have the math, but it’s pretty low due to no added fats and mostly veggies. I’d estimate at 100 per cup?
Linda ,
There are so many blankets out that a robber wouldn’t know which to choose!! But we always make sure to leave one we don’t care much about.
Kath
I made the tuna salad for lunch today and it was great. I really enjoy reading your posts and I can relate to you so well. Thanks for making me feel normal.