While we don’t do a lot of gardening, I am sure that many of you do.  We just aren’t home enough during the summer to make a garden work!  This is a great way to use those vegetables from your garden. (if you have any extras still…you can send them our way!)

Or don’t feel guilty that you don’t have a garden and go buy some at a local farmers market or your local store!

This recipe that I am going to share is a favorite of our family.  Tim’s mom shared it with me and I in turn want to share it with you. It is super simple and quick and you could really include your kiddos in helping.  Of course, don’t let your kids use knives if you don’t feel comfortable and aren’t watching them. (I can’t believe I even had to say that….just covering myself for when someone decides to have their toddler use the knife and has an accident!–wouldn’t be so good!)

Vegetable Salad

Mix together in a bowl big enough for all of your vegetables:

• 2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup oil
• 3/4 cup sugar (yes a lot of sugar, however it is a in a marinade you aren’t eating it all—or cut it down)
• salt and pepper to desired taste

Then cut up into bite size pieces—tomatoes, green pepper, onion and cucumber.  We usually do one of each of these, but it is totally up to you and you could add other things as well to it.  Add all the vegetables to the marinade in the bowl.  Cover and refrigerate 2-4 hours before serving! Enjoy.  This is best eaten the same day you made it.  Leave it in the fridge overnight and the vegetables get a bit soggy!  Tastey but soggy.

Join other Hearts at Home bloggers and see what their favorite summer recipes are….click on the image below to see!

Here’s a great idea for an easy and cheap meal…Not to mention that your kids will think you are really cool!

Occasionally we have had a really big meal after church on Sundays and not really been ready for another meal in the evening, but needed to eat something. Sometimes, I just can’t come up with a quick meal for lunch during our school days. Here’s where Pig Out comes into play.

The kids named this meal Pig Out. What is Pig Out? I am glad you asked!

Essentially it is a meal of fresh fruit or veggies cut up, cheese, crackers, popcorn etc. (whatever you have on hand) Today for lunch we had popcorn, cheddar and colby jack cheese and crackers. Along with that we had cut up orange slices (can I say super cheap and delicious this time of year?) along with grapes.

Sometimes it has been cucumbers, carrots, celery and peppers with ranch dip and cheese and crackers.

Occasionally, I serve it to them on individual plates like the above photo.  Other times I set the food out on really pretty platters on the middle of the table for everyone to choose exactly what they would like.

It is really whatever you have or are in the mood for. And it is healthy too. Why don’t you try Pig Out this week and see what your kids say!