Having lived a lifetime of Arizona summers we’ve compiled a list of our favorite tips, tricks and local spots into a FREE e-book, The LocalLily.com Guide to an {Arizona} Summer that doesn’t Suck. Click HERE to download.

( Link to book is http://goo.gl/l97jQ )

Make the most of the warm weather months with LocalLily.com and Whole Foods Market with inspired ideas to help you survive the summer.

• Pack a cooler with simple summer snacks like locally made Laughing Giraffe Organics granola and discover shady hikes and watering holes where the temps are often 20 degrees cooler just an hour or so outside the city.
• Go underground to discover basement bars, wine cellars and speakeasies where you can cool your core.
• Take a cooking class at your neighborhood Whole Foods Market taught by talented chefs from some of our favorite local restaurants.
• Create your own hydrating mist with a simple recipe from Strawberry Hedgehog.
  I keep them in the fridge, bathroom, in my desk and purse. If you’ve ever lingered by the stunning handmade soap displays than you may be familiar with Strawberry Hedgehog luxury eco-friendly products.

The air may be dry and the heat relentless, but summer doesn’t have to suck.
Visit LocalLily.com or click HERE ( Link to book is http://goo.gl/l97jQ ) to view the Summer Guide on your computer or mobile device. Or text LOCALS to 69302 and view it on your smart phone.

Beets are simple and delicious when roasted with a small amount of olive oil, perhaps from Queen Creek Olive Mill, salt and pepper in a foil packet on the grill or in the oven. The same can be done with a mixture of garlic and cauliflower or green beans with almonds.

Serve with a fresh loaf made by Breadsmith in Mesa and a locally crafted pint from San Tan Brewery in Chandler and your meal is set.

March through May is the time in Arizona when barbeques , garden parties and weddings are in full bloom.  Choosing fresh, consciously made, locally sourced ingredients is a simple guarantee everything will come together beautifully.

I am one-part creator of Locallily.com, a curated list of inspired locally owned businesses.  Living in Arizona affords us generous opportunities to fill our plates with delicious locally sourced foods and our time with inspired experiences. 

 Locallily.com has blossomed to include a growing social community of passionate individuals looking to make meaningful connections with their communities and each other through events and daily interaction.

My neighborhood Whole Foods provide me a simple, satisfying way to fill my fridge with quality, consciously selected staples like produce, beer and wine and baked goods that support my community and state economy.

 www.LocalLily.com, Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @Locallily and register your email address to receive Local Lily news at your inbox.

September brings first of the season apples to our local Whole Foods Markets. Just as much as you can depend on the leaves beginning to fall around this time of year, soft fruit begins to dwindle and makes way for hard fruit to pile prominently in our Produce bins. And among the most popular (and one my personal favorites) of the early season apples – is the Honeycrisp Apple.

Characterized by an exceptionally crisp and juicy texture, it is a cross between the Macoun and Honey Gold apple – a result of the University of Minnesota apple breeding program to develop a winter hardy apple. Combining spicy sweetness with a remarkable crunch, its flavor can be maintained for at least six months in refrigerated storage!

We are celebrating this delectable apple throughout our stores this week in Phoenix as we feature Honeycrisp Apple recipes in our Prepared Foods department – just look for the “Made with Honeycrisp Apple” flags. You might even find some Honeycrisp Apple stuffed meat in select meat departments.

We finally invite you to enjoy our “Dippin’ Demo” on Saturday, October 2nd  from 11:30am-1:30pm where we will be sampling out tastes of the juicy Honeycrisp dipped in caramel, chocolate, and other candied apple treats! Stop by for a little taste of fall!

But in the meantime, we searched on the www.wholefoodsmarket.comwebsite for a Honeycrisp Apple recipe to hold us over till then, and we came up with a sweet Raw Apple Crisp recipe that is perfect for any early fall dessert!

Leave a comment with your favorite Honeycrisp Apple recipe or how you will be using apples in your fall recipes, and you are entered to win a LOCAL Vendor Gift Basket! Filled with the best selections from our valued Arizona Local Vendors…and hey, we will throw a few Honeycrisp Apples in there for you too.

For me, cherry season is always anxiously awaited and highly anticipated. Cherries have a very short growing season and peak in the summer months. For those few glorious months, my fridge is always stocked with cherries. They are the perfect fruit to snack on. Bite-sized, sweet, and not messy. In addition to their delicious taste, they are visually satisfying as well. I love the deep red color of cherries. Another reason I am so partial to cherries is most come from Central Washington, specially Wenatchee, WA. I spent many years in WA and met many close friends from that area, some of whom now work in the cherry industry. It’s beautiful there!

Here is a super fun recipe that I made last year using cherries! It is from our Whole Foods Market website and uses cherries in a very unique way – as bruschetta topping! Enjoy! 

Bruschetta with Cherries – Serves 4

Serve this elegant cherry treat as a snack, dessert or appetizer, or as a fresh summer take on a weekday breakfast.

Ingredients

1/2 pound (about 2 cups) cherries, pitted and halved
1/4 cup lightly packed mint leaves, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons orange juice
4 slices rustic whole wheat bread, toasted
4 ounces fresh goat cheese

Method

In a medium bowl, toss together cherries, mint and orange juice. Spread bread with goat cheese, spoon cherry mixture over the top and serve.

Coconut water is the water taken from a young green coconut at around 7 months. Coconut water has been used for centuries in tropical areas for hydration. It is naturally sweet and low in calories. It is rich in electrolytes which is why many people today use it before, during, or after a workout. It also has 15 times the potassium of a banana. Potassium is helpful in preventing muscle cramping and regulating blood pressure.

During my research of coconut water, I uncovered an interesting fact. Coconut water was used during WWII and Vietnam War as a intravenous solution when IVs were running short. Because the electrolyte levels of Coconut Water are so similar to human blood, it was safe for doctors to insert directly into the blood stream for dehydrated soldiers. I think I’ll stick to drinking it, but I thought that was a great example of how special this beverage is.

I like to think of Coconut Water like nature’s sports drink. It’s like an all natural alternative to some popular brands of sugar ridden, bright red and flourescent green drinks people chug during a hot day or after an intensive workout. And to make it even better, it tastes really good. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a refreshing way to chill out this summer and beyond!

The Whole Foods Market Coffee Juice Bar has Kombucha on Tap for $2.99 - 14 oz, $3.49 – 16 oz, $4.99 – 24 oz. Stop by and sample a taste next time!

Just like the rest of the world, I consider myself to be a busy person which means a few times a week I can’t bare the thought of cooking a meal. So I go out to eat. Vegan meals are not very easy to come by when you are looking to grab something on the go. That is why I am so proud of the Prepared Foods Team here in Tempe. They have created a new program, Pleasin’ The Vegan!

Pleasin’ The Vegan gives our customers that like to enjoy vegan cuisine a chance to get a full plate of food for only $8.99. You get a vegan protein, vegan starch based salad, and vegan vegetable salad all on one plate! My Pleasin’ The Vegan meal today consisted of Gardein Chili Lime Breast (protein), Spicy Udon Noodles (starch based), and Wasabi Roasted Asparagus (vegetable based). It was real good - and filling!

The name of the program definitely applies to vegans and non-vegans… I am pleased.