There’s so much to love about cooking during the summer. There’s an abundance of fresh veggies to choose from, and it’s the perfect season for outdoor grilling. When it’s too hot to think about turning that oven on in the house, some of our favorite recipes for summer are so easy that they’ll keep you out of the kitchen and out in the sunshine. The weather is perfect for eating outdoors too, and mealtime just seems to get a lot more casual. Be sure to treat yourself to a glass of something chilly — you deserve it.
To make summer meal planning easy, think about having theme nights where you dedicate each day of the week to a type of food. The simplest form of this idea is to make a list of types of main dishes for each day. For example:
- Sunday– soup and sandwiches
- Monday– meatless dish
- Tuesday– taco Tuesday
- Wednesday– ground beef dish
- Thursday – pasta, etc.
- Friday – pizza
- Saturday – leftovers
Since Summer is all about basking in the sunshine, handheld meals are all the more appealing. Kids and adults alike will love eating these juicy tacos, which are mostly cooked in the crockpot, keeping the kitchen cool and comfortable. https://bit.ly/3gIXo8W
Chilled pasta salad, with crunchy cucumber, practically begs to be eaten next to the pool. I love a cold pasta salad on a hot day! The slight sweetness with the tang of vinegar makes this the perfect summer meal accompaniment. https://bit.ly/32W5t1y
Classic chicken salad gets a summery update with Bellisari's Barista Sauce, corn, black beans, and crunchy jicama. This salad is perfect served poolside — with a cold beer for you and lemonade for the little ones. https://bit.ly/3dSWJQa
Add some summer veggies to this recipe if you want quesadillas with a little more than just tortillas and cheese. Shredded chicken gives a protein boost; plus, kids will love eating these with their hands after a day of playing outside! https://bit.ly/32PQ579
If you've been searching for a kid-friendly way to make seasonal zucchini, look no further than this idea for a pizza bite. Bellisari’s Calabrian and Sweet Tomato Fennel Spread, Balsamic Shallot & Black Garlic Spread and Barista Sauce are the perfect pairings to go with your summer garden zucchini harvest. https://bit.ly/3sWI0Iv
Finally, enjoy Summer sweet corn in its prime in this delicious, easy-to-make soup. The secret to this flavorful corn and potato soup is to keep adding salt, about 1/4 teaspoon at a time, and taste until you notice a jump in the corny flavor. Enjoy! https://bit.ly/2S8Na7t
With days full of activities and fun, it can be easy to forget about dinner planning in the busy summer months. However, I love summertime, and the fact is that I am grateful to live in a place with farm stands, weather for summer gardening, and availability of many yummy finds all summer long!
