Summertime Foods – Keeping It Cool In The Kitchen
Easy, quick, delicious summertime food ideas! No cook, or at least very little cooking involved. Can’t go wrong there, right!? – At least not as long as everything tastes fantastic!
Every family will have their common seasonal foods – and I love learning from other families! These are just a few of the ideas from my kitchen – when I’m trying to keep it cool.
Salads
SALAD is almost a synonym for summer! What types of tasty salads do you throw together during warmer months? This basic idea for Black Bean And Sweet Corn Salad can be changed up and seasoned differently – but I must say I’m a huge fan of lemon juice (even better: lime!) and cilantro in the summertime!
One of my all time favorites is cucumber / tomato salad with olive oil, garlic, salt, and balsamic vinegar – just enough to complement these beautiful summertime veggies. To give it a little more hardiness just throw in some fresh mozzarella!
Smoothies
Absolutely! My family cheers when I tell them we’re having smoothies for dinner. I used to do smoothies with mainly juice, frozen berries, peanut butter, and yogurt. In the last year, though we’ve been using our Probiotic Milk Kefir and I know I’m giving everyone something so nutritious and healthy for them! And no cooking? WIN WIN!!!!
Hummus
Hummus – it’s not just a snack anymore! That’s right. Busy evenings here, when we are trying to take advantage of extra late daylight hours and knock out projects on the farm that have been waiting patiently – I’ve been known to pull out a batch of hummus and lots of veggies and some sort of flat bread to scoop and it’s protein and fiber packed!
Veggie Sandwich
Oh yes. This is another item that says summer! I like to put green onion, or chives or herbs in my cream cheese, and pile on the favorites! I love dill in the summer and my cucumbers grow faster than we can consume!
Pasta Salad
So many possibilities! What is your favorite pasta salad variation??? I love stumbling onto a great salad invention and Buffalo Wing Pasta Salad is AMAZING! I like being able to cook some pasta up ahead and have it in the refrigerator waiting for me.
Falafel
Very little cooking with falafel and it makes a green salad so much more interesting! I generally use whatever veggies are growing great – my favorite combo is zucchini, kale, chickpeas,cilantro, and garlic – everything gets pulsed coarsely in the food processor then add bread crumbs and eggs to desired consistency. Pressed patties should hold together as you brown each side.
Dipping Oil and Bruschetta
Definitely not a meal, but so incredibly delicious. Customize the flavor using your favorite herbs – and nothing tastes like summer quite like herbs!
Here’s to summertime! Leave a comment with your creative ways you keep things cool in the kitchen! We want to learn from you 🙂
Love it!
Thank you Susanne… we always appreciate the feedback. 🙂
That all looks amazing. I hate heating up the kitchen when it’s hot outside.
Ellen Christian recently posted…Carrot and Bok Choy Slaw Recipe & 13 Slaw Recipes
Thank you for the feedback Ellen – sometimes I get desperate to avoid heat. What am I doing living in the south!!?? :}
Oh, great recipes! Right now I’m all about the pasta salads, I can’t get enough!
Tammi @ My Organized Chaos recently posted…Memorable Birthdays
Tammi – What’s your fav combo for pasta salad???
What a great collection of recipes. I can’t wait to try the Black Bean And Sweet Corn Salad.
Thanks Daisy – I’d love to hear any dependable summer items you use to keep it cool!!!
So excited for summer foods.
Me too April! It was a loooong winter!
I keep cool by still using the crockpot in the summer- set it and walk away!
Great idea Chelley. Were huge crockpot fans too 🙂
Great recipe ideas. I hate turning on my oven in the dead of summer.
Janel (A Mom’s Take) recently posted…Baby Essentials Kit & List
I refuse Janel. Hope your staying cool in this heat. Thanks for stopping by.
That’s what summer is all about, cool lunches and easy summer meals. Looks delicious!!!
kristin recently posted…Staying Fit This Summer with New Silk Almond Protein + Fiber
Totally agree Kristin. Cool Lunches and easy summer meals.
I love cool eating too! I will have to try a veggie sandwich once my garden starts to produce.
Amy Desrosiers recently posted…Pesto Parmesan Grilled Steak and Spinach Salad
Hi Amy, Ours is finally giving up cucumbers and tomatoes. Your Spinach Salad sounded amazing too 🙂 I can’t wait til our Spinach is ready.
pasta salad is one of my favorites it is always so yummy!
susan recently posted…Hub Network to Air Transformers Marathon on Fourth of July!!!
Pasta is always a hit here Susan. I love Summertime and the simple and easy ways.
All of these recipes look amazing. I love the hummus dip for sure!
Thank you Nancy. You can never go wrong with hummus 🙂
Any of these recipes will make a great summertime treat. The veggie sandwich is first on my list.
Courtney recently posted…Summer DVD Spectacular Giveaway (Ends 7/22)
That’s what I had for dinner tonight Courtney a Tomato and cucumber sandwich. So good 🙂
I love foods that don’t heat up the kitchen in the summer. My daughter puts hummus on everything, so she would definitely agree with that suggestion!
Your daughter sounds like all 3 of mine Pam. They are expert hummus makers and lovers haha 🙂
The Buffalo Wing Pasta Salad recipe looks so good. What an interesting combination. Thanks for sharing. I am going to add it to my must make list.
Hi Ann. I think you will find the flavor combination wonderful. Please let us know you liked it 🙂
Oh my goodness, that buffalo pasta salad sounds and looks so amazing. Would be perfect for the 4th! thanks so much for sharing!
Your welcome Shauna. It’s truly delicious. I hope you let us know how you liked it 🙂
We eat lots of pasta salads in our house in the summer time. I try to change it up depending on the meal, but either way – pasta salad is perfect in the summer.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) recently posted…The Pepper Grove Playground at Balboa Park, San Diego
I agree Robin. You can never go wrong with pasta salads.
Exactly what I needed! I’m doing any and everything to try and keep my stove and oven OFF! Thanks for sharing these. They all look yummy, and will be put to good use!
Sarah @ Must Have Mom recently posted…Sunscreen Tips For Summer!
Your welcome. I’m with you Oven off. Cool on 🙂
We do a lot of dinners like these in the summers. Who wants to heat up the house? Not me! We actually love doing smoothies for dinners when it’s been an especially warm day.
Amber Edwards recently posted…Hickory Smoked Grilled Salmon perfect camping recipe + Gourmet Grillware Giveaway!
I’m glad to see we are not alone. Dog days of summer means keeping it cool.
I love not being able to make something with out turning on oven. These look good.
Tess recently posted…Tuesday Things
Me too Tess. Too hot to cook. 🙂 and Summertime requires fresh 🙂
I love bruschetta! It’sgreat for dipping, and using as an ingredient!
valmg @ From Val’s Kitchen recently posted…20 Picnic Sweets And Sides – #Recipes From @foodie #ad
My tomatoes are slowly ripening… i can’t wait til we are swimming in bruschetta Val!!! 🙂
Oh the black bean and corn salad looks amazing!
Christine recently posted…Baby Essentials Kit & List
Thanks Christine… I haven’t made it in a while. I’m really loving lemon and lime in salads in recent years.
How’s about I come over for dinner a few times a week? 😉 Everything looks outstanding, and I’ve never tried falafel. I want to!
Liz Mays recently posted…Guilty Pleasures: My Top 5 Summer Reads
Come on over Liz!!!!!! I need to do some falafel – I have so much lettuce I need to use. I find no one even feels like they’re eating salad when I do falafel. hahaha!
These are great recipes. The falafel sounds like something I’d love. I’ve never tried but will be for sure!
Racquel recently posted…4th of July Recipes – Red, White, and Blue Buffalo Chicken Dip
Thanks, Racquel. Falafel is one of those things I embarked on with a doubting mindset. But it really is so easy and tasty!!!
I love veggie sandwiches and fresh summer tomato and cheese sandwiches. Thanks for sharing at the #WWDParty.
Antionette Blake recently posted…Peachy Polka Dots | Fashion After Fifty
Absolutely Antoinette! Thank you for stopping by!!!
Yum. I love nice refreshing salads in the summer.
I agree salads make the most refreshing meals 🙂