Keepin your cool in the summer kitchen

Summer is upon us and its getting hot.  This time of year, most of us in the upper hemisphere are thinking of ways to stay cool… everything from going to the beach, creek, lake or pool, to fixing up some cool meals and family treats.  My friend Camille from "Flowers in His Garden" got me inspired by her menu plans and meal ideas last week, and I made up her Idaho Tacos for dinner, which were awesome.  I thought I would pass on the inspiration and write up some summer meal ideas as well.

Keeping cool in the summer can be easier when the oven isn't turned on more than necessary, and the work load of a hearty winter meal is lifted  by quick and easy recipes.  Think of Reducing the use of the oven to once or twice a week, cooking several things at once that can be eaten cold later in the week, such as: Roasting a chicken, a roast beef and a meat loaf or even potatoes in one evening, allowing the left overs for sandwiches or salads through the rest of the week, using the crockpot, stove top and of course, the grill is always a favorite way to take the heat outside.

I liked how Camille made up a meal plan for 3 weeks worth of menu ideas to choose from… rather than a  hard and fast menu for every day.  I work best in that kind of flexibility as well, and decided to just start my list of meal ideas that I can add to as the summer goes on. My Summer cooking focus is usually broken down in these 4 ways:  "quick and easy", "cool and refreshing", "summer abundance" or "outdoor cooking".  So here are some of my meal ideas for the summer. Some of them I make fairly frequently and have posted previously and  some are "Newbies" that I want to try: If I get a chance, I will post a few of the "Newbies" this summer. I would love to hear some of your ideas.  It is always inspiring to hear what other people are making and what they are up to.

Breakfast:

Overnight Oats (I am trying this recipe out this week… and look forward to sharing it).

Yogurt with fruit
Veggie Omelette
French Toast with fresh fruit
Creamy Cottage Cheese and Coconut Pancakes with fresh berries.

Lunch:

Grilled Vegetable Sandwiches/wraps
Cold Vegetable and Hummus Sandwiches/wraps
Vegetable, Fruit, cheese, nut and olive platter
Saddlebag Sandwiches
Curried Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Dinner
On the Grill: Burgers, Steak, Chicken, Fish, and Kebobs
Grilled Pizza (This is delicious, Luke has made it for us on many occasion and mmmm good).
Grilled Steak Salad
Grilled Chicken salad
Asian Salad with Chicken
Fried Rice with Garden Veggies
Barbecue Beef Sandwiches
Angel Hair Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes and basil.
Fish Tacos
Bean Tostadas
Mexican Lettuce Wraps

Sides 
Unbaked beans (Picnic Beans)

Grilled Vegetables
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Layered Fruit and Vegetable Salad
Pasta Salad
3 Bean Salad
Asian Slaw
Vegetable Kebobs

Russian Potato Salad

Desserts
Berry Cream Pie
Ice Box Cakes:Peanut Butter Banana Icebox cake
Almond Joy Chia Pudding
Ice Cream Pies: Key Lime Ice Cream Pie, Chocolate Mocha Ice Cream Pie
Cold Watermelon

Snacks
Fruit Juice Popsicles
Nuts and dried fruit
Fresh Fruit wedges
fresh cut veggies and dip
Olives and cheese
Hummus with Pita chips
Peaches and Cream fruit roll ups

Something Good to Drink
Watermelon Water
homemade ginger tonic
Iced tea with mint

Be sure to share your summer-time favorites....

We all love reading them.