Quick & Easy Summer Meals

[mamabot]

Time to hit the grocery store on the way home for a couple of quick and easy meals for the next couple of nights. Do you have any recipes you would like to share? Old standbys that reduce prep time, keep the heat down in the kitchen, or are general simple to throw together?

[Morrigoon]

Bruschetta
Chop up some Roma tomatoes (I suggest first slicing them in half and cleaning out the seed gunk, but not vital), shred some fresh basil, chop up some garlic and combine in a bowl with some olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.

Variations: can also include chopped red onion or freshly grated parmesan cheese. OR, the best variation: add some balsamic vinegar!!!

Put that on toasted baguette slices.

[MTNGIRL]

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken.

Marinate the chicken in the 30 minute Teriyaki marinade, grill, when almost done, top with a tomato slice and swiss cheese. Continue grilling until cheese is slightly melted.
Serve with long grain rice and watermelon.

[Hyperbole]

I haven't come up with a name for this recipie yet, so I'll call it:

Balsamic Chicken Salad

Roughly chop 2-3 pre-cooked chicken breasts.
Cook one bag of broccoli, cauliflower and carrot mix for about 1/2 the time you usually would.
Slice 2-3 zuccini's
Roughly chop 1 maui onion and 1/2 a bunch of celery.

Mix all of the above in a large bowl. Add 3 cloves of garlic, minced.

Toss all ingredients with Newman's Own Balsamic Vinegrette to taste. I sometimes add a little extra balsamic and a dash or two of sea salt.

Chill over night and enjoy the next day!!!

[mamabot]

A, that recipe sounds soooo yummy!

Maybe I will do a salad theme this week.

[PrincessY]

That does sound good (well, except for the garlic - I'll leave that out.)

Great thread idea! I never know what to make in the summer.

[CinderellaPrincess]

I love my Mom's macaroni salad:

1 bag small elbow macaroni (cooked and drained)
2-3 stalks of celery - chopped into bite size pieces
1/2 lb cheese (any kind) chopped into bite size pieces
2 cans chopped black olives (drained)
1/2 cup pickle relish - depending on taste you can add more
3-4 chicken breasts* (broiled and cut up into bite size pieces)

*You can also substitute w/ a few cans of the canned chicken too (drained)

Combine all above in large bowl
Add:
Mayo (i just glop and stir until you get the consistency you want)
and salt & pepper

Stick in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight

It's a great summer salad and soo simple but with the chicken, it's pretty filling.
You can eat off of it for days as long as it's stored in an air tight container.

Enjoy!

[aimster]

Skillet Sensations. You can do them in the microwave in half the time (11-12 minutes) and tastes the same as if you cooked it on the stove.

[Disneykat]

Pasta salad:

Cook 1lb box of rainbow Rotelle

drain with cold water until cool

add the following veggies chopped:

Carrots
celery
cucumber
roma tomatoes
olives
broccoli
cheese cubes
salami cubes
red and yellow peppers

toss and add 8oz italian dressing, toss again. Add 1 cup parmesean cheese...tosss and enjoy

[SCUBAbe]

i make soup...i eat it either warm or cold...boil veggies along with one or two potatos in chicken stock, season to taste.....when all veggies are soft blend with an immersion blnder, or regular blender...my fovorits is artichoke soup, but i make it with any veggie thats handy...works great for leftover veggies..

[Joshrzmeup]

My secret: kraftfoods.com

They have everything for every season and occasion. Instructions are easy to follow and the pictures alone make your mouth water.

[dsnylndmom]

DKat that's close to my recipe for pasta salad

1 box Rainbow Rotellle
1 box or bag cheese tortellini
Red onion, sliced into rings
black olives
artichoke hearts chopped
Cherry tomatoes halved
Cubes of salami
cubes of mozzarella cheese

cook pasta, let cool

Toss all ingredients with your favorite italian dressing(I like Kraft Free Zesty Italian)
top with fresh grated Parm

[Hakuna Makarla]

grilled chicken.....
boil chicken until tender, put on the grill for 10 minutes each side ( on low) slather with honey, mustard, brown sugar mixture. and cook until golden brown. yummy!!
corn on the cob, just clean, put in butter, wrap in foil and add to the grill. done when the chicken is done.

[pixywingz]

thinly sliced grilled chicken breasts...or salmon
marinated artichoke hearts...(undrained)
sundried tomatoes
olives of your choice (i use katamala)
hard parmesean cheese
pasta of choice
fresh garlic


cook up pasta
toss all other ingredients into a bowl, mix well
grab a loaf of crusty sourdough & enjoy!

[pixywingz]

okay..but don't forget to grate the cheese...left that part out! haha!