Summer dinner ideas?

[spinbaby]

So I’m going to the grocery store tomorrow and I’m trying to come up with dinner ideas for the next few nights, so I can make a list. I’m just not feeling inspired and nothing really sounds good to eat over this warm holiday weekend.

Give me your summertime dinner ideas, keeping in mind that I don’t grill.

[irisblue]

1. If you can get good tomatoes,

NE Ralieghs' gazpacho is excellent. It's in the recipe file at the top of the group.
How hot is it supposed to be? I do cold soups in summer.

[spinbaby]

4. No good tomatoes yet

We’ll start seeing local tomatoes in July.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Here's a few quick and easy ones

Pasta primavera (my version) - listed with a proposed ingredients list

If any sound good, I will fill out the recipes

sweet onions, sweet peppers, summer squash, sugar snap peas, asparagus, swiss chard, garlic, olive oil, spaghetti, red pepper flakes, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese

Summer Veggie Frittata

pretty much the ingredients above - except add eggs

Pasta with cherry tomato pesto

cherry tomatoes, toasted almonds, garlic, olive oil, basil, parmesan, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, spaghetti

Easy summer gazpacho

Flavorful tomatoes, olive oil, cucumbers, sherry vinegar, salt, pepper, basil - uses an immersion blender (so easy)

[spinbaby]

6. Veggie frittata sounds good

And you can serve it at room temperature

[Ohiogal]

3. Tuna salad.

My go-to meal in hot weather.

Mix a can of tuna, drained (I prefer albacore packed in water) with diced onion, diced celery, diced green pepper, cooked elbow macaroni, and mayo. Serve on a lettuce leaf if you want to get fancy.

[spinbaby]

5. Sounded good until you got to macaroni

[irisblue]

7. Thai style tuna on lettuce leaves

Several recipes in google. I use a to taste mix of 1/3 c rice vinegar(gotta be rice b/c of lower acidity %) splash of sesame oil, red pepper flakes, 1-2 T granulated sugar, placed in a lidded jar, shake like crazy, pour over drained & flaked albacore tuna
In lettuce roll ups, on crackers or over rice.

[spinbaby]

8. Mmmmm

Sounds intriguing

[irisblue]

9. Okay, I checked my cook book

I've got the proportions right on the liquids. I've put cukes cut into coins, shredded carrots, sweet peppers and pre shredded cabbage into the mix, just upping the amounts of liquids.

[Ohiogal]

10. You could leave it out.

[Freddie]

11. Tacos or chicken fajitas

Of course tacos are best with real summer tomatoes. Tonight I made chicken fajitas with the Old El Paso kit and frozen pepper & onion mix, was yummy and no heating up the oven.
Egg salad on a crusty roll or multigrain bread. Not a huge whole-wheat fan but the sweetness goes well with egg salad.

[Vinca]

12. I've got an idea in my head for a Mexican chicken salad. I plan to try it tomorrow.

I'm going to use a store rotisserie chicken pulled into bits, add some chopped red onion, black olives, maybe some chopped red pepper, some rinsed black beans and maybe a little corn. For the sauce to mix it with I'm thinking mayo mixed with some salsa, a chopped jalapeno and some chopped fresh cilantro. I'll put it on a bed of lettuce and surround it with tomatoes. I might slice an avocado to put on the top. I'm still "designing." LOL.

[irisblue]

13. Denninmi turkey/chicken salad. I've made this and enjoyed it.like this a lot, and it is so easy. N

"We like this a lot, and it is so easy.

No specific measurements, I just do it by sight, but this should work.

2 cups cooked turkey or chicken, cubed
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced mild onion
1 can sliced water chestnuts drained
1 cup fruit of your choice - mandarin oranges, pineapple, grapes, apricots, mango, pear, apple, sweet cherries, strawberries all work.
1/2 cup dried cranberries or dried tart cherries
1/2 cup pecans or almonds

Dressing: 1/2 cup mayo or salad dressing
1/2 cup yogurt or sour cream
2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
Ginger, salt and pepper to taste, plus a little bit of garlic powder. "

[smirkymonkey]

14. I make a great salad, but it's more of a side dish. Could be a meal though.

It's avocado, black bean, cherry tomato, cilantro, red onion, white corn all tossed in a lime cilantro agave dressing. It goes well with anything grilled - fish, chicken, etc. You can google the dressing recipe - I usually just wing it.

[Marthe48]

15. Chef salad

I make mine with a mix of lettuce, 1 or 2 meats (chicken or turkey and ham are good choices, or one of these, with bacon bits) tomatoes, cukes, sweet onion, and hard eggs, then sprinkle with cheese and croutons. I like bleu cheese on mine as well. I use individual dinner plates, as many as I need for dinner. Usually ranch or blue cheese dressing is fine. If I don't have tomatoes, I use French or 1000 Island and have crackers instead of croutons.

Here is a recipe for croutons: 2 or 3 slices of stale bread, 1 tbs butter for each slice, garlic powder or garlic salt, parmesan cheese
Large skillet, baking sheet.

Preheat the oven to 375. Cube the bread. Melt the butter in a large skillet and add the garlic and salt. When the butter is melted, turn off the heat and put all of the bread in at once. Stir quickly so the butter coats the bread. When all the butter is absorbed, remove the bread cubes to the baking sheet and spread into a single layer. Sprinkle with parmesan. Put them in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes, center rack. Stir after 10 minutes and return for another 2 minutes, but watch them. Remove from the oven and cool. Use on any salad. I think white bread is better to make these.