Summertime Foods

It is summertime here and boy it is hot! We’ve had hotter weather the last week or so than I remember having the past couple of years. Maybe I just didn’t notice??

hot, humid

 

June 25 1
Taken in the shaded carport around 3:30 PM, June 25.

 

June 25 2
Taken in the sun around 3:40 PM, June 25.

So along with summer heat comes the desire to come up with other options than cooking in the kitchen and heating up house. Around here, the old cabin-style houses (called dog trot houses) had breezeways between the kitchen and the sleeping quarters. I totally get it.

Corn is one of my favorite summertime foods! I personally like white corn better than yellow but I’ll eat any of them. We grew up eating tomato sandwiches and chocolate milk with our corn-on-the-cob meals. That’s still one of my favorite summer meals!

fall 2012

 

Something else we use to eat in the summer was a cold strawberry soup. You chill milk and add a little sugar. Just before serving, tear bread into little chunks and add to milk. Add chopped fresh strawberries. Some folks like bananas too but me … not so much. We’d often having fried/baked chicken or something like that to eat with it.

 

Another fun thing to do is make an all-grilled supper. These pictures are from a few years back but are good inspiration for me.

steak supper 5 b

Dice potatoes and toss with seasonings and make a foil pack. Takes about 10-15 min. on a hot grill.

steak supper 1 b

steak supper 3 b

steak supper 2 b

Olive oil, seasonings and veggies! Yum!

steak supper 16 b

Add your favorite marinated and grilled meat and you’ll have a complete meal.

This past weekend I made tin-foil meals on the grill. Butter tin foil or use a pie pan (or 2). Add a leaf or 2 of cabbage. Slice potatoes, carrots, onions and place over cabbage. Season with salt and pepper. Top with raw, seasoned hamburger, or marinated boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, add some sausage for good flavor. Seal with foil and grill on medium heat for 20-30 minutes. Add a little shredded cheese when you remove the foil.

I also get tired of water but am trying to stay away from soda and other sweetened drinks. One alternative that I like is buying club soda or sparkling water and add fruit concentrate. Pineapple is one of my favorites!

Summer Foods-2

Summer Foods-5

Summer Foods-10

It’s a carbonated drink but with a (bit of a) healthier twist

 

If I do drink actual soda, my favorite is this brand:
Sarasota-98

 

What are your favorite light meals, or keep-the-kitchen-cool meals?