Summer is just around the corner....and I don't know about you, but I don't remember the last time I have been so ready. In many parts of the country (including mine), winter has stretched right on into springtime and warm temperatures sound like a little bit of heaven right now.
In some places, this is the last month of school, and pretty much all of us are in the home stretch until school is out and fun time is in. It's time to gear up for a great summer.
I can't wait for the first long, lingering dinner out on the patio in the backyard complete with kids running around afterwards, taking advantage of evening sunshine and later bedtimes. We've already broken out the grill, making the most of the few warm days we've had, and am looking forward to trying some new stuff this summer: pizza, maybe, or pulled pork. I pretty much wave bye-bye to the oven in May (we don't have air conditioning in our house and the kitchen windows don't have screens, so turning on the oven makes the kitchen a furnace) and we cook everything on the stovetop or the grill.
Or, on the hottest days, we don't cook at all. I make salads of all stripes, like pasta, bean or rice salad with a nice tart dressing that is really refreshing on a hot day. This BLT bread salad from Cooking Light is amazing... save a few calories and skip the cheese, because it's better without it (or, even better, sub in a couple more slices of bacon!). Cold glasses of club soda or iced tea and a yummy frozen treat for dessert rounds everything out.
What's your favorite summertime dinner?
My favorite is BBQ Grilled Chicken and Corn with Potato Salad and Watermelon for desert !
Anything on the grill, so I don't have to heat up the kitchen. Or a big chef salad.
Sounds wonderful!
Quoting heathermichelle:
Burgers, Hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, corn, watermelon, tea and lemonade :)
Steak cooked on the grill, potato salad, corn on the cob, green beans, and a nice dessert.
Anything on the grill or anything I dont have to cook like sandwiches or something.
You're all making me hungry! I'm going to go have a slice of watermelon RIGHT NOW.
Smarter Family: Summer Family Movie Guide
- AmyKuras
on May. 31, 2011 at 12:00 AM