Tasty summer recipes? We had a good one tonight...

[Stacia]

I think there have been some threads on good summer recipes, but I thought I'd start another one. :lol: Anyone have some good, simple summer recipes to share? (I need easy because I'm not a good cook.)

 

Tonight we had Lime Butter Tilapia with Tropical Pineapple Slaw, served with a Tropical Fruit Tray with Mango Cream Dipping Sauce. :drool5: It was a hit. Easy prep, tasty, & very summery. Copied & pasted my recipes below (along w/ my notes of how I'll modify it next time). FYI, this is for a family of four. We had some slaw & fruit left over, so we'll probably pick up the other ingredients do a repeat tomorrow night to finish off the leftovers.

 

----------------------------------------

Lime Butter Tilapia with Tropical Pineapple Slaw

Modified from Clean Eating, April/May 2014 issue, page 73

 

Ingredients:

¼ red onion, thinly sliced (soak in cold water for 10+ min. before adding to other ingredients)

4 tilapia filets (original recipe called for 1 lb. cod filets, skin on, in four equal pieces)

½ tsp sea salt (¼ tsp for fish; ¼ tsp for slaw) – next time, need to add more to fish

¼ tsp chipotle chile powder – next time, need to add more to both fish & slaw

¼ tsp ground cumin

2 tsp olive oil (or safflower)

1 small jicama, peeled and cut in to matchsticks

¼ fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut in to matchsticks

1 tsp lime zest (skipped this)

2 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped

2 Tbsp fresh lime juice (for slaw)

2 tsp fresh lime juice (for fish)

2 tsp organic unsalted butter

 

Recipe:

• Ahead of time, prepare slaw: In medium bowl combine jicama, pineapple, lime zest, 2 Tbsp lime juice, cilantro, onion, & ¼ tsp salt and 1 pinch chile powder. Toss to combine & then refrigerate.

  To try next time:

  -- Definitely add more spices, including trying ginger & cayenne pepper.

  -- Add some shredded cabbage.

  -- Add a little bit of mayo &/or sour cream &/or plain yogurt to make it just a wee bit creamy.

• Season fish with ¼ tsp (or more) each of salt, chile powder, & cumin. Next time: add more spices.

• In a medium skillet, heat oil on medium.

• Add fish & cook undisturbed until golden brown (a few minutes). If using cod, cook skin side down.

• Carefully flip the fish and cook for a couple more minutes. To skillet, add 2 tsp lime juice and 2 tsp butter & cook until the butter melts. With a spoon, baste fish by spooning butter mixture over top. Cook until fish is done. Serve with slaw. An additional side dish is a tropical fruit tray with mango cream dipping sauce. Another possibility might be some type of sweet potato fries.

---------------------------------------- Mango Cream (with Tropical Fruit Tray)

Modified from http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tropical-fruit-with-mango-cream-10000000352529/

• Makes 3 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 mango, peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon Kirsch (optional – I left this out)
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp sugar (I used powdered sugar)
• 1 cup whipping cream (I used canned ReddiWip :tongue_smilie:)
• Tropical fruits, sliced (see list in step 3 below)

Prep:

• Process first 4 ingredients in a blender 1 minute or until pureed. Pour puree into a serving bowl; stir in sugar.
• Beat whipping cream at medium speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. (Do not overbeat.) Fold whipped cream into mango puree, using a knife to swirl into a marbled effect. Since I used ReddiWip, I whisked the puree & cream together until smooth.
• Serve with a tropical fruit tray: 2 mangoes; 2 nectarines; 3 kiwi; 1 qt. strawberries; 1 pineapple; 1 honeydew melon, &/or other fruits. Drizzle fruit with ¾ cup orange juice, if desired. (I did not drizzle with orange juice.)

[jenn-]

Sounds like a nice and healthy meal.

[Miss Peregrine]

Yum! And I love jicama.

[Reefgazer]

Mmmmm, I know what I;m cooking for dinner next week!  Thanks for the idea!

 

I think there have been some threads on good summer recipes, but I thought I'd start another one. :lol:  Anyone have some good, simple summer recipes to share? (I need easy because I'm not a good cook.)

 

Tonight we had Lime Butter Tilapia with Tropical Pineapple Slaw, served with a Tropical Fruit Tray with Mango Cream Dipping Sauce.  :drool5:  It was a hit. Easy prep, tasty, & very summery. Copied & pasted my recipes below (along w/ my notes of how I'll modify it next time). FYI, this is for a family of four. We had some slaw & fruit left over, so we'll probably pick up the other ingredients do a repeat tomorrow night to finish off the leftovers.

 

----------------------------------------

Lime Butter Tilapia with Tropical Pineapple Slaw

Modified from Clean Eating, April/May 2014 issue, page 73

 

Ingredients:
¼ red onion, thinly sliced (soak in cold water for 10+ min. before adding to other ingredients)
4 tilapia filets (original recipe called for 1 lb. cod filets, skin on, in four equal pieces)
½ tsp sea salt (¼ tsp for fish; ¼ tsp for slaw) – next time, need to add more to fish
¼ tsp chipotle chile powder – next time, need to add more to both fish & slaw
¼ tsp ground cumin
2 tsp olive oil (or safflower)
1 small jicama, peeled and cut in to matchsticks
¼ fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut in to matchsticks
1 tsp lime zest (skipped this)
2 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped

2 Tbsp fresh lime juice (for slaw)

2 tsp fresh lime juice (for fish)
2 tsp organic unsalted butter

Recipe:

1. Ahead of time, prepare slaw: In medium bowl combine jicama, pineapple, lime zest, 2 Tbsp lime juice, cilantro, onion, & ¼ tsp salt and 1 pinch chile powder. Toss to combine & then refrigerate.
   To try next time:
   -- Definitely add more spices, including trying ginger & cayenne pepper.
   -- Add some shredded cabbage.
   -- Add a little bit of mayo &/or sour cream &/or plain yogurt to make it just a wee bit creamy.
    
2. Season fish with ¼ tsp (or more) each of salt, chile powder, & cumin. Next time: add more spices.
    
3. In a medium skillet, heat oil on medium.
    
4. Add fish & cook undisturbed until golden brown (a few minutes). If using cod, cook skin side down.
    
5. Carefully flip the fish and cook for a couple more minutes. To skillet, add 2 tsp lime juice and 2 tsp butter & cook until the butter melts. With a spoon, baste fish by spooning butter mixture over top. Cook until fish is done. Serve with slaw. An additional side dish is a tropical fruit tray with mango cream dipping sauce. Another possibility might be some type of sweet potato fries.

----------------------------------------

Mango Cream (with Tropical Fruit Tray)

Modified from http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tropical-fruit-with-mango-cream-10000000352529/

• Makes 3 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 mango, peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon Kirsch (optional – I left this out)
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp sugar (I used powdered sugar)
• 1 cup whipping cream (I used canned ReddiWip :tongue_smilie:)
• Tropical fruits, sliced (see list in step 3 below)

Prep:

1. Process first 4 ingredients in a blender 1 minute or until pureed. Pour puree into a serving bowl; stir in sugar.
2. Beat whipping cream at medium speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. (Do not overbeat.) Fold whipped cream into mango puree, using a knife to swirl into a marbled effect. Since I used ReddiWip, I whisked the puree & cream together until smooth.
3. Serve with a tropical fruit tray: 2 mangoes; 2 nectarines; 3 kiwi; 1 qt. strawberries; 1 pineapple; 1 honeydew melon, &/or other fruits. Drizzle fruit with ¾ cup orange juice, if desired. (I did not drizzle with orange juice.)

 

 

[Alessandra]

***Chickpea Salad

 

Chickpeas, canned ok, rinse well

Red peppers

Scallions

Parsley, lots

Basil

Kalamata olives, no pits, optional

Vinaigrette dressing OR olive oil & lemon juice

 

***Roasted Corn Salad

 

Trader Joe's roasted corn, in freezer section

TJ roasted red peppers, in jars

Black beans, canned ok, rinse well

Red onion or scallions

Cilantro

Lime juice and olive oil

 

***Spinach Salad with Sausage

Flat leaved spinach, with small leaves that wilt easily

Red pepper

Mushrooms

Scallions

Good sausage, we like Aidell's chicken-apple

 

Cook peppers, mushrooms, scallions in olive oil

Pour veggies and cooking oil over spinach to wilt it

Sprinkle with a little balsamic vinegar

Meanwhile have sausage cooking in cast iron pan, takes about 10 minutes

[Chris in VA]

These are yummy-sounding recipes!

 

Yesterday, I made a strawberry/avocado/mango pico de gallo that was a big hit at my class. It would easily double.

 

 

 

I also made very simple brie, apple and pecan crescent roll apps. You just wrap a slice of apple (about 1/2 inch to 1 in), a couple of pecans (can use pieces--maybe a T?), and a small slice of brie (maybe, 1/4 X 1.5 inches or so?) in a crescent roll (Pillsbury-type dough). Oh, and drizzle about a tsp of honey over it before wrapping. Bake 12 mins or until golden. Brie will leak a bit, but it's ok. These are really yummy, IMO. A couple of them with a salad would make a nice lunch.