Hilltopmom Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I'm already tired of hotdogs & burgers. My other, boring go- to meals are: Egg salad Sandwiches Tacos Salad bar Chicken, sausage, or salmon on grill Pasta salad What are your family favorites for summer meals? Help me shake it up. Bonus points for EASY & quick ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Ice cream supper. It is summertime right? 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 (edited) Seriously, I am in the same slump. Grilled chicken and lettuce are all too common here these days. I need to look for my list of good marinaded salads that I can keep in the fridge in Mason jars. Edited June 21, 2017 by Seasider 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 anything grilled I just bought a smoker. Only used it once, but YUM salads I do miss pasta and potato salad. I've replaced those with broccoli and cauliflower salads using similar dressings and that has been pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I grilled chicken, peppers, and onions the other day, then added guac to make fajitas. Tonight I'm taking salmon cakes and lentil salad, but that's not much of a summer dinner because I use the oven. I have to admit, we eat the same things over and over. Grilled something, some kind of salad, occasionally some kind of starch. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeLovePassion Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 This is really good. Definitely needs the beans to be a main dish. http://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/2013/04/crunchy-cashew-thai-quinoa-salad-with-ginger-peanut-dressing/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Pulled pork in the instant pot or crock pot. That can be BBQ with slaw and buns for the kids, then the leftovers get some Mexi-ish seasoning and crisped in a skillet for carnitas. Different kinds of burgers. Chicken can have feta and spinach added. Or cheddar and buffalo sauce. Or Asian seasoning (don't use fresh ginger in ground meat.). Turkey is versatile too. Different kinds of sausages. Brats (check Aldi for several different kinds). Smoked sausages. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 BLT's (I could eat these all summer long, especially with homemade bread) cold black bean, corn, tomato, onion type salad sweet corn (this is a meal all itself, just serve with copius amounts of fresh butter) salads (really you can change this up so much, different bases, lettuce, pasta, tortillini, quinoa, rice, shredded kale/brussel sprouts, coleslaw, different flavors, italian, chinese, mexican, differnt meats/cheeses) I just mix up a bowl of something twice a week but it's never the same twice. veggie and dip with cheese sausage and crackers makes a nice easy meal for those hot days that take a toll on the appetites. even tacos can be varied so you don't feel like you are eating the same thing, sometimes I use ground beef, sometimes chicken, lentils, shredded pork, fish etc), use different spices, don't just stick with the same prepackaged mix, you can use the taco, but also try bbq or ranch or cajun, or chipolte etc to flavor the meat try different serve with a different starch each time hard shells, soft shells, lettuce wrap, over rice, over quinoa, Rather than just serving hamburgers in hamburger buns try pits pockets or naan bread, slice of artisan bread etc. use different kinds of cheese, mix different veggies/spices into the meat, stuff the burger with bacon etc. We do many of the same categories that you have but by dressing them up differently it doesn't feel like I'm eating the same things over and over again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baseball mom Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Ice cream supper. It is summertime right? :hurray: And cereal :thumbup: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 DS is smoking some salmon today. mmm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I have more time to cook in summer than during the activity-packed school year, and it's not insanely hot here usually, so I'm going through cookbooks and finding new stuff to try. We had Pioneer Woman's BBQ meatballs last night (with two more nights of the same in the freezer) and that was new and a nice change for us. I have 3 more earmarked from her Dinner cookbook. Now I'm going through the slow-cooker recipe book I picked up at the library book sale in February and there are some bean dishes I want to try. First up will be a Frijoles Charra or something like that--cowboy beans. I may make flour tortillas to go with, maybe quesadillas or grilled chicken. Summer is grilling season here because we can't grill from November-March. Try some grilled pizza if you've never done that--so good! A lot like wood-fired pizza. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 grilled pork tenderloin or salmon or chx or steak. I prep 3 proteins and grill all at one session. We do lots of main dish salads with a grilled meat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Sadly, lately it's been too many nights of eating some kind of quick meal/fast food as we rush from swimming to some other activity. When I get my act together it's usually salad plus something grilled. Other favorites when I'm even more together: Hummus and rice Fritters Zucchini fritters (grate zucchini, add some kind of binder and make into cakes, gently fry in pan) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendedforecast Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 You listed chicken as an option, and someone else said it was boring. My neighbor told me to rub a small squirt of Dijon mustard on each chicken breast, ( it doesn't have to be chicken breast – I do this with tenders and leg quarters as well) and season with salt and pepper. I tried it and it was delicious. My kids loved it too. Sometimes we grill the chicken, sometimes I cook it in the electric skillett, and sometimes I throw it in the oven. It's another option for when ordinary chicken gets too boring. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 You listed chicken as an option, and someone else said it was boring. My neighbor told me to rub a small squirt of Dijon mustard on each chicken breast, ( it doesn't have to be chicken breast – I do this with tenders and leg quarters as well) and season with salt and pepper. I tried it and it was delicious. My kids loved it too. Sometimes we grill the chicken, sometimes I cook it in the electric skillett, and sometimes I throw it in the oven. It's another option for when ordinary chicken gets too boring. It's magical stuff. That's what I rubbed all over the pork I smoked the other day. Doesn't taste like mustard after it is cooked. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Quinoa salad with a little chicken and fresh mint Veggie salad dressed with hummus Grilled smoked fish with a poached egg on a bed of spinach Puy lentil salad with balsamic vinegar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Baked potato bar, but the potatoes are "baked" on the grill or in the microwave. I know you can do them in a crock pot too but I haven't tried it myself. Grilled pizza or stovetop pan pizza - you need a cast iron skillet for the latter. Stovetop lasagna You could switch up your tacos and make fish or shrimp tacos occasionally. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zinnia Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 I don't use the oven from April to October because it's too hot, so I feel like I have to get more creative in the summer. Main dish salads. So, so many, but our favorites are a copycat of Applebee's Oriental Chicken salad and a Mexican chicken salad (with napa, avocado, cilantro, and a balsamic chipotle dressing). Tacos. Tacos. Tacos. All sorts, all types. The one food no one complains about. Shrimp coktel. Cold supper for super hot days. Grilled. I like chicken, but steak, burgers, hot dogs, anything works. Surprisingly, all my people like chili in the summer. I make it early in the day, leaving it to cook in a slow cooker so the kitchen doesn't get too hot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 On a real busy or hot and lazy night, we might have make-your-own whatever-you-want-to-call-it. Ingredients include: A bowl of something like granola or Grapenuts; a bowl of fresh or frozen fruit (generally we get blueberries/strawberries/raspberries); plain yogurt; milk; berry juice (we like cherry). Put all the bowls in the middle of the table, and everyone gets to take a little of everything and put it all together anyway they like in their own separate bowl, like a layered parfait. My kids always loved this on a hot, busy night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Baked potato bar, but the potatoes are "baked" on the grill or in the microwave. I know you can do them in a crock pot too but I haven't tried it myself. Grilled pizza or stovetop pan pizza - you need a cast iron skillet for the latter. Stovetop lasagna You could switch up your tacos and make fish or shrimp tacos occasionally. Ewwee! That pan pizza is happening tomorrow!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 (edited) cold black bean, corn, tomato, onion type salad We love this type of salad. Sometimes I add rice, sometimes not. I serve it with crusty bread (from the store bakery) to soak up the yummy dressing. Edited June 21, 2017 by Lady Florida. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 When it gets really hot (and we are just about there) I turn to gazpacho. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Pulled pork in the instant pot or crock pot. That can be BBQ with slaw and buns for the kids, then the leftovers get some Mexi-ish seasoning and crisped in a skillet for carnitas. That's a great idea! We don't do well with leftovers unless I have a specific plan for using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 Yogurt marinated kabobs (chicken, beef, or lamb) with middle eastern seasonings. (I basically use yogurt and the NYT chicken schwarma spices/aromatics) Fish 7-6-5 pork tenderloin Mussels! (Cheap, fun, and quick if you use a foil roaster on your grill) Marinated bulgogi from your asian market Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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