Summertime, and the Dinners Are Easy

No Comments | Written on May 28, 2012 at 5:00 pm, by Ann Hodgman

Grilled Steak Bruschetta Salad

Here's the best steak salad out there, and it's so gorgeous! Make the dressing, slice the bread and prep the greens earlier in the day, then grill (or broil) the steak at the last minute.

Salmon with Basil Butter

A whole side of salmon makes a luxurious presentation. This recipe pairs basil-infused salmon with a summertime favorite — ratatouille. Granted, there are a few steps to follow, but everything except the salmon is make-ahead.

24-Hour Chicken Fiesta Salad

... And here's a layered taco-chicken salad that has to be made ahead. Put it in a pretty glass bowl and bring it to a potluck or block party.

Shrimp with Basil and Fresh Tomatoes

Aren't fresh tomatoes one of the best things about summer? And fresh basil, too? Stir-fried with shrimp, they make a quick yet memorable pasta dish.

Chili Shrimp

We can't resist another shrimp dish — this one includes an unbelievable sweet/spicy/tangy/sticky chili sauce...

Summertime Tortellini

Tortellini salads are a summer "must." This one pairs lemon and mustard for the dressing and adds toasted almonds for crunch. You can add chicken if you want, but the dish is also great vegetarian.

Roasted Turkey Bacon and Avocado Wraps with Chipotle Mayonnaise

For a picnic wrap that's a great twist on traditional club sandwiches, you have to try this recipe. Don't ask questions — just go there right now.

Summer Salad Rolls with Spicy Peanut Dressing

Rice wraps, Thai-spiced peanut sauce and crunchy raw veggies create a light, cool vegetarian main course that looks like a summer mosaic.

Fabulous Focaccia Sandwiches

On especially hot, sticky days, I like dinner recipes that call for literally no cooking of any kind. Yet I don't want to just hand my family and hunk of cheese. Instead, I make these focaccia sandwiches stuffed with deli roast chicken and fresh spinach, and we're all happier.

Even though my kids are grown up, I still get my “summer vacation” feeling every time June rolls around. This feeling is composed of several sub-feelings related to the general category of “summer dinners“:

1. “Let’s eat outside tonight!”

2. “Let’s have a picnic!”

3. “Hey, it’s summer — no one should have to cook, especially me!”

Alas, people still need to eat in the summer. But those of us providing food for those annoying eaters should absolutely not have to work too hard when it’s hot out. Luckily, warmer temperatures mean that no one’s hungry for a rich stew that we’ve been laboring over for hours. People want lighter, crunchier, fresher fare — exactly the sort of food that happens to be easy to make (and often easy to make ahead). Because it’s my summer, too.

summer dinner recipes