One of the greatest things about summer is the food. On almost any given day you can drive through your neighborhood and smell something grilling. Whether you like to grill or not, here are three great summer recipes the whole family will love.[ad]
When it comes to cooking during the summer, most people think of barbecues, family reunions, and picnics. They want food that is simple to prepare, won’t take them hours in a hot kitchen, and that everyone will love so they don’t have leftovers. The Chinese people are masters at quick cooking, and stir-frying is a great way to accomplish this.
Rice is the quintessential base for most stir-fry dishes. You can add anything to the rice and make a different meal with each addition. Your family may love Broccoli Beef, Sweet and Sour Chicken, or this recipe:
1. Quick Chicken Teriyaki
Ingredients:
¼ cup reduced fat Italian dressing
½ tsp. garlic powder
1 lb. boneless chicken breast cut into strips
2 cups frozen broccoli florets
1 1/3 cups water
1-½ cups uncooked instant white rice
¼ cup teriyaki sauce
In a wok or large non-stick skillet, heat up the dressing. Add the chicken and cook it for 5-7 minutes or until completely cooked. Add the water, teriyaki sauce, and garlic powder. Bring this to a boil and then stir in the broccoli and rice. Cover and reduce the heat. Let it cook over low heat for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let it stand for 5 additional minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.
If Chinese food doesn’t appeal to you, but your family loves tomatoes, you may want to try this simple, yet delicious, recipe as a change of pace from tossed salad:
2. Tomato Salad
Ingredients:
4 large pink tomatoes, finely sliced
¼ cup vinegar
3 green onions, finely chopped
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
Cumin to taste
Combine all these ingredients in a glass bowl and let it sit for at least two hours, preferably overnight.
Many families love Italian food. This pasta salad is great as a meal by itself or with a meat entrée.
3. Italian Summer Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
6-8 fresh plum tomatoes
¼ cup olive oil
3-4 cloves fresh chopped garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup fresh chopped basil
1 lb. bow tie pasta
½ cup fresh chopped flat leaf parsley
¼ cup grated Romano cheese
Cook pasta as directed on the package. When it’s al dente, remove the pasta and drain. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients except the cheese and mix well. Add the pasta to the tomato mixture. Finish the dish by grating Romano cheese directly over the mixture.
Summer cooking is usually light and tasty. These are three great summer recipes the whole family will love. Try them soon and your family will ask you for more.
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