Summer fast stuff

[yarborough house]

Hey all,

Now that the pools are open and the days are longer and we are all busier than ever, I need help in the food dept.
Do any of you have favorite summer foods that are fast to make or are good to premake?
Like fave salads or casseroles or easy stuff to make on the grill?
I take the kids to the pool around 3 and we stay till about 5 so then we are always rushed to do dinner...so was wondering if you have any easy, tasty things to share...

[Heather]

Hi Tammy. I make quick pita wraps all the time, just though in whatever - black beans, salsa, leftover brown rice, Caesar salad, deli meat, cheese, tomatoes, etc etc etc.

Oh but I don't make that particular wrap I was just giving you SOME of the things I put in ours...

[cheapdiva]

I've posted this before -

buy or make hamburger patties
on the top, along the outer edge add frozen tater tots
inside the tater tot ring add frozen mixed veggies
sprinkle on top with dried onion soup mix

put whole thing on a piece of foil and fold the foil over making a pouch - you can cook in the oven, on a grill or open fire (great for camping). The moisture from the frozen veggies and tater tots "cooks" the soup mix into the whole thing making these burgers moist and delicious. They are a complete meal.

We called them "zipper bags" and they were always a hit when the kids were young and we took them camping. During the winter we'd throw them in the oven and dream about summer.

[Heather]

This is one of my favorite crockpot recipes.
It's so good and easy-peasy to make:

Crock Pot Chicken with Black Beans and Cream Cheese

4 or 5 FROZEN boneless chicken breasts
1 15 1/2 oz can black beans
1 can corn
1 15 oz jar salsa ( I used medium)
1 8 oz package of cream cheese ( I used light)

Put the FROZEN chicken breasts in crock pot.
Add drained black beans, drained corn and salsa.
Cook on HIGH for 4-5 hours until chicken is cooked.
Add cream cheese (just throw it on top) and cook for another 1/2 hour. Stir.
Serve with rice.

[annielinz]

This is a tasty and filing salad for those busy and warm nights.


Herb Chicken Tortellini Salad

1(9-ounce) pkg. Buitoni herb chicken Tortellini prepared according to the pkg and chilled.
1 (10-ounce) pkg ready to use spinach torn into bite size pieces.
1 cup diced mozzarella cheese (4-ounces)
1(6-ounce)jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped.
1 cup sliced olives, drained
1/3 cup roasted peppers, drained and chopped
1 cup Caesar salad dressing (*note you may want to start with 1/2 cup then add to your taste)
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

1. Combine cooled pasta, spinach, mozzarella cheese, artichokes, olives and roasted peppers in salad bowl. Add dressing, toss to coat sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

makes 6 servings

Cheapdiva those hamburger zipper bags would of been a hit with my kids when they were little. I may just have to give them a try.

[shabbychick]

In an attempt to give you something to read besides spam, I thought I'd share this recipe I made up the other day. I took it to a potluck, and it was a hit. This fed ten people and left me with some leftovers. I call it Barbecue Buffalo, Bean, and Biscuit Bake.

2 lbs ground buffalo (could use beef or turkey)
1 onion
1 can mushroom stems and pieces
2 cans baked beans
barbecue sauce
1 package refrigerated biscuits
Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)

Chop and cook the onion in olive oil, then add the buffalo and cook it. Add the beans and mushrooms, stirring into the buffalo and onion mixture. Add barbecue sauce to taste and heat through on the stove. Pour mixture into a large baking dish. Cover the top with shredded cheese, then top with refrigerated biscuits. Bake at 350 until the biscuits are done.

It's a really basic recipe that you could probably tweak any way you want. I love buffalo. It's kind of expensive, but it's much leaner and much more healthy for you than beef, and I think it tastes better. It cooks faster than beef, though, so you'll get it into the oven faster. :)

Enjoy!

[RoseMary]

Heather--your black bean/chicken dish sounds yummy! I love crockpot recipes.

Shabbychick, your dish sounds very good and easy, too. I think I might try it with homemade biscuits on top. And, of course, the only way I can get buffalo around here is to load up my shotgun and head to a neighboring farm:p~so I'll try it with beef.

[shabbychick]

Of course, if a stray buffalo were to just wander on down to your place, you'd be set for the next year!

[RoseMary]

Of course, if a stray buffalo were to just wander on down to your place, you'd be set for the next year!

My, it would be a lot of meat to freeze:p! I can just hear my family complaining: "Not buffalo again:eek:!":p

[yarborough house]

With it so hot has anyone else just not wanted to cook at all? Heck I don't even like to eat a big meal right now..too muggy.

[RoseMary]

We've been having a lot of sandwiches. Most hot meals don't sound that appealing right now. For desserts~fruit, ice cream, or pudding.

[vintage girl]

My favorite summer quick meal is take-out!!!;) It was well over a 100 this past week, and there was no way that I was cooking or even going anywhere near the kitchen. One good thing, I eat less when it is hot, so maybe I will lose some weight:rolleyes:

[cheapdiva]

RM -
You reminded me of a time years ago when my daughter was a 3 year old. Her dad (my ex) was going to school full time and butchering at a grocery store in the late afternoons. At the end of his day (this was when stores actually closed at 9 p.m.), all the meat had to be marked down drastically for the next day and put in the "self help cooler". Employees got to buy these cuts of meat at an even greater discount.

My ex would bring home steak several times a week (because expensive cuts don't sell as well as hamburger!). One day my sweet little girl said "what's for dinner?" and when I said "steak", she looked at me and said "again?!" I told her she'll wish a day would come that she could continue to say that!! Can't tell you the last time I had steak!

[Danske]

This is one of my favorite crockpot recipes.
It's so good and easy-peasy to make:

Crock Pot Chicken with Black Beans and Cream Cheese

4 or 5 FROZEN boneless chicken breasts
1 15 1/2 oz can black beans
1 can corn
1 15 oz jar salsa ( I used medium)
1 8 oz package of cream cheese ( I used light)

Put the FROZEN chicken breasts in crock pot.
Add drained black beans, drained corn and salsa.
Cook on HIGH for 4-5 hours until chicken is cooked.
Add cream cheese (just throw it on top) and cook for another 1/2 hour. Stir.
Serve with rice.

Sounds delicious! Getting ready to throw in the crock pot before I leave for the day!