Meal Ideas For The Hottest Summer Days
Meal Ideas
Things are heating up in Phoenix, so we are all doing our best to keep our homes cool. In my house, that means avoiding turning on the oven. Here are my best ideas for keeping us all fed.
Crockpot Chicken Tacos. This recipe is a hit. Add your favorite toppings. My kids keep it simple: cheese. I learned about walking tacos several years ago at a high school graduation party (remember those?). It's a no-fuss way to serve tacos.
A meal of deli salads. It's nice to have someone else do the heavy lifting of meal prep. This summer, we've been eating an assortment of deli salads: chicken, tuna and/or egg salad (served with pita, crackers, or slider buns), pasta salad, cucumber-tomato salad (here's a recipe if your grocery store does't stock it), and mixed berries.
BLT Sandwich. Bacon, lettuce, tomato, and toast. I like mine with mayonnaise and a grainy mustard. Ready to think bigger? Check out this idea for a DIY BLT bar to serve a bigger crew. And, here's a grilled cheese version.
Spaghetti Carbonara. This is the perfect last minute meal. My kids do not enjoy red sauce on their pasta, but I can always count on them to eat spaghetti with eggs and bacon. Add your favorite bagged salad. I'm loving the Mediterranean crunch chopped salad by Taylor Farms.
Shrimp + Veggie Foil Pack. Bring a low country boil to your home. This easy to prep, easy to grill, and easy to clean up foil pack meal.
Ramen Noodles. My earliest memory of eating Top Ramen was as an after school snack. Since then, I've learned to upgrade this simple and tasty soup by adding leftover roasted pork, soft cooked eggs, and veggies (my favorite is frozen stir-fry vegetables). Here are more ways to add flavor and variety to ramen noodle soup.
Watermelon. 117F days are serious business. Quench your thirst AND satisfy your hunger with watermelon. Melons are sweet and refreshing and can be the centerpiece of any meal. My 6 year old helped me carve up a watermelon the other day. I cut through the rind and he (using a butter knife) cut through the inner pink portion. We were trying for a “basket shape” (shakes fist a kid’s YouTube video inspiration). Sadly, we had to adjust our plan when we cut a gaping hole in the bottom. Oops! We’ll have to practice our watermelon art. In the meantime, I want to try this salad (add some crusty bread and butter and call it good).
Stay cool and stay fed, friends.
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