If you are like most families, you want to find ways to make summer meals quick and easy. You don’t want to spend a long time in a hot kitchen. You also don’t want to spend extra money going out.
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dinner in a hurry
And then on top of all that we now have the luxury of getting food delivered to our homes with the options of Uber Eats and Skip The Dishes. I have to be honest, I succumbed to the convenience of it on a couple of occasions.
From a long day at work and a family waiting for a good home cooking, ordering in was the next best thing. The way the weather is this summer, it’s just too darn hot to be slaving away over a hot stove. Can you feel my pain? Lol !!
All of this wouldn’t have happened if I had organized myself like I do everything else in my life by making a “plan”. A meal plan.
We still have a whole lot of hot summer weather ahead and perhaps, cross your fingers, into September.
Use these ideas to help make summer cooking simple and quick.
Related Article: Summertime Entertaining Is Still In Full Swing
Plan YOur Meals
Make a meal plan. Having a list of your family’s favorite meals will enable you to purchase ingredients when they are on sale. Buy as many staples as you can. When you need an ingredient for their favorite dish you won’t have to run out to the store to pick it up. You will already have that item on-hand.
With my handy Meal Planner, you will have the lists already prepared for you. All you need to do is write down your family’s favorite meals on the days you want to prepare it.
You also have a grocery list to write down all the ingredients. I have also created an inventory list to keep track of all the grocery items you have in your pantry, fridge, and freezer.
When you notice an item missing from your pantry put it on your list and the next time you do your groceries you will replenish the item. You will never be more organized!
keep it fresh
Add as many fresh fruits and vegetables to your meals as you can. Rather than cooking all of them, serve them as raw as possible. Fruits and vegetables served raw will have more nutrients than those which are cooked. Serving them raw will also keep your kitchen cooler.
what A Crock !
Use the crockpot. It’s not only for the winter months. A crockpot will generate less heat which means your kitchen won’t become sweltering. It also allows you to cook while youíre away or otherwise engaged. Place the ingredients in the crockpot the first thing in the morning and they’ll be ready to eat when dinner time rolls around. How easy is that?
* Find Recipe down below . . . *
This delicious, healthy slow cooker recipe is as easy as it is versatile. This flavor-packed chicken is perfect for burrito bowls, lettuce wraps, or over a bed of flavorful Cilantro-Lime Rice.
Staple Items
Make staple items like sauces in large amounts ahead of time. These can be frozen and then taken out of when needed.
salads
Eat a variety of salads. Salads are generally quick and easy to make. Most of the food items don’t require cooking so preparation time is less. Of course, you can also make pasta salads ahead of time and place them in the refrigerator so theyíre ready when needed.
grillin’ it
We can’t wait for the warmer weather to come so we can take our cooking outside. We love to barbecue. Well, my husband does. Lol !! I prepare the sides.
Sometimes if we make a bigger batch of let’s say rice, we can have that for the next day. We will just grill something up and voila another dinner. Prepare a light summer salad and you’re done. Easy peasy!
The less time in the kitchen over a hot stove the better.
When you do plan a meal that is going to take some time and effort, be sure to make enough that you’ll be able to have leftovers. For instance, if you bake or grill chicken, you can use leftovers to make chicken salad sandwiches.
Pot roast can be used to make roast sandwiches and the vegetables put in the freezer to use in soup when soup weather returns. Try to remember to prepare the food once but use it twice.
Vegetarian week
Plan at least one vegetarian meal per week. Not only will this give you an entirely different set of recipes and foods to choose from, but it will also give your body a rest from too much protein.
fresh from the garden
Visit a farmer’s market or pick foods from your garden and use them as the main ingredients in your vegetarian meal.
The above ideas are by no means exhaustive. However, if you use one or two of them they can make summer meals quick and easy. An added benefit is that your home will stay cooler, too.
RECIPES:
Mexican Shredded Chicken
This delicious, healthy slow cooker recipe is as easy as it is versatile. This flavor-packed chicken is perfect for burrito bowls, lettuce wraps, or over a bed of flavorful cilantro-lime rice.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. Boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs
- 2 10-oz. Rotel Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes & Green Chillies, undrained
- 2 15-oz. cans Black Beans, rinsed and drained
- 3-4 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small Jalapeno Pepper, finely diced
- 1-1/2 T. Hickory-flavored Liquid Smoke
- 2 tsp. Ground Cumin
- 1 Tbsp. Chili Powder
- 1 tsp. Smoked Paprika
- 2 tsp. Dried Oregano
- 1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
- Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
- 2 limes, quartered
- 1/4 c. Fresh Cilantro, chopped
Instructions
1. Unroll and add chicken thighs to the bottom of a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker crock. Top with tomatoes, black beans, garlic, jalapeno pepper, liquid smoke, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Stir to combine, making sure the chicken thighs are coated and submerged in the liquid.
2. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. 30 minutes before done cooking, remove the lid and shred chicken while in the slow cooker with two forks. Stir to combine shredded chicken with other ingredients. Cover and cook for the remaining 30 minutes to allow the chicken to absorb the flavors.
3. Remove lid and squeeze fresh lime juice into the crock. Add cilantro and stir to combine. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired.
4. To serve, spoon chicken mixture over plain brown rice or cilantro-lime rice. Top with cilantro-lime sauce if desired. Serve with remaining lime wedges. Enjoy!
Notes
Tip: Don’t skip the squeeze of fresh lime juice after cooking. It really brightens the flavors and pulls them all together.
