Oh What Do You Eat in the Summertime?

When all the world is hot.

Am I the only person that isn't very hungry when the weather gets hot? I can never think of things I feel like eating, much less cooking in the summertime.

I'd love it if you'd put your favorite summertime recipe in the comments. Or at least tell me what you like to make and I'll hound you for the recipe! Or you could even do your own post with the recipes. I'm looking for dinner ideas, I probably don't need more dessert recipes...

Here are a few of my favorite summertime recipes:

2 very similar pasta salads
and

2 very similar spinach/fruit and almond salads

See I do NEED help, I really only have 2 favorite summer recipes!

Italian Pasta Salad
from Michelynne Larson
Tri-color pasta (any kind)- about 4 C. measured dry
Kraft Zesty Italian salad dressing, 3/4 to 1 c.
Grated Parmesan Cheese, Sprinkle to taste

Italian seasoning, a few dashes

Mix in approximately 1 c. each:

Tomato, diced (or whole grape or cherry tomatoes)

Cucumber, peeled, chopped
Carrot, peeled and chopped
Red onion, finely chopped

Black olives, sliced

Mushrooms, optional

Cook pasta, drain and put in a large bowl. Dice up all of your favorite vegetables and add to the pasta. Add dressing, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning to suit your taste. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight to allow the flavors to marinate. Recipe makes a large pot-luck sized bowl full of salad.

Yummy Pasta Salad
from Kori Gammon
1 package curly rainbow pasta

2 tomatoes

5 green onions

1 green or red pepper

1 can chopped black olives

1 large can of pre-cooked chicken
1/2 bottle of bacon ranch salad dressing

2 tsp. celery salt

Cook pasta and run under cold water to chill. Chop vegetables (may add any variety or amount as desired). Add chicken, bacon ranch dressing and celery salt with all other ingredients.

Strawberry Spinach Salad w/ Poppy Seed Dressing
from Donnie Tayrien
1 bag of baby spinach
1 bag of spring salad mix
(use equal amounts of spinach and salad mix) – can buy at Costco
lots of strawberries (thinly sliced)
chopped celery (optional)
candied nuts
Dressing:
1 ½ c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. dry mustard
2/3 c. white vinegar
2 T. fine chopped onion
2 c. salad oil
5 ½ tsp. poppy seed

Blend 1st four ingredients in blender until the sugar dissolves. Add oil. Stir in onions and poppy seed. Refrigerate. It will be enough for two big batches of salad.

Candied nuts:
2 c. sliced almonds
1 cube of margarine
1 c. sugar

Melt margarine and add sugar. Mix in nuts and spread on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until bubbly and slightly browned (watch carefully). Cool, break up and refrigerate. (don’t let it cool completely on cookie sheet or it sticks. Use a spatula to loosen).

Mix everything together just before serving. Too much dressing weighs it down.

This recipe is very similar but I love the few differences...
Pear and Feta Cheese Salad
from Jodi Rasmussen
In a bowl combine romaine lettuce and spinach.
Add:
1-2 ripe pears cut into small pieces
1 cup sliced almonds (caramelized-brown in a pan on med. heat with a little butter then add ¼ cup sugar and stir constantly until almonds are brown and sugar is melted)
½ lb. Feta Cheese- crumbled
1 cup craisins

Dressing:
½ cup red onion finely chopped
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2/3 cup white vinegar
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. Salt
Blend well in the blender then add:
2 cups vegetable oil
3 TBSP poppy seeds
Add dressing just before serving. This dressing is enough for several salads and keeps well in the refrigerator. I like to have the dressing on the side, but stir often.

It's hard to mess up salad. I'll often make the pasta salad and we'll eat it for 2 meals plus lunches for me for a few days.

I also love fresh fruit and vegetables in the summer, my favorites are watermelon and homegrown tomatoes. Corn on the cob, and anything grilled is great too. If only we could find a grill we both like!

So please tell me what recipes you like in the hot summertime for dinner!