Simple Summer Meals
With the easy going nature of summer it seems that my meal planning has taken a back seat. Of course with the markets and gardens fully stocked with produce it makes the job almost effortless. Salads and grilling are a mainstay at our house for the warm months.
Last nights dinner was a combination of both. Grilled corn and zucchini mixed with spinach, romaine, roasted chicken, tomatos, cilantro and red onion. No recipe, just using what I had on hand. My favorite dressings is this Blush Wine Vinaigrette. I love the tang and sweetness of it but if I don't have it on hand I make an easy red wine vinaigrette with a little dijon mustard.
We eat a lot of watermelon around here. The Man could probably finish one in a day, easily. To mix things up sometimes I add a dressing of honey, lime juice and zest. It tastes very summery!
And most meals wouldn't be complete without our daily bread. Simple sourdough toast with spinach and artichoke spread. Hot, crisp bread with the cool creamy spread is so delicious!
After dinner I sat outside catching up on my reading while The Man worked in the garden a bit and Sweet Girl helped by clearing the dishes. All in all it was the perfect summer evening. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend enjoying all that summer has to offer!
28 Responses to “Simple Summer Meals”
YUMMY! This looks so delicious. My mouth is seriously watering 🙂
It all looks and sounds so delicious! This year I vowed to try and eat better, to cook more and eat out less, but I’m having trouble making it work.
Summer meals. Heaven.
Brenda
Yum…looks divine. It reminds me that summer food should be simple and easy and somehow that always tastes the best. Sounds like you had a perfect night…Oh to be able to actually sit outside and read…
MAN I need to learn how to work with food!!!
YUM!
Layla 🙂
YUM! That all looks so delicious. Last night for dinner I had some curried cous cous salad which was served cold with raisins, onions and almonds. My friend made it and it was just the perfect summer delight.
I love all your fresh and easy recipes….Im gonna snag this salad one 🙂 Thanks!!
Delicious recipe. I like the addition to your watermelon!
xoxo
Jane
Can I get your recipe for your spinach and artichoke spread? It looks so good 🙂
It looks really nice!! I’m hungry : )
Gemma x
Sounds like our cottage…we eat and spend time the same way in summer…and autumn too actually because it is still so warm here in california.
Yummy!
(I LOVE your salad scoop!)
You are putting Martha to shame! lol…nice spread. 🙂
oh to be able to sit outside on a summer evening! Maybe in September…I sure miss it. Everything looked lovely and delish and nutrish!
You know, I’ve never tried watermelon with honey and herbs.. tomorrow I’m getting one and try this.. thanks for sharing.. looks yummy!
What a lovely outdoor setting. The food looks so pretty and the colors are wonderful.
bon appetit!
hugs
Sissie
That looks absolutely divine! I love summer salads..have a great homemade dressing I use…
Olive Oil , Apple Cider Vinegar, Water ( measure in a cruet ) add 3-4 fresh minced garlic cloves, teasp of dry mustard, teasp of sugar, and a touch of salt and pepper. Pour over your salad greens w/ Baby heirloom tomatoes, cukes whatever you want…it’s pretty yummy!
Have a great weekend!
Tammy 🙂
That is my kind of meal!
have a great weekend.
My kind of evening Ms. Heather. I love it! Hope you are getting more time to relax with the family. Hope to see soon! xo Judy
PERFECT summer meal! YUM!
Yum! What a delightful evening and an inspiration to us all.
Looks wonderful. Right now I am doing a diet/fasting cure without alcohol and coffein, only eating veggies and this is definitely going on this salad week’s plan! 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
Oh this looks divine, especially since we are in midwinter ;-)cannot wait for summer – al fresco dining must be one of the best things of summer living!
How divine! I love summer meals.
I’d love to know about your artichoke spread too! Is it something you made or purchase? Everything looks beautiful and delicious! Love your salad server, too! 😉
Oh my, not only delicous I’m sure, but presented so very beautifully!!!! I so enjoy your inspiring blog!
Please come by and enter my summer give-away if you have a moment.
~ Violet
Heather~with summer so fleeting in the Pacific Northwest..dinning in the sun with summer dishes is my favorite pastime. Having such a variety of fruits and veggies available does make preparing a meal a breeze.
Pretty soon you’ll have enough fresh eggs to try a few new frittata recipes.
There are a few (rare) occasions where I post something I think you might enjoy….come on over and take a peek.
Sweet wishes,
Sara
hi
Its always such a pleasure to read your post!!
simple and heart warming, how is wish i could be part of your wonderful meal and setting I love salads and yours seems to be super we make a tomato,onion,cucumber salad with coriander and lemon-juice very often i forgot to mention a green chilli too . But to add chicken would be wonderful , we do not get romaine here in India but spinach would be fine too…
Thanks for your wonderful post and for making my morning bright…
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