OS Summer Cooking

Raspberry_Swirl

i'm having the same struggle. i'm always in winter-mode, especially when the weather is as bad as it has been so far this summer.

salads just don't always tempt me enough to want one as a main meal, but it's still too muggy to be eating stews. though i have still been making the odd soup when it's been extra rainy.

i might give a chicken roast dinner a go, but do a one pot with summery veg like red pepper, courgette, red onion and roast that alongside the chicken, instead of mash and winter veg. make a light gravy from the juices.

kdean

I like to do a Spanish Omlette with chips. Still a hot dish but I think more summery.

angelavdavis

How frustrating - lost my post again!

OK here goes again:

Lidl's do very reasonable priced frozen tuna steaks. Simply dry fry in a griddle pan. Meanwhile, slice some mozarella, large beef tomato and basil leaves, alternate around a plate and drizzle with olive oil. When the tuna is cooked, squeeze over with lemon and serve with the salad and if required, some boiled baby potatoes. Delicious!

Salmon is another idea. Tesco were doing 8 frozen steaks for less than £5 last week. Top with a crust made from breadcrumbs, chopped garlic, chopped mixed herbs from garden (or dried will do), and bind with melted butter. You can prepare in advance and leave in the fridge.

Pour some boiling water over couscous, mix well and leave to cool.

Then cube cucumber, tomato, red onion and some chopped coriander leaves. Add couple of tblspns of lemon juice, half tspn of dried ground cumin and coriander, pinch of chilli and salt to taste. Add this salsa to the couscous and mix well.

Cook salmon for 15 minutes in the oven until cooked through and serve with salsa couscous.

If you are not a fish lover, substitute lamb chops for the salmon.

Other ideas:

Warm potato salad - sliced warm baby potatoes, mixed with a little olive oil, tomato paste, herbs, salt and pepper, add chopped salami (or chorizo). Serve with a green salad.

Paella - chop onion, carrot, celery, chopped salami (or chorizo) sausage, courgette and add in a pan cooking until softened in some olive oil. Add risotto rice (or any rice) and turn over in oil. Add chicken stock and allow to cook through. When stock is almost gone, add pack of frozen seafood salad (defrosted first). Warm seafood through and serve with green salad. Frozen Seafood salad - huge 800g pack frozen from Tesco was £5.95 - would do three meals for us!

Dutchgirl_2

Have a look at this list of quick summer recipes from the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/dining/18mini.html?pagewanted=all - probably some good alternatives to takeaways if you have the ingredients.

The link may become paid for in a few days, but you can print it or save it as a html page in the meantime.

cady

hi,

I find that in winter i can make loads of meal ideas like stew and cassorole pies ect which are filling but heavy winter food .... im struggling now the weather gets nicer to think of some cheap meal ideas as i find salad and chicken and new potatoes expensive and im sick of all this heavy winter food!!! also is there anything i can do in my sc? its getting dusty and i miss it!!! im looking for cheap healthy meals for me and my partner that can be cooked easily and i can take left overs to work!!! god im almost wishing its winter again!!!

Thanks

cady xx

searching_me

hey cady my thing is pasta or rice salads ... dice up some toms cucumber pepper lettcue ... well anything like that throw in some cooked pasta or rice add some mixed herbs and salad cream (or mayo/salad dressin) mix together in a big bowl... yummmmm had it every night for a week now and if you change the veggies its different everytime x

cady

yeah we have been having a lot of pasta having pasta with cheese sauce and diced gammon tonight as found it in the freezer and it is great and filling but gets a bit boring after a while!! - i notiuced as soon as i asked for summer meals the sun has gone out and te sky greyd over like its going to rain oh dear!

searching_me

i know but they say this summer is going to be a warm one ... how about chips eggs and bean classic dinner for any weather ... love that to x

cady

yeah that a good one i love hm chips too so there is stuff that go with chips i find o love chops ect but there expensive but good old egg n chips or sausage n chips will go down good!!!

pretz_2

hiya
have you thought about

fajitas, frittata, jacket potatoes,hm pizza,quiche,shish kebabs,meatloaf,fishcakes, fish baked in foil,

thats a few ideas that might keep you going for a while, i have rcipes for most of these if you need them

hth
pretz