Summertime, and the cookin’ is easy . . .
Summer should be a time to relax, even in the kitchen. Luckily, during the warmer months, simpler meals—maybe grilled outside with a cold beverage in hand?—can easily pass for dinner. Produce is at its peak, requiring little work for maximum deliciousness. Add in a few smart shortcuts, and you can spend more time enjoying summer and less time cooking dinner.
When the weather warms up, we set up the deck furniture at our house and get ready for a season of alfresco meals, frequently from the grill. A simple Grilled Vegetable Platter is a summer mainstay for me. I love when dinner fits all on one tray: fewer dishes to carry back and forth—and wash! While I’m happy with just vegetables for dinner, my entire family will be satisfied with this Steak and Potato Salad with Grilled Lemon Dressing. Yes, there’s steak, but grilled potatoes are a revelation. Jump-start them in the microwave while the grill preheats and then finish them right on the grates. Don’t be afraid to throw some fish on the grill too. Our Perfect Grilled Salmon won’t let you down, and paired with a loaf of bread and a Simple Tomato Salad, dinner feels almost effortless.
When I’m not outside making dinner, I embrace some shortcuts to get out of the kitchen faster. I always have frozen dumplings and shrimp on hand, which means I’m just one melon away from this sweet and savory Cantaloupe and Shrimp Potsticker Salad. Good oil-packed tuna (Tonnino and Ortiz are our preferred brands in the test kitchen) is also dinner-worthy: These elegant Tuna, Fennel, and Radish Toasts are ideal for a light meal on a warm summer night. For dinners I know my kids will love, I’ll turn rotisserie chicken and bottled blue cheese dressing into zippy Pulled Buffalo Chicken Melts or use frozen fish sticks for Sweet and Spicy Fried Fish Tacos (no one will be the wiser!). Both of these meals come together in about 30 minutes; add some wedges of juicy watermelon alongside, and dinner is done!
Summer is fleeting, so enjoy the longer days and warmer evenings while they last. With fresh ingredients, a few clever shortcuts, and the grill doing most of the work, summer cooking can be just as relaxing as summer itself.
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