What are your short cuts and quick nutritious summer meals?

[kkmcan]

Cool veggie pizza- Pampered Chef recipe.

Pizza crust, cream cheese and veggie toppings along with a sprinkle of cheese.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Thanks everyone!

 

[supergoofy]

Started doing the 40 meals in the crock pot plan.

http://whoneedsacape.com/2012/11/crockpot-freezer-cooking/

Pretty simple idea. Spend 4 hours give or take and make 40 meals you freeze and when ready you take out day before and toss in crockpot. Main course is done at least.


Thus far we have done a couple meals and it is working out pretty good.


Nice part I found with many of the recipes is the duplication of ingredients so you can load up the counter with stuff and use multiple times. Also you can switch out the meat and make it different. Many are chicken but you could use beef or pork.

 

[Muushka]

Hi Annie

For a meal just for me I love Atkin's protein shakes. Good for me, fills me up.

I'm loving this thread!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Started doing the 40 meals in the crock pot plan.

http://whoneedsacape.com/2012/11/crockpot-freezer-cooking/

Pretty simple idea. Spend 4 hours give or take and make 40 meals you freeze and when ready you take out day before and toss in crockpot. Main course is done at least.


Thus far we have done a couple meals and it is working out pretty good.


Nice part I found with many of the recipes is the duplication of ingredients so you can load up the counter with stuff and use multiple times. Also you can switch out the meat and make it different. Many are chicken but you could use beef or pork.

I never heard of that! Thanks for sharing it. I love my crockpot but for some reason I have rarely used it in the summer. I'm checking that website out!

Hi Annie

For a meal just for me I love Atkin's protein shakes. Good for me, fills me up.

I'm loving this thread!

Hi Barb! I will make a smoothie now and then and throw in some whey powder. What is in an Atkin's protein shake?

I like a wide variety of stuff. The rest of the family not so much. I did get the kids to try artichoke hearts tonight. They didn't hate it, but they didn't want it on their pizza. DH didn't touch it. They can be funny about new dishes too. So that's a bit of a curve ball. I can put all the ingredients together (that I know they like) in a new way and it's, "What is that?".

 

[HeatherC]

Some quick things I do for dinner are...

Pulled pork in the crockpot.
Vegetable Ratatouille in crockpot...basically cut up a ton of veggies...peppers, onions, squash, zucchini, asparagus, carrots, etc and slow cook all day with your favorite pasta sauce and italian seasoning. I then eat it either by itself hot or cold on a sandwich the next day, over rice or pasta, even a topping for pizza.

English muffin pizzas
Baby Spinach Salad with Strawberries, feta and a sweet balsamic dressing.

Cold grilled meats like London Broil, chicken, etc served with coleslaw and fruit. (When I grill, I make extra for later in the week to just grab)

Meatball Subs...frozen meatballs in crockpot with sauce.

I also usually have hard boiled eggs, hard cheese and deli meat like turkey, ham or roast beef on hand to make up a quick plate with watermelon or some fruit.

Pasta Salad...I make it with elbow noodles and add things like carrots, cukes, pepperoni, black olives, etc to make it more of a meal.

I also keep a large bag of frozen tortellini in the freezer. Boils some water and can be ready quickly.

Enjoy your summer!!

 

[DawnM]

And you can always double the ingredients and make 2 meals out of each recipe. If there is something we like, we don't mind having it more than once a month.

Heck, we already have Pizza most Friday nights.

Started doing the 40 meals in the crock pot plan.

http://whoneedsacape.com/2012/11/crockpot-freezer-cooking/

Pretty simple idea. Spend 4 hours give or take and make 40 meals you freeze and when ready you take out day before and toss in crockpot. Main course is done at least.


Thus far we have done a couple meals and it is working out pretty good.


Nice part I found with many of the recipes is the duplication of ingredients so you can load up the counter with stuff and use multiple times. Also you can switch out the meat and make it different. Many are chicken but you could use beef or pork.

 

[Pembo]

I use the crock pot a lot in the summer!!

 

[TwoMisfits]

Strategic shopping...summer is not the time to plan to have to cook both the main protein and side dishes at the last minute, especially if you're at the pool all day. So, don't. Fruits and veggies of all kinds are in season, and many are perfect for a raw, marinated, or salad form that can be done in the morning before you head out. Then, all you have to worry about is the main protein when you get home - whether you want to put it on a grill or just grab a pan and put it on your oven (or gulp, use the microwave), have very quick cooking (or already cooked) proteins - pork chops, steaks, chicken tenders (not full breast), fish fillets, hot dogs, burgers of all meats, premade pulled pork/chicken/beef, etc. Have a few marinades, sauces, and/or spice rubs that you can put on the proteins (in the morning or add during the cooking) to change up the taste all summer. And keep a supply of rolls in your freezer - anything can be put between a roll with a few veggies...And for emergencies, keep a few frozen pizzas or pasta bags (like tortellini/ravioli) - if you have the fruits and veggies already to go (always have 2 ready per meal - focus on that part to keep things healthy), giving out pizza with them every once in a while would be fine...

Just yesterday, we got home very late and I whipped up BBQ pork chops, sliced peaches, and iceberg salad wedges with tomatoes and blue cheese in 20 minutes from the time I walked in the door (and that included letting the chops rest 5-7 minutes...the seasonal stuff tasted so good!

 

[aliceindisneyland]

Strategic shopping...summer is not the time to plan to have to cook both the main protein and side dishes at the last minute, especially if you're at the pool all day. So, don't. Fruits and veggies of all kinds are in season, and many are perfect for a raw, marinated, or salad form that can be done in the morning before you head out. Then, all you have to worry about is the main protein when you get home - whether you want to put it on a grill or just grab a pan and put it on your oven (or gulp, use the microwave), have very quick cooking (or already cooked) proteins - pork chops, steaks, chicken tenders (not full breast), fish fillets, hot dogs, burgers of all meats, premade pulled pork/chicken/beef, etc. Have a few marinades, sauces, and/or spice rubs that you can put on the proteins (in the morning or add during the cooking) to change up the taste all summer. And keep a supply of rolls in your freezer - anything can be put between a roll with a few veggies...And for emergencies, keep a few frozen pizzas or pasta bags (like tortellini/ravioli) - if you have the fruits and veggies already to go (always have 2 ready per meal - focus on that part to keep things healthy), giving out pizza with them every once in a while would be fine...

Just yesterday, we got home very late and I whipped up BBQ pork chops, sliced peaches, and iceberg salad wedges with tomatoes and blue cheese in 20 minutes from the time I walked in the door (and that included letting the chops rest 5-7 minutes...the seasonal stuff tasted so good!

I love your plan! It would fit our lifestyle and diet and really help make summer cooking easy - thanks!

 

[pjlla]

I know OP asked for "nutritious" but I finally got honest with myself after two nights in a row when the kids wanted to keep swimming until it was definitely too late to cook the meal I had planned. We spent over $30 each night on take out. This can't go on all summer, and summer is a long season here!

1. I bought a pack of nitrate free hot dogs and buns and put them in the freezer - $5.50 for our Emergency Food! The hot dogs are junk food for sure, but not any worse for us than take out!

2. This week I've been prepping everything for dinner in the morning, and we don't go swimming until I know I can get dinner together in less than 15 minutes when we get back...or we can have the hot dogs!

Sounds like you need a crockpot! Throw stuff in it in the morning and lo and behold.... dinner is done when you get home!!.........P

 

[scrapquitler]

I am just looking for ways to be prepared this summer so when we are coming and going I have something in mind instead of a fall back plan of eating out.

My biggest thing is dinner! After all kinds of activities, the last thing I feel like doing is cooking! So one thing that helps me is to make double batches of a meal and either freeze one or turn it into something else for later in the week. It just helps to have something on hand and ready.

What are you short cuts or tips for summer and eating on the run?

My 'rules' in the summer are that I always keep either a potato salad, coleslaw or macaroni salad of some sort in the fridge. I also keep lots of salad fixings, carrot/celery sticks, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, etc. on hand so that I can throw a salad together in no time flat. And I always keeps several proteins like chicken cutlets, burgers, steaks, or ham steak that can be throw on the grill and prepared quickly. I also try to keep cut up watermelon, canteloupe, etc. on hand

 

[aliceindisneyland]

Sounds like you need a crockpot! Throw stuff in it in the morning and lo and behold.... dinner is done when you get home!!.........P

Yes! I only use it to make shredded pork or beef, so one round makes several burrito filling packets to freeze, but I need to find more recipes! We're not big into casserole/cream of X soup based stuff, so it's kind of hard to find crockpot recipes that appeal to us in the summer...

 

[buzz5985]

We throw everything right on the grill. Tonight, in a grill basket on one side of the grill was asparagus, red pepper, zucchini, summer squash sprayed with olive oil, a little salt and pepper. On the other side of the grill boneless chicken breasts with a balsamic glaze. Behind them in another basket was some diced potatoes that I started cooking in the microwave, but put them on the grill to brown. Dinner in about 25 minutes. I cook a little extra chicken and we will have that over the weekend in a pesto sauce.

 

[crazelion]

Grill Grill I love the grill in the summer. I love fruit in the summer. i buy two watermelons, grapes and strawberry each grocery trip.

 

[poohfriend77]

Sounds like you need a crockpot! Throw stuff in it in the morning and lo and behold.... dinner is done when you get home!!.........P

Sigh... DH is convinced the crockpot will burn the house down, so he asked me not to use it if I'm not home (which is the whole purpose of the crockpot). Not worth arguing over, and well... can you imagine the "I told you so" I'd get if something happened and it did burn the house down?

This summer we have dinnertime activities five nights a week, and we are trying to limit eating out to one of those nights. I'm trying to keep fixings for salads, sandwiches and quesadillas, plus cut-up fruit and veggies in the fridge. I'm adding a few ideas from here as well! I have time to prep/cook late morning, so maybe I just need to focus on things I can make and then reheat.

 

[southlakejr]

I do a big prep every Sunday, then "assemble" meals most of the week rather than cook.

I chop a big bag of slaw that has red and green cabbage, green onions, and cilantro. This goes great with asian or mexican flavors and so I can mix up a salad with either a peanut dressing, ginger, or cilantro. I throw on some pre cooked protein and extra veggies like bean sprouts or bell peppers. It would also work well with a bbq ranch type thing

I grill up some chicken thighs, and cook off some ground beef.

I also grill up some veggies, shred some cauliflower rice, and make some zucchini noodles (we don't really eat starch, so we eat A LOT of vegetables)

then, I usually make 2-3 sauces and dressings.

I mix and match and end up with a decent variety. Never takes makes more than 15 minutes for dinner and its nice and healthy.

 

[Disney Nan]

Tips and ideas, I am now starving

 

[StephMK]

Sigh... DH is convinced the crockpot will burn the house down, so he asked me not to use it if I'm not home (which is the whole purpose of the crockpot). Not worth arguing over, and well... can you imagine the "I told you so" I'd get if something happened and it did burn the house down?

Yeah, you would never hear the end of that one! I can only imagine DH's reaction.


The Tyson's grilled chicken strips in the frozen section are really good and fast to make. Our favorite summer meal is sautéed veggies - broccoli, zucchini, and carrots, red pepper and onion, mixed with garlic and olive oil, throw in those cooked chicken strips and serve over pasta. Good as leftovers too.

Rotisserie chickens are quick and easy to heat up if you buy it early in the day. We also do pasta salads and chef or Cobb salads several times in the summer. Subs & veggies, tacos, grilled dinners are the other go-to meals in the summer.

 

[Katy Belle]

I grill a lot, but mostly on my grill pan, on the stove top! On Wednesday I had to make two trips to the big city and back. I made a coleslaw when I was home, took less than 15 min and I did all the chopping. When I got home for good I seasoned pork chops with seasoning salt and threw on the grill pan. We had 5 Hawaiian rolls left from a previous meal, threw them on, cut up a cantaloupe, a feast!

I buy huge bags of frozen broccoli, easy yummy side dish!

I throw extra chicken breasts on the grill pan. My family loves Cesar lettuce wraps. Just diced chicken, romaine lettuce , good quality Cesar dressing and grated Parmesan. Wrap in tortilla, done! Add celery and carrot sticks, strawberries, done!

I also grill extra burgers, reheat on low power in microwave!

I'm bad at meal planning, but I try to shop smart. I try to buy enough fruit and veg to last us a week, plus enough to make some kind of summer side salad. Then I buy meat on sale and put it in the freezer. Always have pasta, canned tomatoes, canned beans.

If you are having to take your dinners with you, in a cooler, I would focus on sandwiches. Just vary your bread, lots, and they won't all feel the same! Use new condiments! Side dishes don't have to be fancy. A Baggie of grapes are great! Bell pepper slices, cucumber slices....they don't have to be a salad.