Ah! the month of July - hot, hot, and hot.
Meals still have to be prepared and they should
awaken very sluggish appetites. The food should
not heat up the kitchen or the cook. The flavor
should be brisk and the colors bright. So - what
do you prepare when the temperatures soar but
the desire to cook and stay in the kitchen is at
an all-time low?

Try some of these menu ideas and maybe they
will just hit the spot!

Grilled salmon steaks, buttered pasta with
garnish of parsley, cucumber spears in Russian
or French dressing, orange sherbet

Chili dogs on a bun, grilled potato wedges,
baby carrots in lemon butter, brownies with
vanilla ice cream

Triple-decker club sandwiches (your choice
of meat/cheese), creamy coleslaw, fresh
string beans, strawberry ice cream

Ravioli (meat or cheese) seasoned with
Parmesan and chopped basil, broccoli spears,
fresh garden salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber,
radish), your favorite cookies

Grilled ham steaks, grilled sweet potato
halves, sweet peas with onions, pound cake
slices with strawberry/raspberry/blueberry
topping and whipped cream

Creamed chicken or beef on toast points,
melon wedges (watermelon, cantaloupe, etc.)
spinach salad, assorted cupcakes

Barbecued pork or beef on a bun, corn on
the cob, garden fresh sliced tomatoes with
slices of mozzarella cheese and drizzled with
Italian dressing, rainbow sherbet or ice cream

Panfried steak sandwiches with onions and
sweet peppers on French bread or rolls, sliced
fresh peaches, lettuce wedges with Thousand
Island Dressing, Chocolate cake slices

Meatloaf slices, garlic mashed potatoes, green
beans, milk shakes

Antipasto Platter (deviled eggs, sliced cheeses,
salami, olives, tomato slices, onions, etc.),
Assorted bread basket, lemon ice

or try an "It's Raining Picnic" on your back porch
or covered patio when refreshing summer rains
comes -

Fried chicken, corn nibblets, mashed potatoes and
gravy, coleslaw, and jello for dessert with lots of
lemonade or iced tea

Decorate with the food in a picnic basket, checkered
tablecloth and napkins, and paper plates and cups

How about going down to a nearby lake or stream
and having a tailgate picnic?

Using a portable grill, have some hamburgers or hot
dogs, buns, condiments, watermelon slices, garden
salad, and lot of fun!

For a tailgate picnic try these:

baked beans, fruit slices, chips, crackers, fruit juices,
cookies, doughnuts, relishes - mix or match and you
have a great meal right there - put that tailgate down
and spread a nice cloth, put the lawn chairs around,
and enjoy the sunset or the beauty of the season!

When the kids are a little down on energy and
enthusiasm give them their own "Hobo Lunch" sacks
to take outside and enjoy.

Peanut butter sandwiches or their favorite luncheon
meats or cheese, carrot or celery sticks, giant sugar
cookies, or pudding or jello in self-serve cups, and
some fresh fruit. Tie in a colorful bandana, run through
the end of a stick, and set them off on adventures
in the backyard. Don't forget to include a wet paper
towel in a sandwich bag for clean-up after eating.
Let them fill in the adventures and the fun just comes
naturally!

These are just suggestions for fast, easy meals when
the temperatures of Summer heat everything and
everyone. You still want great meals but without the
time or work.
ENJOY!

©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 June
(Taken from the Living is Easy-Summertime
Cookbook by Arleen Kaptur)
Arleen Kaptur has written numerous articles, booklets,
and the novel: Searching for Austin James
Websites:
http://www.arleenssite.com
http://www.Arleens-RusticLiving.com
http://www.jerry.1hwy.com
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rusticliving/index.html
http://rusticliving.info
http://topica.com/lists/simpleliving