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 ***
Antipasta 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
come - Fried chicken, corn nibblets, mashed potatoes and gravy,
coleslaw, and jello for dessert with lots of fresh 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
a 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
(An excerpt from the Living is Easy-Summertime cookbook by
Arleen Kaptur)