Summer Suppers
With the Summer season on the horizon, I decided to make a list of dinner meals which are easier to make and won't heat my whole house. It is extremely expensive to keep the oven on for long intervals, throughout summer, especially when the AC is running. To minimize oven cooking, I want to utilize my crockpot (especially for sauces and meats), rice cooker and/or steamer , and toaster oven. Summer is the perfect time to throw something in the crockpot, or to cook in the early hours of the morning, and let certain foods chill. This way, you can forget about supper and have fun filled days outside, with your children.

Meals which can be refrigerated and served chilled:

-Veggie Pizza
-Pasta Salad (tri-color cooked rotini, Italian salad dressing, tomatoes, cheddar cheese cubes, cut deli meat)
-Kim Bobs (I am generally terrified to try "exotic" foods- but these are a real treat- my sister-in-law lived in Korea and she taught me how to make authentic Kim Bobs.No octopi here, nor squid, I use tuna fish.)
- Chicken salad, Tuna salad, Egg Salad, Waldorf Salad
-Chicken Caesar Salad
-Mexican Layer Dip with tortilla chips

Crockpot Meals
-Crockpot meatballs (these are our favorites- so easy to make and so tasty!), serve over rice (cooked in rice cooker)

-Spaghetti Sauce- let it simmer and serve over pasta, cooked right before supper time.

-Beef Stroganoff

Toaster Oven Meals
- Mini- bagel pizzas (for added fun, let each family member design his own.

-Baked Potato Bar- bake potatoes in toaster oven, and set out a variety of toppings such as chives, cheddar cheese, crumpled bacon, butter, and sour cream) Everyone adds toppings of his choice.

-Toasted, open faced sandwiches on bread or bagels. (lay bread/bagel open faced, topped with sandwich meat and cheese of your choice. Toast. Top with a slice of lettuce and mayo. BLTs are a summer treat, especially if you are growing tomatoes and lettuce in your garden!

What are your favorite summer meals? For more Kitchen tips, please visit Tammy.