Suggestions for summery meals

[OpheliaBumps]

I need some inspiration for summery meals (me, DH, 20 month old twins) now the weather is getting better.

I've got a good selection of soups/stews etc for winter, but in the warmer weather I always fancy something fresher/greener etc.

My usual selection is:
Salad with smoked salmon, mozzarella, potato salad or quiche
New pots with asparagus, hollandaise and parma ham or smoked salmon
Homemade chicken nuggets with homemade coleslaw
Warm pasta salad with garlic, toms, spring onions and mozzarella
Summer pasta with asparagus/peas/green beans and philly

So once I've cycled through these a few times I'm bored!

Can anyone suggest some more meals I can add to my summer repertoire?

Pesto crust salmon avec couscous

Chicken caesar salad

Tomato, avocado & mozzarella salad (topped with black olives and capers)

Is the pesto crust just pesto, or do you mix it with breadcrumbs to make it 'crusty' (sorry for the dumb question, but have never tried it!)

Ooh I never think to add chicken to a caesar salad, I always just serve it as a 'side' dish.

Sadly I'll have to forgo the avocado one, I once had a horrendous bug after eating avocados and have never been able to face one since. In fact it was months before I could walk past them in the supermarket without boaking!

Thanks pesto I'll def try the first two!

quiche - asparagus and tallegio
broc and stilton
feta, olive and cherry tom
leek and bacon
roast veg

serve with lots of salad.

Makes me want to go home and eat summery food!

I tend to buy quiches (she admitted shamefacedly) for quick meals the days I work, but some of these sound lovely, I'll have to make some from scratch on my non-working days.

I don't think I've made quiche since school cookery lessons many a couple of years ago [cgrin]

Ophelia, I mix the pesto with breadcrumbs - good guesswork! Tis yummy. Another variation you can do is, salmon with a salsa sauce on top. This is nice too.

Good luck [csmile]

Btw, sorry about your troubles with avcocadoes!

Although I do tend to make quiches from 'first principles' (and they are SO much better than shop ones) there's no shame in shop bought pastry. Or for a half cheat, bulk make. I make 2 or 3 batches of pastry in my magimix, and freeze what I'm not using. Just take out of freezer day before you need.

Another staple here is tarts using prepared puff pastry. I get the ready rolled stuff, lay it out, score around about an inch from the edge, then put fillings in the middle. It's basically pizza but looks more acceptable because it's square.

I can make a mean shortcrust, but puff/flaky/ruffpuff is beyond me.
I have a fab shortcrust gadget which I think belonged to my grandmother (so it prob about 80 years old) which whizzes through fat and flour to make breadcrumbs as quickly as my kitchen aid does (and is easier to wash up).

It's just the thought of flouring, rolling, cutting etc that puts me off - but I really must try as I find shop bought quiches quite dull [cgrin]

Like the tart idea - would be lovely with some caramelised onions & feta - ooh I'm getting hungry now.

I am watching this thread with interest. I'm a registered childminder, and while my DS will eat anything, and I am very keen to offer proper food, some of my mindees turn their noses up to anything that is not 'kiddy food'.

I am completely stuck for ideas this summer. I will keep offering a good range of foods but I also need to try and offer things they at least have a hope of eating.

So, basically, quiche or salmon is off the menu.

cucumber flan

Make a shortcrust pastry case and bake it until done. Meanwhile finely chop a cucumber and squeeze as much liquid out it as possible. \mix the cucumber with a handful of chopped mint leaves a 200gm tub of philly type cheese and a splash of cream. Season to taste and spoon into flan case. Chill well and serve with a delicious tomato salad.

Cook pasta. Melt a tub of philly type cheese with a small carton of cream and the juice and zest of a lemon. Mix in a packet of smoked salmon trimmings and some rocket or watercress. Toss drained pasta in sauce.

Cook pasta, toss in the juice of 2 lemons and then stir through a very good splash of olive oil, about 4oz grated parmesan, salt, pepper and a bunch of rocket leaves.

cook pasta, chop a couple of tomatoes. In a large bowl mix a large carton of natural yoghurt with some curry powder and a squeeze of mango chutney. Mix in drained pasta and tomatoes. Serve with a green salad.

bombay potato wraps - male a pan of bombay tomatoes using potatoes, onions, tinned toms, spinach, curry powder and mango chutney. Serve it in wraps with natural yoghurt.

tomato casserole - 3 cups croutons, 2 chopped onions, 4 tins chopped toms, garlic to taste, bunch fresh basil, chopped, salt, pepper, a spoonful of sugar, grated cheese, olive oil. Mix bread, onion, tomatoes, herbs, seasoning and sugar together. Pour into a casserole, top with grated cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. Bake for about 30 minutes or so at 180. Serve with a green salad.

Sundried tomato and olive foccacia served with a huge green salad.

Watching with interest as I started looking for new summery recipes a couple of weeks ago (although it feels more like stew weather here today!) Am liking the puff pastry tart idea!

How about
Warm chickpea salad
Spiced bulgar, chickpea & squash salad
Warm puy lentil, tomato & Hallumi salad
Warm Mexican rice salad with borlotti beans
Quinoa salad
Baked Spanish risotto
Asparagus & pea risotto
Hallumi with chilli & lime
Greek style butter beans
Greek salad
Greek pie
Warm antipasti salad
Stuffed tomatoes

Recipes are all here

Lentil and rice tacos - 1 cup lentils, 1 cup brown rice cooked in 5 cups ve stock with a chopped onion and some taco seasoning. Serve in taco shells with salad, cheese and sour cream

Falafels and salad in pittas with natural yoghurt

Homemade tzatziki with salad and toasted pitta strips

Greek salad with feta and orange slices

tomato, mozzarella and basil salad with crusty bread

bean burger and salad rolls

tomato pie - fill a baked pie case with a sliced onion, 6 or 7 sliced tomatoes, salt, pepper and some chopped basil. Mix about 1/2 a cup of mayonnaise with the same amount of grated cheese (parmesan and cheddar mixed is nice) Spread this over the top of the pie and bake at 180 for about 20 minutes or so until golden. Let it sit for a few minutes before slicing.

Chicken drumsticks brushed with lemon juice and honey and roasted

Chicken brushed with some marmalade that has been mixed with curry powder then roasted.

Boil and slice new potatoes, gently mix in a bunch of spring onions, some halved cherry tomatoes, a tin of pink salmon and a carton of creme fraiche. BAke at 180 for about 20 minutes.

Leek and cheese quiche with salad and new potatoes;

Asparagus and pea risotto;

Picky meals such as hoummus, pitta, salad, falafels etc;

baked camembert with French bread, radishes, celery, etc - tiny roasted new potaotes and carrots make it more of a 'proper' meal;

I also do Greek butterbeans with tsatziki and pitta;

baked potatoes with cheese, coleslaw and salad.

Pasta with chicken, broccoli and pesto
Linguine with chilli and garlic mussels, king prawns and cherry tomatoes
Smoked haddock with wholemeal bread
Sausage and roasted tomatoes with new potatoes and green beans
Frittata
Tortilla with crushed jersey royals and salad
Pea and mint risotto
Open steak sandwiches on ciabatta
Piri piri chicken with chilli rice
Sea bass with anything! I loves the sea bass
Sausage and mixed bean casserole
Chicken stroganoff with rice and green beans
Chicken with bacon, BBQ sauce and cheese with wedges and salad
Chicken and bacon caesar salad
Tuna steak with lemon couscous

Erm........