Quick and Cool Meals—don’t slave over a Hot Stove When the Weather is Hot

When it gets warm outside, no one wants to stay in the kitchen.  Also, the heat diminishes the appetite for heavy foods.  Give that stove a rest and turn to lighter meals that are quick and easy.

During the spring and summer, farmer’s markets and grocery stores are teeming with fresh fruits and vegetables.  Fruits and veggies are simple yet healthy foods.  Most need little preparation to make them yummy.

Use these items to fashion meals for your family.  Very little prep time is involved and everyone gets a cool treat.  Use spices to add zest to the meal instead of heavy sauces and marinades.

Salads are big when the weather is warm.  Lettuce comes in a variety of shapes and tastes.  It can be used as a base or as a part of the salad.

If lettuce is an integral part of your salad, don’t drown the taste with too much salad dressing.  Purchase or make your own oil and vinegar dressing for salads.  Oil and vinegar gives a light taste and you can add spices to the dressing for different flavors.

Lettuce can also be a platform from which to build another type of salad.  Macaroni, chicken, turkey, shrimp, and potato salads are popular meal ideas when it gets hot.  The salads include meat, vegetables, and starch for a complete meal.

Most meats can be purchased already cooked.  For potato salad, you can buy it from the store or boil the potatoes yourself.  If you choose to boil them, make sure that you boil enough for several salads.

Macaroni salad is a lunch (with fruit) or dinner (alone) choice that is filling.  Begin by boiling the macaroni, depending on the size of your family, six to eight cups of macaroni should be enough for a large salad.  While the macaroni cooks, chop up boiled eggs and drain two cans of chunk tuna in water.  Boiled eggs are another food that can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator until you need them.

If you like onions, mince a half to a whole medium onion.  Set all of these things aside.  When the macaroni is cooled, add the chopped eggs, onions, tuna, and relish to the macaroni.  Finally, add a cup of mayonnaise (can use light or fat free) and half a cup of mustard to the bowl.  Mix thoroughly and chill. 

Good meals don’t have to be made in a hot kitchen using the oven.  Ingredients for quick meals are as close as your grocery store and take little time to prepare.  Your family will be happy, healthy, and asking for more.

Find family friendly product reviews, information and support from a variety of different moms from all walks of life at Moms Talk News. Join us, it’s Free!

I had the pleasure of doing an interview for Mommy Fest this year.  The event is over now, so I thought I would pass along the interview.  It is all about foods to feed the kiddo’s. 

www.kidapprovedmeals.com/MommyFestInterview.mp3

 ENJOY!

I have a special treat for you today.  An E-book entitled Memorail Day Family Fun.  Included are recipes for the weekend, craft ideas, coloring sheets for the little ones and more.  It is free - you can pick it up here:  www.dinewithoutwhine.com/memorialday.pdf 

Enjoy!

The barbecue grill is a wonderful invention.  When the weather is warm, you can leave the stove altogether and head outdoors.  Here are a few ideas on how to prepare a complete meal for your family using only your barbeque grill.

The gas grill has many families grilling out several times a week.  Gas grills are convenient and affordable.  There are those that come with storage spaces and additional heating elements.

One way to cook a meal on your gas barbecue grill is to use grilling packets.  Grilling packets are constructed using aluminum foil.  With the creation of non-stick aluminum foil, using a grilling packet is healthier and easier than ever.

Grilling packets can be used for vegetables and other side dishes.  Slice and season the vegetables and lay them in the center of a piece of aluminum foil.  Fold the foil loosely over the center of the vegetables, creating a tent.  Make a double fold with the two ends to seal the top of the packet.  Fold each end inward to create a sealed double fold.  Be sure to use heavy foil to avoid tears when shifting the packets on the grill.

Meats can also be placed in packets.  Packets allow what’s inside to cook in its juices.  The circulating steam cooks the contents without drying them out.  Make sure to keep track of cooking times to avoid burning your food. 

Packets are a good idea when everyone wants the same thing but with slightly different touches.  In this instance, each packet becomes an individual serving.  Be sure to keep vegetables and raw meats separate to avoid cross-contamination.

Bread rolls wrapped in heavy foil can be warmed on the grill.  Set them on the warming rack.  It won’t take a long time so keep watch.

Gas barbecue grills with side burners add another element to the grilling experience.  Rice or beans can be cooked outdoors as well.  The saucepan should stay covered to avoid bugs or insects flying into the pot.  You can even boil white potatoes for a homemade mashed potato side dish.  I would suggest purchasing a grill with side burners.  The grill becomes more versatile.

Most grills offer an extra prep area on one side.  This space can be used to arrange the food as it comes off of the grill.  Each person can set their plate there and have dinner served up with a smile.

Grilling is not the experience it once was.  Now, barbecue equipment is much more user friendly.  An entire meal can be prepared on the grill in less time than it would take in the house using a stove.  And, there is a good breeze blowing outside. 

Find family friendly product reviews, information and support from a variety of different moms from all walks of life at Moms Talk News. Join us, it’s Free!

I love Shelley’s website over at www.oneroastchicken.com.  She has a great free newsletter!  Here is a fun audio from her:  http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/W5d4sBVQ  ENJOY!

We just posted an article on Dine Without Whine called Menu Planning 101 featuring some of the benefits of menu planning.  Enjoy!

http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/article-menu-planning.htm 

We were recently featured in a syndicated newspaper column that was published in several newspapers.  Here is a copy from the Missoulian.  http://extras.missoulian.com/health/health_20070406_menus.html