Summer Recipes for Healthy, Delicious, Easy Meals

Summer Recipes for Healthy, Delicious, Easy Meals

Summer is a great season for grilling, salads and fresh fruits and vegetables.  However, it is also a really busy time for most.  I thought it might be nice to share some ideas for fast, healthy meals using fresh ingredients.

Grilled Chicken Salad with Homemade Balsamic Dressing
Salads are easy and great on a hot day.  Marinade and grill a few chicken breasts and place them on top of a salad piled high with all of your favorites.  I suggest using romaine or green or red leaf lettuce or field greens. Topping suggestions include grape tomatoes, green or red onions, avocado, olives, fresh mozzarella, fresh chopped jalapeno or anything else you have handy.

To make the dressing:  combine extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar at a 50/50 ratio and add salt, pepper and several dashes of dry mustard.

One Pot Pasta
This is thanks to a Martha Stewart Living article and I am HOOKED!  Nothing easier, and so good.
Combine a box of whole wheat pasta, 2 cups of diced tomatoes or halved grape tomatoes, several handfuls of fresh basil, 4 cloves of garlic, a thinly sliced medium sized onion, 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper, 1 tsp red pepper flakes and 4 1/2 cups of water.  Cook it all together in one pan (do not pre-cook the pasta).  Stir and top with a little shredded parmesan cheese.

Jerk Chicken
Marinade chicken (organic if possible) in a liquid jerk marinade for 24-72 hours before grilling.
Grill and slice the chicken into strips.  Wrap in corn tortillas with sliced avocado and fruit salsa.  These are so easy and so delicious!  It goes really well with a side of cantaloupe.

Summer is full of great tastes that are not available in the winter months.  Watermelon, strawberries, tomatoes and so many other things just don't taste the same when they are not in season.  Enjoy it while you can!