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Keeping Summer Cooking Cool and Easy

I’m back! I’ve been away from your inbox for the past month while my husband, Robert, and I moved with our two dogs from Grand Lake, Colorado (at the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park) back down to Denver. After weeks of planning, packing, moving, and unpacking, we’re slowly beginning to feel settled.

With most of the kitchen finally unpacked, I’m ready to get back to cooking and sharing recipes with you. This week, I’ve gathered 5 of my favorite summer dishes for those days when you want something fresh and flavorful without spending hours in a hot kitchen..

Fresh and Flavorful Summer Favorites

From a colorful grilled chicken to a cool seafood salad and an easy fruit dessert, these recipes make summer cooking with seasonal ingredients feel effortless.

Mexican Grilled Chicken with Peppers and Onions Enjoy all the bold, zesty flavors of Tex-Mex fajitas in a lighter, more elegant presentation. Colorful peppers and onions make this grilled chicken as appealing to look at as it is delicious to eat. GET THE RECIPE

Crab and Shrimp Salad This cool and refreshing main-dish salad combines tender seafood with crisp vegetables and a flavorful curry-chutney dressing. Pine nuts, water chestnuts, green onion, currants, and avocado add an irresistible mix of tastes and textures. GET THE RECIPE

Tomato and Peach Salad Fresh tomato and peach slices are arranged in a colorful circular pattern, then topped with red onion, cilantro, and a touch of red pepper flakes. A sharp lime vinaigrette brings everything together. GET THE RECIPE

Grilled Corn, Zucchini and Tomato Salad Peak summer produce shines in this colorful grilled vegetable salad. A little sweet and a little smoky, it’s an easy side dish that brings out the best in fresh corn, zucchini, and tomatoes. GET THE RECIPE

Individual Plum Tarts These elegant, impressive tarts are surprisingly easy to make. Purchased puff pastry is topped with juicy plums, lemon zest, mint, and cinnamon, then finished with a glossy coating of apricot jam. GET THE RECIPE

Tips For Staying Cool in the Kitchen

A little planning can make hot weather cooking much more comfortable:

• Cook during the cooler hours. Prep or bake in the morning, then reheat or serve the dish at room temperature later.
• Keep the menu cool. Room-temperature, chilled, and frozen recipes, such as Gazpacho Soup and Frozen Strawberry Pie, are especially refreshing on hot summer days.
• Choose make-ahead recipes. Main-dish salads, sides, and desserts prepared early in the day keep last-minute hot cooking to a minimum.
• Use smaller appliances. An air fryer, toaster oven, slow cooker, or pressure cooker generally adds less heat to the kitchen than a full-size oven.

Thank you for your patience while I was away from my kitchen and your inbox. I’m so happy to be settled enough to start cooking again, and I’m looking forward to sharing more recipes, tips, and seasonal inspiration with you in the weeks ahead.

Wishing you a delicious week!

Lee