Monday, July 30, 2007

Summer Food

I haven't been doing much inspired cooking lately. Too much going on, too little time and energy. However, I came across a recipe for Seared Shrimp with Cucumber Salad, courtesy of Martha's Everyday Food, which looked so delish, I had to give it a try over the weekend. I decided to make B and I a nice, summery lunch yesterday. Yu-um!

The salad was cool and crunchy and the seared shrimp added a depth of flavor and just enough warmth. (The recipe calls for jalapenos, which I left out, but to compensate I did add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for some kick). This was a great summer meal- really fast, but really flavorful. And during the summer, isn't it all about easy meals, that don't involve standing for too long over a hot stove?

I am also inspired by Mark Bittman's recent column in the New York Times, Summer Express: 101 Simple Meals Ready in 10 Minutes of Less. This is exactly the kind of thing I need during this summer of all work and no play. I can't wait to try some of these fabulous ideas!

What kinds of food have you been cooking up this summer? What are some of your favorite summer recipes?

5 comments:

Octopus Knits said...

Mmmm... sounds delicious! We just tend to throw things together year round -- lots of stir frys and salads with no particular plan.

Anonymous said...

I actually made kidney and black bean chili the other day, which was so weather inappropriate, but very tasty.

I do get pretty lazy in the kitchen when it gets hot like this. I'm going to have to check out that article you mentioned.

Shelley said...

Oh that is gorgeous!! I love to make a salad with crab, strawberries, mixed greens and a teensie bit of cilantro and a 1/4 cup of cashews. Then I make a dressing from nonfat sour cream, lime juice and sweet chili sauce. It sounds weird but it is in-freaking-credible!

Anonymous said...

Oh, the crap salad from Shelley sounds yummy and so did the shrimp and cucumber.
I love homemade taco salad in the summer with black beans and lots of avocado. Gazpacho is another favorite, so cool and refreshing and a breeze in the blender.

Nasus said...

Yum, I'll have to make that shrimp salad! Funny, b/c K and I just jotted down our fave 14 dishes and posted them on our fridge. We've been eating a lot of bbq'd pesto shrimp over capellini, or bbq'd marinated chicken and red peppers, tossed with lettuce, cucumbers, gorgonzola cheese, and quickly blanched local sweet corn (yum, I love sweet corn.) :)