Cool Meals for the Lazy Days of Summer
I’ve been subscribing to Real Simple magazine for years now. I love all of the tips and solutions they share for everyday problems around the house. They also have a great Road Tested section that thoroughly tests all of the possible brands of a particular product and then tells you which ones are great and why. When I received the August 2008 issue, it was filled with the usual fantastic tips on how to make something old new again, product reviews, and quite a few sections related to cooking and entertaining during the summer months. If you don’t already subscribe, do pick up the August issue because there are so many tantalizing recipes that will keep your kitchen cool and your family “Well Fed” during the dog days of summer.
Now, I’d like to share with you some of the highlights - just to whet your tastebuds . . .
In the Every Day Celebrations section, Real Simple provides all the details on how to throw a clambake right in your own backyard using your grill. Invite over some friends and family and enjoy a beachlike evening without fighting the traffic to get there.
In the Your Words section, Real Simple asked readers to share their favorite summer meals. There are so many simple and yet satisfying ideas there you may find you have a new favorite.
In the Road Tested section, the Real Simple testers “suffered” through many ice cream pops to come up with the best recommendations: Best Classic, Most Decadent, Best Citrus Blast, and Most Virtuous. This will save you time in the freezer section at the grocery next time you just can’t decide which box of pops to bring home.
The article on 20 - 20 Minute Meals appealed to me right away. With recipes like Chicken Cutlets with Tomato Saute, Pasta with Peppers and Mozzarella, Creamy Shrimp Rolls, and Honey Chicken Skewers, my mouth was watering as I marked recipes I wanted to try out on my family over the next few weeks.
If the heat has made you a bit parched, be sure to check out the Easy Summer Cocktails. Real Simple makes preparing the traditional summer cocktails a breeze, with shortcuts that will have you sipping in no time.
Finally, they have come up with 6 Satisfying Salads that have new twists that go beyond just leafy greens. The Cool Southwestern Salad with Corn and Avocado and the Warm Spinach Salad with Grilled Sausage sounded filling enough for my husband and even something my two boys would enjoy.
If you see this issue on the newstand when you are out and about in the next few weeks, be sure to pick up your copy. It’s really one not to miss, with all of the great tips and recipes in the August issue.
Logo courtesy of Real Simple.
