Our appetites tend to diminish in the hot summer months. Who wants to eat a big dinner when it's 90 degrees outside? Cool, light food is much more appealing.
One of the best things about summer is that so much beautiful produce is overflowing farmer's markets and supermarket aisles. When fruits and vegetables are this perfect, you don't need to do very much to them. So stay cool and be sure to browse through your air conditioned supermarket looking for precooked ingredients so all you have to do is assemble, stir, and serve.
Salads
- Salmon and Potato Salad
Add more chopped cooked vegetables to this simple and flavorful salad; zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, and summer squash would all be delicious. - Janice's Favorite Chicken Salad
Buy deli chicken breasts and canned crisp bacon bits for this wonderful main dish salad. - New Orleans Red Beans and Rice Salad
You could substitute your favorite balsamic vinaigrette for the salad dressing in this easy recipe. And be sure to use my tip about buying cooked rice from a Chinese restaurant. - Canadian Bacon and Peach Salad
Just four ingredients make one of the tastiest salads ever. Be sure the peaches are ripe and sweet; you can substitute mangoes or nectarines if you'd like. - Shrimp and Black Bean Salad
This fabulous salad combines some of my favorite ingredients for a wonderful no cook main dish. - Kris' Famous Sweet Potato Salad
You could add other chopped veggies to this delicious salad; I seem to be addicted to yellow summer squash this season. - Tex Mex Turkey Salad
This unusual salad mixes black beans with turkey, Tex Mex ingredients and fresh fruit for a great taste sensation. - Turkey Rice Salad
Frozen rice blends are a great way to get cooked rice with no heat; the rice is already cooked and is just reheated during the boiling or microwaving process. So all you have to do is let the rice thaw and it's ready to use in this cool salad. - Shrimp Salad in Bread Bowls
Just four ingredients make this beautiful and tasty salad super quick and easy. - Butter Bean Salad
Any variety of canned beans and any type of canned or deli meat make this salad so easy and refreshing. - Bean and Tuna Salad
You could easily substiute canned salmon or chicken for the tuna in this fresh and delicious salad. - Italian Bread Salad
Boboli pizza crust and mixed salad greens form the basis for this hearty no cook main dish salad. - South Seas Chicken Salad
There are tons of different flavors of frozen fully cooked chicken breast chunks and strips; choose your favorite! - Chicken Crisp Salad
Fresh and sweet watermelon along with mango chutney, tender chicken, and crisp fried noodles combine for a fabulous and unusual salad.
Soups and Sandwiches
- Cool Shrimp Tacos
An avocado and cucumber spread made with sour cream is the fabulous topping on these cold, crisp, and flavorful tacos. - Chilled Cucumber Soup
Chopped walnuts add nice crunch to this cool and easy soup flavored with lemon juice and green onions. - Pantry Gazpacho
All of the ingredients for this delicious and easy soup can be stored in your pantry so you can make it anytime. - Cold Pea Soup with Mint
Frozen peas, half and half, and fresh mint make a very cool and cooling soup perfect for the hottest days. - Greek Pita Wrap Sandwiches
Chicken, feta cheese, and cannellini beans are the flavorful filling in these easy wrap sandwiches. - Salmon Cucumber Sandwiches
Cold sandwiches are some of the very best no cook recipes because they are so easy and because you can vary the bread and fillings to suit your tastes. - Beef and Avocado Pockets
Deli roast beef, buttery smooth avocados, and a simple dressing in pita breads makes a fabulous sandwich perfect for picnics or lunch on the porch. - Lettuce Wrap Sandwiches
If you're eating low carb, any cold sandwich filling can be wrapped up in sturdy lettuce leaves for a cool and fresh recipe. - Spiral Sandwiches
Keep cracker bread in your pantry and you'll always have a nice wrap for any sandwich filling.
Desserts
- Ice Cream Pie
Keep a variety of prepared crumb crusts and ice cream in your pantry and freezer and you can serve ice cream pies all summer long. - Fudgesicle Pie
'Nuff said. - Sorbet Parfait
Just four ingredients combine to make a delicious and elegant no cook dessert. - Old Fashioned Chocolate Dessert
It's amazing what you can do with just three ingredients; you have to try this dessert recipe! - Champagne Sorbet
Use this basic method with any flavor of ice cream, any kind of fresh fruit, and any sparkling beverage and you won't serve the same dessert twice all summer long!
