Sunday, July 18, 2010

Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime????

Well, if you are like me at all, cooking is not high on my priority list during the summer.  I like fast meals that are healthy and don't heat up my house!  Thought I would share a few more of my favorites!  Also, we're half way through summer and kids are starting to get restless.  I'll start off with a few fun ideas using ingredients from your kitchen that hopefully can keep your little ones occupied for a while (perhaps while you are preparing dinner???).

Sidewalk Paint

1 1 lb box cornstarch (the cheaper the better)
3 1/3 c water
food coloring

Mix the cornstarch and water together well until there aren't any clumps.  Pour into 4 to 6 containers.  Add 5 drops of desired coloring to each container (I found some neon colors at the grocery store and my kids love them).  Then provide the kids with cheap paintbrushes - bigger than 1 inch wide and not the foam type.  Have them go to town on your driveway or sidewalk.  These paints wash off better than sidewalk chalk.  The colors look brighter after they dry and they DON'T STAIN clothes or skin!

Bubble Mix

2 c Joy Dishwashing soap
6 c water
3/4 c light corn syrup

Combine in a large glass jar.  Shake well and refrigerate when not in use.  Be creative about what is used for a "bubble wand".  If you make a huge batch of this, you can actually put it in a kiddie swimming pool.  Place a hula hoop in the bottom of the pool and step inside the hoop.  Bring it up over your body and you get to be inside of a bubble!

Play Dough

1/2 c salt
1 c flour
1 c water
2 t oil
2 t cream of tartar

Mix together in a saucepan.  Heat for three minutes, stirring often until it thickens into a ball.  Take out of pan and knead desired food coloring in.  Store in a plastic bag in the fridge.

Edible Finger Paints

3 small packages instant pudding, all different flavors - vanilla, chocolate and pistachio work well
4 1/2 c milk per box

Mix together each box of pudding with 1 1/2 c milk.  Refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes.  Outside, give your children newspapers or other big sheets of paper and let them fingerpaint with the pudding.  They can lick their fingers to their hearts content!
Popsicles

1 3 oz pkg Jello
1 pkg Kool Aid
1 c sugar
2 c boiling water
2 c cold water

Dissolve Jello, Kool Aid and sugar in boiling water.  Add cold water and then freeze in desired shapes.


NOW TO THE REAL TASTY STUFF........

Dessert first of course:

Lemonade Pie (courtesy of the Lion House cookbook)
 This is my all-time favorite summer dessert.  Its light and sweet and tangy!  Perfect on a hot day!

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin (Knox)
1/2 c cold water
1 c boiling water
1 1/3 c sugar
1 12 oz can of one of the following (FROZEN Lime-ade, Pink Lemonade, Lemonade, Raspberry Lemonade concentrate)
1 large tub whipped topping
2 graham cracker pie crusts

Mix gelatin and cold water together.  Add boiling water and sugar, stir until dissolved.  Add concentrate and stir until dissolved.  Chill until very thick.  Mix in whipped topping with electric mixer. Pour into pie shells. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.


Easy Salad

1 lb container cottage cheese
1 small box jello (I prefer orange or strawberry)
1 medium carton whipped topping
1 can mandarin oranges

Mix together and let chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.  This isn't a favorite of my kids but my hubby and I love it.  I use no fat cottage cheese and lite whipped topping so its almost healthy!

Grape Salad

1 lb seedless green grapes
1 lb seedless red grapes
1 8 oz brick cream cheese, softened
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c ready to drink orange juice

Wash grapes and remove from stems.  Place in a large bowl.  Mix together cream cheese, sugar and orange juice.  Fold mixture into grapes.  Sprinkle with chopped pecans and brown sugar if desired.


Spinach Salad with Dressing

1 pkg baby spinach
1 pkg romaine lettuce
3 /4 c grated swiss cheese
1 pkg real bacon bits or 1/2 lb fried bacon, crumbled
1 c cottage cheese, drained
1 can mandarin oranges
1 c fresh sliced strawberries if you have them
1/2 c slivered almonds, if desired
1/2 c fresh mushrooms, sliced, if desired

Dressing:
1 1/2 T poppy seeds
3/4 c white vinegar
1 1/2 c vegetable or olive oil
1/2 c sugar
1 1/2 T grated onion
1 1/2 t salt
1 1/2 t dry mustard

At serving time, toss all salad ingredients together. Blend all dressing ingredients together in a blender and toss with salad right before serving.

Chicken Coleslaw

1 pkg coleslaw mix or 1 head cabbage, shredded
2 cooked and diced chicken breasts
1 pkg ramen noodles, chicken or oriental flavored - broken up, reserve seasoning packet for dressing
1 pkg slivered almonds
1/2 c sunflower seeds
1 can mandarin oranges

Dressing:
1 c oil (I like to use 1 T of sesame oil and then fill the rest of the measuring cup with regular oil)
2 T sugar
1 1/2 T soy sauce
1/2 c vinegar (rice vinegar is the best)
seasoning packet from noodles
1 T sesame seeds

Toss all salad ingredients together.  Whisk dressing ingredients together and stir into salad.  Serve immediately.


Chicken Salad Sandwich Filling 
 perfect for rolls, croissants or on a bed of lettuce

4 c diced cooked chicken
2 c seedless green or red grapes, cut in half
1 c chopped celery
1/2 c sweetened flake coconut
1 c chopped cashews OR sliced almonds
1 c mayo (I'm a huge fan of the mayo made with olive oil - less fat but better taste than the regular!)
1 T honey mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix together.  You may need to add more mayo to get it to the right consistency.  If you serve it on lettuce, top it off with some chow mein or rice noodles and some mandarin oranges for fun!

And for those of you who still like an actual COOKED meal - here's some slow cooker options that you may like!

Honey Chicken

1/2 c honey
1 T dijon mustard
1 t salt
1 t curry powder
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Combine first 4 ingredients.  Place chicken breasts in a SPRAYED slow cooker.  Pour sauce over top.  Cook on low for 4 - 5 hours or until chicken is done.  DO NOT COOK ON HIGH - it will create a big clean up because the sauce will burn!
Serve over rice or pasta.


Alfredo Chicken Casserole

3 c cooked chicken, diced
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 pkgs of Alfredo sauce mix, made according to package directions (or one jar - approx 2 c worth)
1 c sour cream
1 can diced water chestnuts (if desired)
1 c celery chopped
1 16 oz package desired pasta, cooked and drained
2 c grated cheese
1 1/2 c frozen peas

Combine all ingredients in a SPRAYED slow cooker.  Top with Parmesan cheese.  Cook on low for 2 - 3 hours. (if baking in the oven, bake for 45 minutes at 350)

Enchatacamale Pie

1 1/2 lb hamburger, browned
2 cans favorite enchilada sauce
1 can tomato sauce
2 cans sliced olives
2 c grated cheese
2 dozen corn tortillas, broken into fourths

Mix burger and sauces.  In a slow cooker, layer the following: sauce, tortilla, olives, cheese.  Repeat until all ingredients are used. Cook on low for 5 hours or bake in the oven for 3 hours at 300 degrees.


And the last recipe for the day:

The BEST Marinade Ever
(this works for chicken, turkey breasts, beef and even wild game)

1 c oil
1 c soy sauce (can use lite if desired)
1 can lemon lime soda pop

Mix together and place with desired meat in an airtight bowl, making sure all pieces are covered.  Marinade in refrigerator for 8 to 24 hours.  When ready to grill, remove from marinade and grill until done over medium to medium low heat.  This recipe will cover between 4 - 6 lbs of meat.

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