Woohoo, summer is coming to Denver and I am loving it. This weekend was the first really nice weekend and I spent as much time as possible outside. This will be my first summer with baby (now a very verbal, energetic 9 month old) and I am trying to do as much as possible to make my job easier in the food department.
I have planted basil, mint, rosemary and tomatoes hoping that the fresh herbs will add some summer flavor to my quickly prepared dishes. A couple of tips on quick meals:
Bruschetta
This Italian wonder is so easy to make and is my go to for a quick weekend lunch or a last minute get together app. I always have bread or crackers (yes, you can use crackers too) on hand and basil on my patio so all I need to pick up is tomatoes. Quickly chop up a few tomatoes, add in some onion (green preferably), and then the basil. For additional flavor, I add in garlic powder, pepper and finish it with a nice sea salt. Top toast squares or your favorite sturdy cracker (also great on pizza dough with some pesto sauce and melted cheese). A great, quick dish to delight your taste buds and easy enough to make and eat in the 30 min that you have between baby feeding and bath time.
Marinade, Marinade, Marinade
I cannot stress this enough. Marinades are a career mom’s best friend. I use marinades as much as possible, they add flavor and moisture to tough cuts of meat. My favorite marinade is actually Italian salad dressing with a few additional spices thrown in. Chicken, beef (like flank steak) or pork, Italian dressing handles them all with ease. Add in some additional herbs, a little spice and you have a phenomenal quick dish. I will take a frozen chicken breast, throw it in a Ziploc bag with some Italian dressing, some spices and leave it for the day in the fridge. Come home, throw it into the oven and there is a great moist dinner with exceptional flavor.
A few tips from me to you, I hope they spark summer in your taste buds.
Forays into Food 