Summer Fun Foods

Let's face it-----Summer is so miserably hot at times---we just long to cool off.
Part of that includes what we eat....
I just made the most scrumptious salsa which I want to share-along with some other recipes.
I was at a picnic and this was so refreshing......and easy to make:
I used:
6 small to medium size tomatoes ( on the vine-don't ask me why-but they just hold their firmness better and were beautiful)-Kroger.
2 avocados-(organic hold up better).
I small red onion
1 clove of garlic
1 lime
salt and pepper to taste.
Chop up the garlic and red onion-place in bowl.
Cut up the tomatoes and avocados and add to garlic and onion.
Add fresh squeezed lime, salt and pepper.....
Mix it all up-----chill for 1 hour......add chips and YUM!

I also love simple pasta salad:
I think we all have our own version of this easy staple.

Cook an  entire box of rotini pasta-I like the Bertolli brand. (8 mins.)
Rinse with cool water and place in fridge to cool.
Chop up 2 med. size tomatoes.
Thaw a package-small-of frozen broccoli.
Mix all together and add:
Ranch dressing to half and Italian dressing to half.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
Sprinkle with a package of cheese ( your choice) before serving.
(You can also add cooked-baked-chicken, if you like).

Another choice for pasta:
Angel hair pasta--takes 4 minutes....to cook. Put some olive oil in water while pasta cooks. ( 1 teaspoon)
Use a jar of white sauce.( same shelf as spaghetti sauce) ( Alfredo)
Add a pound of cooked shrimp.
Fold shrimp and sauce in after draining the pasta.
If shrimp is frozen-throw in the last two minutes, with the cooking pasta. Drain together.
Add mushrooms or if the white sauce has mushrooms---add broccoli ( frozen, as you cook the pasta)
Sprinkle with nicely fresh ground pepper.
Is good!

I got this one from Arthur's, when I worked downtown.

Cook a box of long or short pasta. (Some are as fast and easy as 8 minutes).
Use ranch dressing ( like a sauce)-fold into cooked pasta.
Add sliced avocado.
Sprinkle with crumbled bacon bits.....ie: fry the bacon crisp and then crumble over the pasta dish.
This is delicious alone or you could add cooked/baked chicken to this dish also.

I like to sprinkle hot pepper flakes over the dish-after cooked. Adds a nice spice to it.
You can add Crescent rolls-Pillsbury---fast and easy in dairy case with biscuits----I like to fold in a square of pepper cheese-before I bake them. Delicious.

Where all of the recipes call for cheese---try different ones-fun and delicious.
These are just a couple of easy dishes to make for dinner.
Fresh fruits--- cut up-add cool whip or vanilla ice cream or yogurt and you have a wonderfully easy desert.
Bon appetite!