currently in my kitchen

the weather is quickly changing here in sunny arizona.

before you know it, we'll be burning our feet on the sidewalk and scorching our hands on the steering wheel. some of us will even be baking cookies on our dashboard.

with the wardrobe change also comes the kitchen adjustments such as the consumption of cold coffee over hot coffee and raw veggies over steamed or quite frankly, the amount of take out over homemade.

farewell soups and comfort food. welcome salads, sandwiches or anything else that doesn't need to be cooked.

during those long hot months, our lunches typically consist of chips and salsa, veggies and dip, smoothies or frozen yogurt topped with fruit. dinner is the only meal i put effort into. and by effort, i mean very little effort.

i pinned these recipes months ago but just recently put them into action.

here are a few new recipes we've added to our favorites. simple and delicious with very little cook time. perfect for summer dinners.

Roasted Cauliflower & Chickpeas with Lemon-Jalapeno Dressing  source: besthealthmag.com

this was delicious. i made it twice this week. i added more protein for J and the kiddos with diced, grilled chicken and used a regular jalapeno instead of pickled.

Asparagus Proscuitto Ciabatta source: skinnytaste.com

these were so good. i'm making them again this week although i may substitute ham for proscuitto only because it's what i have on hand. i don't have a panini press so i placed a sauce pan on top of the sandwich, then placed a large can of chicken broth in the sauce pan. we rock a classy kitchen, can you tell?

Sriracha Chicken source: familyfreshcooking.com

i made this for dinner tonight. it was fast and simple to put together. i should admit that i don't ever measure ingredients so this ended up being a tad bit spicier than i'd anticipated. i'll make it again but either amp up the honey or tone down the sriracha. 

Salmon with Avocado Salsa source: thecookierookie.com

salmon is a go to dinner for us in summer. it's quick to grill and can be seasoned several different ways. this recipe pairs two of my favorite summer time staples: salmon and guacamole.

Elegant Orzo Salad with Wilted Spinach and Pine Nuts  source: allrecipes.com

this is an old stand by both my sister and i make. i've served it as a side or i've added grilled chicken or salmon and called it an entree. i especially love the toasted pine nuts. it helps to chiffonade the spinach-makes it more kid friendly.

Chicken Summer Vegetable Bake source: pink-parsley.com

this is pinned for future cooking days. not sure about a casserole styled dish but with the veggies and chicken in one pan, it means less dishes. which means, less time in the kitchen, which means, i may consider it.

Garlic Chicken Spring Rolls source: tablespoon.com

i have not made these but when courage peaks, i will. spring rolls scare me just a little.

Summer Squash with Goat Cheese and Thyme source: gfinthecity.com

for lunch this week, i threw this together quickly. did you catch that? quickly. score. i chopped basil in stead of thyme because it grows in our yard and because i like it better anyways. would be good paired with grilled chicken and a side of watermelon. or...

i've made a watermelon salad before but heck, not anymore! no more chopping. summer pizza at its best.

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Bars source - moneysavingmom.com

let's be honest, summer is filled with popsicles and ice cream, which we love, but occasionally we like a baked good. except these aren't baked, they're just good. i added raisins and used almond butter instead of peanut. i think next time i'll add a handful of rice krispies. 

No Bake PB Bars source: iheartnaptime.com

no explanation needed.

i mean, really.

when i die and go to heaven, i'll be greeted with platters of pb and chocolate. i know it.

Tortellini Skillet Lasagna source: lemonsforlulu.com

this i'll save for one of those monsoon evenings when it cools down a little. i will. i promise. i swear. it looks so good and i'm not even a fan of traditional lasagna. and again, one pan!

Spicy Moscow Mule

hands down,  the moscow mule is my cocktail of choice for the summer.  this print is available here, the beverage is available in my kitchen. i prefer to heat up the original recipe by using jalapeno flavored vodka instead of traditional. it gives it a nice kick. i prefer fever-tree ginger beer, too.

cheers to summer dining...