Summer meals

Summer has finally arrived, oh yes, it is really here. 108 both yesterday and today (it looked like 109 on our patio thermometer). Actually, it's going to be cooler the next few days -- 101 or so -- but I think anything over 99 counts as summer.

Life is different at 100 degrees or more. Everything changes, from the clothes we wear, to the linens on our bed, to when (or whether) we exercise, to how we schedule shopping trips. People slow down, because hurrying, even just a little, makes you sweat.

One of the things I've had trouble with in previous summers is dinner. What to serve when it's over 100 outside and no one really feels like eating. What to cook in a kitchen that's almost that hot (the swamp cooler doesn't cool the kitchen down very well).

Now, over the past year I've intentionally simplified our meals. I decided a while back that it's OK to have only 2 dishes for dinner. It is not necessary to have a main course, a vegetable, and a starch. A main course and a vegetable will do nicely, especially when the twins are so picky. (When they're older I'll serve more food.) But in the summer, I am starting to think it is OK to have only one course. Or a main course and a bowl of cut-up watermelon.

But what should that main course be? I am experimenting. So far this week we've had four summery meals.

On Monday we had White Bean Salad. The ingredients were 1 can of white beans, frozen peas, fresh mint, chopped up red and yellow bell peppers, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and feta cheese. The directions were to mix it all together and let it stand for 30 minutes. What could be easier? I thought it was delicious. Rocket Boy said hmm and ate it. Boos frowned and said "what is this?"

On Tuesday we had Scrambled Eggs with Shrimp. The ingredients were eggs, shrimp, soy sauce, sesame oil, mushrooms, and butter. The directions were to fry the mushrooms in butter, add the shrimp, stir the eggs and flavorings together and throw them in, and then scramble. What could be easier? I thought it was quite yummy. Rocket Boy had seconds. Boos frowned and ate the cut up nectarines instead.

On Wednesday we had Tuna Pasta Salad. The ingredients were small pasta shells, canned tuna, chopped celery, frozen peas, leftover chopped up bell peppers, and some lite mayo, lite Miracle Whip, and Greek yogurt for the dressing. The directions were to cook the pasta, mix everything together, and let it chill for a while. What could be easier? I thought it was delicious. Rocket Boy said hmm. Boos poked at it and ate the cut up watermelon instead.

Tonight we had Berry Breakfast Crepes. The ingredients were blueberries, raspberries, lemon juice, sugar, flour, evaporated milk, an egg, and ricotta cheese. This was a little more complicated because I had to actually make crepes, but we have a new pan which made it almost effortless. The filling of ricotta and fruit seemed delightful. I thought they were yummy. Rocket Boy said they were OK. Baby A actually ate his, but Baby B ran outside to play with the water table.

Each night Rocket Boy has said to me, "why don't we just have fish sticks?"

Summer meals, a work in progress.