What is best for this HOT summer

School is finally over… The weather is getting hotter… No matter what happens, we still need to eat. Whether eating alone or with friends and families, we always ended up with the daily question “What to eat for … (breakfast, lunch, or dinner)?” When school is out, the daily routine tends to be out of order, and meal prepping seems like the biggest struggle for most of us. Please do not let this idea turn you down. Home-cooked meals offer better nutritional values, but can be done easily with minimal requirements of your time, skills, and cost. There are various shortcuts for preparing healthier home-cooked meals/food: 1) use pre-washed, pre-cut vegetables, 2) use low-sodium canned beans, 3) use frozen unseasoned vegetables, 4) use pre-cooked meats.

Heat is also one of the barriers when it comes to summer cooking, which is why most of us avoid using stoves during the summer. Therefore, I am also taking this factor into consideration when hunting for recipe ideas. Most of my June recipe ideas require minimal cooking time.

OK, enough of the blah~ blah~ blah~. Let’s get busy making some delicious food!!!

Broccoli Apple Salad: I found this recipe by accident while scrolling through my facebook the other day, and I am glad I made the effort to give it a try! This appetizing salad is perfect for the season! It is super easy to make, and of course, I used the pre-washed, pre-cut broccoli florets when making this salad. I did several modifications when making this salad. 1. substituted yogurt for mayo; 2. Adding chopped turkey bacon, sharp shredded cheddar cheese, and dried cranberries. The recipe is inspired by Tastes better from Scratch.

Strawberry and Spinach Salad: Are you looking for a healthy bright delicious salad to impress your crowd? Then try this strawberry and spinach salad! It is made with baby spinach, fresh strawberry slices, red onions, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy pecan brittle, tossed in a vanilla-white balsamic poppy seed dressing. The recipe is adapted from Feasting at Home.

Black Bean Salsa: This dish is definitely a multi-purpose recipe. It can be served by itself with tortilla chips, or paired with something else (incorporated in enchiladas/quesadillas or tacos). It is filling, flavorful, and a healthier salsa option! The recipe is adapted from Feasting at Home.

Shrimp Tacos: Nothing is better than preparing your tacos at home for better quality! I love the homemade cilantro lime crema; the flavor is superb! For the slaw, I used pre-cut coleslaw veggies. The recipe is inspired by Feasting at Home.

Spicy Jerk Tofu Bowl: I love grain bowl recipes, as the ingredients can be easily modified per individual preferences. This particular jerk tofu bowl has so much flavor! The refreshing mango salsa paired so well with the spicy jerk tofu, cilantro lime rice, and seasoned black beans! I served my tofu bowl with some of the leftover cilantro lime creme from shrimp tacos.  The recipe is inspired by Feasting at Home.