Fresh & Easy End of Summer Meals

Have you tried wearing sweaters and baking pumpkin muffins when it's still 80 degrees in September?  Me too.

As much as we look forward to the next thing, there is a challenge and a beauty in being present in the right now. Embracing the in between and the bounty it has for us is enriching.

That's what I'm aiming to do with meals lately- continuing to enjoy summer's produce, grilling, and meals out on the porch just a little bit longer. 

Here's some simple, easy, produce-forward lunch and dinner ideas to enjoy these last few weeks before it's really time for pumpkins. 

Grilling

Roasted garlic chicken sausage, bell peppers, and onions make a great kabob, a side of grilled zucchini makes it a meal. 

Go for island flavor kabobs with grilled shrimp, bell peppers, and pineapple.

A steak on the grill is so good with smashed Yukon gold potatoes and a spring greens salad with candied walnuts, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and balsamic drizzle. 

Grilled California chicken burgers (with or without the bun) topped with pepper jack, tomato, avocado, and grilled pineapple are simple deliciousness. Again, zucchini makes a great side. 

Pasta

This Mandarin Pasta Salad from Creme de la Crumb is one of my favorite recipes I've found on Pinterest. It's perfectly fresh for summer. 

Black pepper and parmesan ravioli with just barely roasted grape tomatoes, grilled asparagus, and a drizzle of olive oil is lovely with a glass of white wine. 

Bowls

A sushi bowl with sticky rice, salmon, snow peas, cucumber, carrots, and greens is so good drizzled with siracha mayo or sweet chili sauce.

 Brown rice with stir fried veggies is so good on a hot night when you don't feel like working too hard in the kitchen.

Top brown rice with shredded chicken, avocado, pickled red onion, seasoned kidney beans, cotija cheese, and a dollop of plain greek yogurt for a Latin American bowl. 

Salad

A southwest salad with chopped romaine, cherry tomatoes, steak, grilled corn, cubed pepperjack cheese, avocado, and Sante Fe style tortilla chips is so satisfying. 

Tonight I enjoyed sautéed sweet potatoes, zucchini, and chicken sausage seasoned with paprika and chili powder. Spring greens, avocado, cotija cheese, and a cilantro lime dressing on top pulled the flavors together. 

Are you still enjoying summer flavors while you can, or are you itching for the apple, maple, and pumpkin flavors of fall? What's your favorite meal you've cooked this summer? Let me know in the comments below.

linking up with:

Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party

Menu Plan Monday