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Inexpensive Summer Meals

Cheap meals don’t need to leave a bad taste in your mouth. There are hundreds of inexpensive summer recipes that are packed with flavor. In fact, many are so tasty your family will never know that you didn’t spend a fortune making them.

The following summer recipes are not only easy on your wallet, but they’re also simple to make and taste great:

TUNA PASTA SALAD

Ingredients:

1 (16-ounce) package seashell pasta, cooked

2 cups mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons milk

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 cups diced celery

4 tablespoons fresh chopped dill, plus more for garnish

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 (6-ounce) cans tuna packed in water, drained

1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained

1 1/2 cups frozen peas thawed

2 tablespoons scallions

Directions:

In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, dill, milk, garlic salt and pepper. Add remaining ingredients. Stir gently. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped dill and scallions.

SIMPLE VEGETABLE PASTA PRIMAVERA

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 yellow pepper, diced

1 red onion, diced

2 tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 medium zucchini, diced

1 medium yellow summer squash, diced

6 cloves garlic, peeled and quartered

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper

1 pound cooked Angel Hair pasta

Extra virgin olive oil

Balsamic vinegar

Shredded Parmesan cheese

Fresh basil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

In a large bowl, toss vegetables with oil, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Spread vegetables out evenly on a large foil lined cookie sheet.

Baked for 12 to 20 minutes until veggies get brown and caramelized.

Cook pasta as directed on box.

Toss vegetables with hot pasta.

Drizzle with olive oil and a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Top with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil before serving.

Related Articles:

Succulent Summer Berry Recipes

Making a Magnificent Meal from Summer’s Harvest

Kids in the Kitchen: Sweet and Simple Strawberry Treats

Fruit for Dinner

Summer Fruit Parfaits

This entry was posted in Vegetarian by Michele Cheplic. Bookmark the permalink.

About Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. She spent the next ten years as a television anchor and reporter at various stations throughout the country (from the CBS affiliate in Honolulu to the NBC affiliate in Green Bay). She has won numerous honors including an Emmy Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow awards honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast journalism. In addition, she has received awards from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for her reports on air travel and the Wisconsin Education Association Council for her stories on education. Michele has since left television to concentrate on being a mom and freelance writer.