Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Summer Foodie Tips

Here in the U.S. it is finally starting to feel like summer.  I knew it would happen - it just took a while this year!!
I have a few ideas on some summer fun foods - and to be honest they will work for anytime of the year.    I have done all of these many times all throughout the year.

Fresh tomatoes are going to be coming on soon.  I love sliced tomatoes, tomato sandwiches, tomatoes in all sorts of salads, you name it.  A huge taste sensation to me is mixing tomatoes and cheese - I LOVE IT!
These are so good!!!  Slice your fresh tomatoes and top with parmesan cheese - then place under the broiler or in the oven for just a few minutes.  You want the cheese melted and just starting to brown.  HEAVEN!

**Need a fun dessert.  
FRUIT PIZZA
Bake a sugar (or whatever you want) cookie on a pizza pan.  Yes, spread the cookie dough until the pan is covered.  Baked until done.  
Mix 8 oz. cream cheese and 1/3 - 1/2 cups sugar together once cream cheese has softened. (You determine sugar content to your sweetness/taste)
Spread this over the cooled cookie
Top with triangles of fresh fruit = sliced strawberries, grapes, pineapples pieces, apple slices, banana slices, any type berries - Kiwi slices - whatever you so desire!!!!  
These are pretty, fun and oh so yummy!

**Next time you make strawberry shortcake - us Twinkies instead of cake.  You have your cake and cream all in one.  This is a fun treat for kids especially.

**Freeze fruits to use in drinks.  You can lay them on a cookie sheet and flash fresh before placing in baggies.  Fruit is fun to find in a glass of lemonade, spritzer, or wine!
You may also want to freeze the fruit in ice cubes.

**Tortillas
This is about as easy as it gets for a bread substitute.  Tortillas are easy and fun to make.  I love them with soups, stews, soup beans, breakfast, Mexican food - you name it.  They don't have to be used just for tacos anymore.  These are just so soft and wonderful with any food you serve them with.  No need to bake bread on a hot day - make tortillas.

** Don't forget to freeze tea, fruit juices, and even leftover coffee in ice cube trays.  You can use them to keep your drinks cold - yet they don't water anything down.
Milk can be done the same way to use in smoothies.

**Individual fry pies
No need to heat the oven to have a fun and tasty fruit dessert.  I roll out pie dough and use my biscuit cutter to cut circles.  Then I add 2 - 3 spoons of applesauce to the center of one and top with a second circle and tightly crimp the edges with a fork.
Place these fruit rounds in hot grease and fry on one side till lightly browned - flip and fry other side.  These are quick and easy.  You can even sprinkle the tops with sugar or powdered sugar as they cool.
You could also use any canned pie filling - it is just nice to know that applesauce can be used!
Tasty.

ENJOY some tasty fun treats for pennies this summer.

Do you have any fun ideas for summer treats or yummies?  Let us know!!!!!!!!!!!

24 comments:

  1. My summertime favorite is tomato, basil and mozzarella pizza. Thinly slice tomatoes, add lots of fresh basil, mozzarella and drizzle with olive oil. Heat until cheese is bubbly. It can be done on bread or pizza dough and it is amazing. BLT's are a really close second.

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    1. Yum!! That sounds so good. I like to add thinly sliced tomatoes to the top on any pizza - Mmmmmm roasted tomatoes.
      OH, how could I forget BLT - probably an all time favorite!
      I will try the tomato, cheese and basil on pizza for sure!
      Thanks!

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  2. I love blt sandwichs they are among my favorite.

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  3. Fried pies ...I need to try and make them again. Sound so delicious!
    Have a great day Cheryl.

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    1. They are tasty. I bet the grands would love them!

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  4. Your ideas are definitely going into my summer meal plan ideas. Things we also like are:deviled eggs, cucumbers and onions in a vinegar/water brine, potato salad, pasta salad loaded with many fresh garden veggies, and fresh fruit kabobs.

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    1. I love cucumbers and onions, pasta salad, and any fruit. I do eat deviled eggs and potato salad - just not as high on my list!

      Glad you got some new ideas

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  5. Oh yum! I love homegrown tomatoes anyway you can fix them, and I'll surely try them with cheese. I always thought tortillas would be difficult to make, but you make it sound easy. Thanks for the recipes.

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    1. How can you not like home grown tomatoes??!!!
      They really are good with cheese - just a really good taste sensation.
      Tortillas are super easy.

      ENJOY

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  6. Such good ideas I like the idea of the individual fry pies. Also the tortilla recipe looks easy. I must try it. Thank you.

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    1. You are very welcome. They are all easy and pretty frugal!
      ENJOY

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  7. I'm not a big fan of cooked tomatoes, I like mine ripe and soft though so I'm thinking with the cheese I'd probably like these. And I love the tortilla recipe. Thank you!

    I do use frozen fruit in my iced tea (which I take sweetened!) It adds a extra dimension. For me summer cooking is all about foods I can make up ahead (and before the temperature rises too high) like pasta and potato salads, and lots of grilling.

    Have a great day!

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    1. I am not too huge on cooked tomatoes, but they sure are good with cheese!! I placed them on pizza once and that totally changed my mind.

      I like easy and refreshing as well during the summer. I eat a lot of pasta salads during the summer
      Sweet tea a must!!!!!!!

      Have a good one.

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  8. Those tomatoes with the cheese on top look delicious. I have a vegetarian friend who brings those to work sometimes for her dinner.

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    1. They really are good and so easy.
      I like a good tomato sandwich, wonder if she would like that?

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  9. The tomato slices and Parmesan look so good! Gonna use that idea. And the little pies would be fun to make. Sliced tomatoes on quesadillas are good, too :) and tuna-stuffed 'maters. I will try making tortillas with your recipe, thanks! Happy tomato eating :)

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    1. Mary, there is another that I forgot about. Tuna stuffed tomatoes!
      Tomatoes on anything is good to me!!!! Never met one I didn't like!
      I am so excited to think about a good fresh tomato.

      ENJOY

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  10. That fruit pizza has me written all over it!!! I LOVE that stuff! Thanks for the reminder especially with the 4th of July coming up. That would be a great dessert to take to a party with red and blue fruit!

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    1. It sure would!!! That would be really pretty and tasty too!
      I bet it would be a hit.
      You are welcome and enjoy!

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  11. I love frozen grapes in the summertime. Wash them & single layer them on a jelly roll pan in freezer, then place the frozen ones in zip lock bags. Grape flavored mini ice balls.

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  12. Thank you for the recipe for the tortillas! Also, freezing fruit is such a great idea for everyone to do. It has been scary to see how many frozen fruit recalls that there have been on prepackaged frozen fruits lately.

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    1. You are welcome.
      Exactly - if we freeze fresh produce we know exactly what we are getting! Too many bad things out there now days.

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