Summer Scorcher: Low-Effort, High-Impact Dinner (Week 19)
If you hadn’t noticed, this summer has been extremely hot. Maybe it’s not hotter than usual ( I don’t know), but to me it seems unreasonably hot all of the time. I’m not complaining (well, maybe a little) as I think we should embrace the short burst of heat in the northeast; however, even I get tired of multiple days in the 90s. And the humidity! I can’t even.
What does all this weather-talk have to do with dinner? I’m sure you’re curious. Well, when the weather is ridiculous and uncomfortable, I tend to lean on the easiest dishes possible that are low-effort and high-impact. Yes, we do have air conditioning, but meals to “beat the heat” are on the menu a lot right now since the sun is shining and the temperature is high. All of the time.
Last week included a good variety of improvised meals (that’s happening more and more this summer) including two of my favorite dishes: Italian turkey meatballs and baked scallops. Two very different dinners, but both are so incredibly satisfying and delicious - especially during the summer. I know it’s funny to crave hot food during the hot months. I can’t explain it! I love dishes that remind me of summers past and these are two of the best.
We also created an interesting style of “stuffed sweet potato” which is another go-to dinner preparation if you just don’t know what else to make. Sweet potatoes are filling and healthy so if you top them with even more healthy, filling food, then you’ve got yourself a really great meal. We’ve been buying a lot of ground turkey as our primary protein for this very reason: it’s healthy and extremely versatile. It works so well in so many meals!
Finally, we closed the week with a great salad topped with homemade chicken tenders. This is the easiest way to get lots of protein and veggies all in one bowl, but still having the end-result be very delicious. I’ve been loving Italian-breadcrumb chicken pan-fried on the stove-top and then serving the pieces over a simple salad. Another low-effort, high-impact meal. I’d highly recommend it!
The hottest days of summer have arrived and we still need to eat, of course. I think it’s best, and easiest, to create meals that require fairly minimal effort, but really deliver on flavor and deliciousness. This is a good mindset for any time of year, honestly, but works especially well when the summer heat and humidity are in full-force.
Note: if you would like a full recipe for any of the dishes below, please reach out!
Turkey Chili Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
This was a surprisingly awesome meal considering we added the black beans in the final seconds of cooking (they weren’t part of the original ‘plan’) and turkey chili (or something like it) is not really a traditional topping for an open-face, roasted sweet potato. However, it worked!
Next time, I think I’d add avocado and sour cream to add more dimensions of flavor. And while I enjoyed it being served on a sweet potato, I may try it with mixed greens in a future iteration. A turkey chili salad - sounds good to me!
Rice Noodles with Chickpeas and Kale
If you’ve ever wondered if chickpeas and kale can be used in an Asian-style noodle dish, then look no further. We made it for you. And we added Thai basil. It was interesting! I don’t think kale is the best leafy green for this dinner; bok choy would have been better. Thai basil is an awesome herb, but it may be better in other recipes. I love chickpeas in any dish so they did hold their own in this bowl.
Overall, I may make slight modifications to this dish and one addition: it needs a saucy, savory/spicy sauce to tie it all together! Of note, Seth loved this meal; perhaps I’m just really picky!
Italian Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini
Find our turkey meatball recipe right here.
There’s not much I find more comforting than a big plate of meatballs and this turkey version with tomato sauce, served over zucchini, really hits the spot during the summer. The veggie “base” keeps it light and the turkey meatballs are protein-packed so it’s actually a fairly healthy, yet ridiculously delicious dinner. Yes, we have made this meal with spaghetti. It’s extra-delicious.
Turkey meatballs are one of my favorites because they’re versatile, healthy, and really can be served almost any time of day. I love these for lunch or dinner, but they could be a great appetizer for a dinner party (in the future) as well. And sure, a breakfast meatball isn’t the worst idea. I’d try it. ;)
Baked Scallops with Corn and Summer Squash
Welcome to one of the best meals of the summer! Baked scallops, with that crispy panko topping, are so scrumptious I am salivating as I type. This dish is really one of my summertime favorites because it’s just so good and reminds me of summers’ past. I’ve loved it my whole life! And this time around we served it with a summer veggie medley (zucchini, corn, summer squash) to keep it extra-seasonal. I have nothing more to say about this dinner except that it’s superb.
We are sharing our own recipe for baked scallops oh-so-soon so keep an eye out for that..you will want to make them!
Italian Chicken Tenders and Summer Salad
One of the best ways to keep dinner light, but flavorful and filling, is to top a simple salad with a hearty protein. This is a delicious dinner that encourages eating healthfully, but without missing out on some excellent flavors. My version of a healthy, balanced meal!
For our Sunday night salad, we tossed together greens, peppers, spring onion, and cucumber, plus shaved Parmesan and a homemade Italian vinaigrette. For a topping, we made pan-fried, Italian-breadcrumb chicken tenders which were the perfect protein for the salad.
If you’re not in the mood for chicken, you could substitute with meatballs (yum), sliced steak, grilled shrimp or fish, or even tofu. It’s up to you! The protein-on-salad dinner is extremely versatile, which is probably why it’s so popular! This is a dinner you’ll be seeing on our plates a lot more often throughout the rest of the summer. It’s a winner for a reason. :)
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Enjoy!
