5 Delicious Recipes to Celebrate Summer

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June 20 is the holy grail of sunshine, the Summer Solstice. The sun will be at its highest point in the sky, giving us the gift of early dawns and long, lingering sunsets. As we emerge from the darkness of the pandemic, we have all gained an appreciation for the simple, easy-going pleasures of life. Sun soaking into our skin, toes in the sand, sweet friends, belly laughs, a cool splash in the pool.

And then, after a long day of sunshine, there’s nothing better than a simple summertime supper.

Here are some edible ideas to celebrate the Summer Solstice

  1. Korean-Grilled Chicken Breasts

This is by far my favorite grilled chicken recipe. The marinade is the perfect salty-meets-sweet love match. Let it marinate overnight for extra flavor. This one is easy, kid-friendly, and ideal for summer grilling.

I also love this air fryer chicken recipe that has a simple salt brine that tenderizes the meat and is so flavorful.

2. Grilled Mexican Street Corn

Elote, or grilled Mexican street corn, is a fun way to dress up traditional corn on the cob. Grilling corn is a simple matter of throwing the corn on the grill for 10 minutes, but it adds an amazing charred caramelization. A light coating of cotija, chili powder, mayonnaise, and lime juice will make your taste buds cheer with delight. Don’t be intimidated by cotija; it’s a salty cheese named after a little village in Mexico that just might change your life forever. (And all the regular grocery stores carry it).

  1. Watermelon Lemonade Slush

Nothing screams summer like watermelon. On a long, hot summer day, plop one of these in front of your feuding children, and they might just forget that they don’t like each other. This is also a great way to use up extra watermelon; freeze it and break it out for one of these sweet, refreshing slushies. Regular lemonade mix works as well. Of course, grown-ups can add their own high-octane twist if they’d like.

  1. Skinny No Bake Peanut Butter Pie

This icebox pie is easy to throw together at the last minute (except for the 2-3 hours of freezer time) and is always a cool and creamy hit with kids and grown-ups. Tip: use a pre-made graham cracker crust to save even more time.

  1. Charcuterie for Dinner!

Sometimes we just don’t feel like rolling up our sleeves and spending time over the hot stove to make yet another meal. Summertime is the time to throw the rules out the window, get barefoot, and graze on a charcuterie board for dinner. These boards tempt all the senses and can be a great dinner on the porch for guests; kids can pick around for what suits them. Check out local business The Cheers Experience for some gorgeous ideas. She even offers cheeseboard-styling classes. Sounds like a summer dream to me.

Wishing everyone a sweet and slow summer filled with good food, great friends, and the comfort of family. Happy Summer Solstice!