Summers around here are crazy busy. We are often traveling on road trips or even just day trips. Because our fall and winter are so busy with school, school activities and sports, we rarely have any time to go anywhere. That means as soon as our schedule clears up from that, we are hitting the road as often as we can. Even if we are home, the afternoons are spent in the pool and that means dinners are late.
While we are playing in the pool and having fun on the road, complicated dinners are the last thing on my mind. Getting in the kitchen on a hot day just doesn’t seem to excite me. That doesn’t mean that I don’t want to have a great tasting dinner. I just don’t want to have to fuss to have it. I have learned that there are simple things that I can do to make my summer dinners, and really dinners year round, have all the flavor and taste of dinners that have taken me a long time to create.
- The grill: During the summer, the grill is my best friend. I can cook almost everything on it. It keeps me out of a hot kitchen. It cooks fast and needs almost no attending to. I can also still swim with the kids, or at least let them still swim because I am out there with them.
- Early morning prep: When I know that there is something that takes a bit more time, I try to plan it so I can get everything ready in the morning. We use lots of marinades and fresh ingredients so that I can get the prep work done in the morning and then enjoy the day. Out of the hot kitchen.
- Use ingredients that add lots of flavor that aren’t unhealthy: Everyone knows that fat, sugar and salt taste good. If they didn’t, people wouldn’t eat things that are unhealthy. The problem is getting flavors that can rival fat and sugar but that are not unhealthy. I love using things like Mezzetta peppers to add great flavor to my dishes.
We use a lot of Mezzettta Peppers when we are making dishes for the grill. It adds amazing flavors. I can use them for a marinade, toss them in the side dishes, load them on top. Mezzetta peppers are good everywhere.
Right now, Mezzetta Peppers is hosting an amazing giveaway. The grand prize is Weber® Spirit® E-310™ gas grill (ARV $499.00) + Weber® 3 Piece Tool Set (ARV $22.99) + 5 jars of Mezzetta Peppers + Summer Entertaining Kit (Cooler, Wooden Cutting Board, Apron, Towel, Beachball).
There will be 10 Runner-ups that will win Weber® ORIGINAL KETTLE® 18” charcoal grill (ARV $79.00) + Weber® 3 Piece Tool Set (ARV $22.99) + 5 jars of Mezzetta Peppers + Summer Entertaining Kit (Cooler, Wooden Cutting Board, Apron, Towel, Beachball)
The giveaway ends on July 15th. Head here for your chance to win. And find out more about all the great flavors you can add to your summer meals.
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