Summer Weekend Meals

Summer weekends are meant to be easy and breezy and that also extends to cooking. Don't sweat it , trying to make the perfect meal during these sweaty times. Chill. There's always a simple recipe just waiting to be made.

This was David Tanis' mantra in his weekly column A City Kitchen in Wednesday's New York Times Food section. His idea is to take shrimp and coconut milk and turn it into an exotic treat of seafood with curry noodlesThe spices used can be found in any spice rack, cumin, coriander and fennel seeds. Onions are also added as are cherry tomatoes for color and tang. You don't have to use shrimp. Mr Tanis also recommends other vegetables , cubed chicken or tofu. Another idea is using the shrimp for an easy kabob with cherry tomatoes and cut up red and green pepper. Sprinkle some curry on the skewers  before you grill and then  serve with instant pilaf. Rice noodles are a base for the curried shrimp but used in many other dishes,Try them in an easy dish of vegetables bought from a trip to the local farmer's market.Another easy meal are rice bowls.This is a no brainer to make and the other ingredients can vary..Use chicken or beef as the main one , then toss in the vegetables of your choice.  Seasonings  can be as simple as salt or pepper or as complex and varied as star anise, Chinese five spices or sage. Have saki on the side for an entertaining quick and carefree lunch or dinner.

I also am of the same mind as Mr. Tanis, however I also feel that any kind of pasta can contribute to a snap of a weekend meal.My favorite is the one pot pasta recipe, a family recipe that cooks up quick. What is great about it is the variations.that can be made. Sausage or ground chuck can be added. A drop of pesto can be thrown in with the tomato sauce. a regular pasta is another quick cook up. You can make a quick primavera sauce using the spoils of your garden. Cook up fresh plum tomatoes with onions and carrots for a yummy , fresh tasting sauce. You can also make a pasta con burro, melted butter and garlic over spaghetti or angel hair Shredded basil can be mixed in for an easy take on pesto. One of the best and easiest summer dishes  is ratatouille .This Mediterranean classic has just tomatoes, onions and eggplants mixed with garlic , olive oil and oregano . The cooking time is usually forty five minutes however there are some microwave recipes that takes just ten minutes. Serve with toasted French bread to round it out.

Summer is here and the cooking is easy Whip up an easy lunch or dinner, then sit back and enjoy. Simple meal for a simple warm weather day.