Summer's One Pot Meals

Summer is a time for easy cooking and easy eating. However grilling and microwave gets old fast. What to do ? Try a one pot meal. They're still have that homemade goodness yet are a snap to put together. Best of all - there's only one pot to wash.

One of my faovirtes it pne pot pasta. My family hs made thos for decades, namle with farfalle or bowtie pasta but any other kinds like wagon wheel pasta or those cute shaped ones like paws and cat faces ( you can go to www.pastashoppe.com to pick up these adorable shaped pasta like bunnies and palm trees).There;s no need to cook  the pasta and sauce separately  The pasta cooks in the sauce and the last is a simple mix of just water garlic , oil and tomato sauce .I used a dash of leftover pizza sauce and it gave it a nice bite. The dish  takes only 20 to 30 minutes tops to create. Even better is when it's reheated with  butter or margarine the next day. Chili, usually, considered a winter dish, can be a hot weather fave too. You can even make it in a slow cooker in the morning and have a nice warm meal to enjoy outside. Another plus is as the season progresses you can use fresh picked tomatoes and peppers, especially if you're growing jalapenos. Chili is also perfect for topping those just from the grill dogs too.

Stews, another cold weather staple can be made in the middle of summer.It , too. Again it's just a one pot meal. It's actually great during this time because you can use fresh picked veggies and herbs like carrots and sage. Another plus is that there's always a lot left over so you can freeze some and save it for another warm day. If you're craving biscuits to go with your stew, then head over to your local Dunkin Donuts or grocery store where they're already made, thus saving you heating up the oven.Goulash, a  variation of stew, can be made too during these steamy days . It needs  ground beef along  with paprika for zing  Add some elbow macaroni but that's up to you Turkey can also be subbed in for the beef as well. A French country pot, similar to the country's famed dish, cassoulet, It is rich with kidney and garbanzo beans, along with Italian sausage  and various herbs. It's the perfect Saturday  night dish, served outside with  good Merlot and a loaf of crusty French bread.

Summer is here but that doesn't mean sandwiches an barbecue for dinner.  Cook up one pot meal for a hearty warm weather dish that's easy to make and easy to eat. It's a snap.