Easy Summer Fare

 Summer and easy cooking are right around the corner. This means tasty eating that only has a few steps to make.It's quick fixings with a delicious outcomes.

Regular contributor Margeaux Laskey wrote about this in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section. There are different recipes to make and bake.Another grilled dish is tajin grilled chicken redolent with adobo sauce and Chiles and sweetened with agave syrup and honey . Another griller favorite is the harissa shrimp. It's fiery with the addition of that great spice mix harissa blended with honey.They're alternated on skewers with grape tomatoes for more sweetness. but you could add green pepper or onion chunks too. Another easy dish that takes advantage of the bounty of the season is a spicy corn and shishito salad.It has a Mexican feel to it thanks tot he addition of cotijillo cheese and jalapeno peppers.A sweeter cousin of a jalapeno the shishito variety gives it some sweetness as does a cup of fresh corn. What would any summer be without a sheet pan dinner and a dip?  Again Ms Laskey gives an easy sheet pan baked feta with broccolini and lemon.Red onion and grape tomatoes are added for color while cumin and red pepper flakes give it spice and a fiery zing.It is roasted in a 400 degree Farehneit oven but this can be made occasionally during the summer. A cooler alternative is a white bean hummus with tahini and coriander.It's just s quick whirl in the food processor with olive oil and lemon juice.It's perfect as a quick Sunday lunch on French bread or with pita chips at an outdoor barbecue.

Summer is fun and there are fun foods too. Try Ms. Laskey's crispy cheddar chicken tacos, The cheese tacos are similar to the Italian frica but without the potatoes. Cheddar, Montery Jack or queso Chihuahua is baked on a parchment sheet in a 375 degree Farenheit oven.The chicken that's put on top can be the rotisserie one from your local grocery. That's mixed with adobo sauce,pepper,s orange juice and spices. Another tasty ddish is the pizza salad - a must try for any family.Its frying up pepperoni strips then roasting  panko breadcrumbs in the fat. Add these to a salad of romaine lettuce, pepperocini flakes, black olives and red onion.The  dressing is  grated tomatoes mixed with more pepperocini and olive oil. The whole salad is topped off with shredded mozzarella. WHat ends a fun summer meal.Caramel cookies can be too sweet. why not try adding complete fire with gochujang, the Korean red chili paste.These fiery gems would make an interesting base for vanilla ice cream sandwiches. Of course there is a summer cobbler, this from Chez Panisse. It's perfect for the upcoming blueberry season because it does require four and half cup of the berries.The dough is a buttery pastry one that's baked on top of the fruit.

Easy recipes mean easy eating. Try these ones for a summer of simple cooking without all the stress and mess. They're perfect for the warm days ahead.