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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Back on the Cooking Bandwagon

Last night I cooked dinner for the first time in over a month.

The reasons/excuses?
  • The weather has been so nice recently and patio dining is on our list of favorites
  • We have had company twice (albeit the same company)
  • We have been out of town multiple weekends so grocery shopping isn't a priority (who wants to buy food just so it can go bad?)
  • I don't like grocery shopping anyway
  • We've been attending get togethers/parties that take place during dinner time
  • And honestly, I just don't enjoy cooking summery foods. I much prefer cooking heavy dishes, things that I can bake, Italian food, etc., and those aren't really conducive to summer.

Now I can throw all those excuses out the window. On Monday my mom sent us back to DC with lots of fresh fruit, veggies, and healthy proteins and I am ready to get back on the cooking wagon!

Anyone else fall victim to dining out during the summer? What easy dinner ideas can you give me?

17 comments:

  1. We have a really good Greek pasta dish as well as a clam pasta dish that are popular in my house when the weather is too nasty to grill. I'd be happy to email you the recipes when I get home from work this evening of you're interested. My email address is sarahbeth.gilson@gmail.com
    Let me know if you'd like them!

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  2. I'm not going to lie...I do not enjoy cooking. If I can find a dish that is great...than it's fun. I do prefer winter, comfort food as well. I have a recipe for homemade chicken pot pie - out of this world!
    We'd rather eat out all the time too...which we did before Graham!
    FYI.it's not a meal, but a side dish. Go on Food Network.com and Giada has a recipe for Tri-Colore Orzo...it's fantastic!

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  3. I hate cooking in the summer, I am like you...I'd rather make a roast, or a casserole, or a hearty Italian dish. Not exactly summer foods, huh?

    We grill a lot and eat a lot of tacos during the summer, haha!

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  4. I just gave a co-worker a recipe for chicken enchiladas. it is easy, yummy and provides for leftovers!

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  5. I hear you - grocery shopping in the summer is a waste of valuable outside time. We have been grilling a ton, if you have a grill, thats quick and painless. I also have a pork and squash recipe if you'd like. Perfect for those fresh veggies you got!

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  6. I have been terrible about cooking lately... With so much travel I hate grocery shopping because I feel like I am just going to have to throw away unused food. When we get back from Ohio this weekend I am going to plan 4 dinners, make a list, and send the hubs (he has way better store self control). Hopefully I will get better at this!

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  7. We've been grilling our proteins and making huge salads a bunch this summer. It's too hot to do much else.

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  8. We love to grill in the summer as well. I recently posted about a rice salad that is tres delish, easy to make, and super fresh. You'll love it! I'm making a lobster cob salad tonight, and if it's good, I'll post about it as well. Really though, summer is made for the grill- meats, potatoes, veggies, even fruits can be done on the grill. Do you have a good grilling cookbook?

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  9. i know what you mean... finding time to grocery shop is such a chore! i'm in too much of a hurry and therefore find myself digging things out of the back of the pantry just so i have something for dinner!
    eating out is just so much more fun, and no dishes to wash!!

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  10. I can SO relate to enjoying making heavier dishes versus summery dishes. I am the same way!!

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  11. Good for you, and thank heaven for Mom and all the fresh goodies. We run hot and cold with it, tonight I can promise we are *not.*
    tp

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  12. Yay for cooking! I'm the same way when going out of town. I went shopping on Monday and on my way home I realized that, shit, I'm going home this weekend. FAIL!

    Dan and I are making pizza tonight! There's an idea :-) xoxo

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  13. I eat out all the time. I'm a guy, what can I do?

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  14. I'm definitely in the same boat as you. Although I blame mine on moving and being pregnant and sick all the time! :-) Good luck getting re-motivated, maybe a new magazine a-la-Martha Stewart or something would help?

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  15. I have been terrible about cooking lately, too. I usually cook every night, but in the summer that all falls to pieces. We have been traveling every weekend, too. During the week, one of both of us usually has after-work events to attend and other nights we dine out with friends, so it is not worth it to buy much food. Usually, I just pick up a small amount of greens, veggies, cold cuts or shrimp, and fruit and we eat that when we're home. I hate turning on my oven in the summer! Too hot.

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  16. Husby and I tend to snack on nuts during the summer and so we rarely want a full meal in the evening. And now with a little one...

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  17. I agree - it is harder to cook in the summer. My fail-safe meal is pasta salad (pasta cooled to room temp, plus cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and oil/vinegar salad dressing).

    And, of course, there's always ice cream ;)

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