Summer evening dinner

I enjoy hosting a bunch of people for an evening of fun, but sometimes being with a small gathering lets you really get to visit.  And when the sun sets late in the evening, I feel like I should be doing something or going somewhere until later at night.  By the way June Solstice is June 21.  .

In the summer, I don’t like to use my oven right before someone is coming over because it heats up the house.  You can serve cold or prepared foods, also convenient because they are usually prepare ahead foods.  The following is one idea with not much to prepare at the last minute.

When the guests arrive, give them a cup with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream, cold margarita mix (from a bottle) about halfway covering the ice cream, and a spoon.  That will cool everyone off!  No preparation ahead of time and no leftovers.

Dinner will be a build your own taco salad, even vegetarians can love.  The only cooking might be the meat – ground beef and or seasoned chicken.  I cook ground beef until brown, drain in a paper towel lined bowl, and then put back in the skillet with taco seasoning, maybe a little water.  I am a fan of Penderey’s original chili seasoning, but use whatever you like.  The chicken choice could be from a rotisserie chicken (or steam some chicken breasts in an Instant Pot), combined with a little lime juice, cumin, and garlic.  Here is a list of other ingredients –

       Lettuce, perhaps a bag of cut romaine

       Tomatoes.  I like to cut cherry tomatoes in two.

       Chopped onions, sweet or purple

       Avocado chunks.  They will keep an hour or two when sprinkled with lemon juice.

       Canned black beans, drained and rinsed, served room temperature.  Sprinkle on a little taco seasoning.

       Grated cheese, like monterey jack, cheddar.

       Roughly crushed Fritos

       Salad dressing, and yes you can serve from the bottle in our casual world.  Then your guests can know exactly what it is.  Perhaps include Ranch or Creamy Cilantro Lime.

Individual taco salads can be a little messy.  I like to give guests my smaller serving bowls for their dinner salad.  Then I end up using mostly cereal bowls for the ingredients.  Lettuce can be served in a tray.  Or just use the largest paper plates for easy cleanup.

Dessert is key lime pie – a great contrast to the spicy food and a complement with the margarita mix.  The recipe will be on my website.  Close out the evening with coffee and chatting or playing a board game.

Connect with your heart.