I don’t know how things are at your house right now, but around here, it is hot, hot, hot. Saturday’s high temperature was about 104 and Sunday’s high was 102. Definitely summer.
Even though 4th of July is right around the corner, the heat makes me less inclined to spend a lot of time sweltering over a hot stove. I thought you might like some of my favorite recipes that serve double duty this time of year.
They require little cooking, are super healthy, and family favorites. I’ve taken these to picnics, used them when company is coming over, or just made them for our family.
Bean & Corn Salsa
This recipe is super easy. While I soak and cook my own beans, you can use canned low-sodium beans. Rinse the beans thoroughly. When selecting your corn, choose canned corn with no sodium added.
I serve this over lettuce for the family, but when I take it somewhere people usually dip chips in it! I like it just by itself.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 pound dried pinto beans, cooked or 1 15-ounce can pinto beans
- 1/4 pound dried kidney beans, cooked or 1 15-ounce can kidney beans
- 1/4 pound dried black beans, cooked or 1 15-ounce can black beans
- 1 (15 ounce) can corn (low or no salt)
- 1 recipe taco seasoning mix (recipe directly below)
Taco Seasoning Mix
Just mix the spices and herbs together. This recipe makes the equivalent of one package of taco seasoning mix.
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 2 teaspoons Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Ground Oregano
Directions for the bean and corn salad: (these are really hard.)
- Dump it all together.
- Stir well.
- Eat!
The second recipe is for a fun “salad.” Kids love this one.
Salad on a Stick
Ingredients:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Olives
- Broccoli florets (raw)
- Cucumbers cut into chunks
- Cauliflower florets (raw)
- Red pepper chunks
Directions:
Thread cleaned raw vegetables on a bamboo skewer. Enjoy!
The third recipe is a low-fat potato salad. A friend gave me this one.
Low-Fat Potato Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds red potatoes, cubed
- water
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
- 1 tablespoon light mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
Directions:
- Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook the potatoes and garlic for about 20 minutes or until tender. Drain and let cool 30 minutes.
- Whisk together yogurt and next 6 ingredients in a large bowl until combined.
- Gently fold potatoes into yogurt mixture. Cover and chill 1 to 12 hours. Garnish, if desired with fresh dill.
Does the heat make you not want to cook? What’s your healthy picnic dish? Diane
Added link to my side bar. Good recipes, thanks.
Was that a typo to say 2lbs of potatoes can cook in 2 cups water?
I definitely eat less when it’s hot (it’s better for digestion!)…and am usually only in the mood for what we call “meat and salad” (usually grilled chicken, fish, and sometimes steak) and fruit.
KCLAnderson (Karen) recently posted…Powerful As Hell
THX for the recipes Diane!!! Me – cooking is so not anything like you do!
IT actually is pleasant here right now so I am still do my version of cooking & actually when it is hot, I sill do that cause it is nothing like real cooks do! 
Jody – Fit at 54 recently posted…Gratitude Monday & Just Gratitude!
OMG I love Bean & Corn Salsa… thing is I’ve never made it at home, why? Perhaps I’ve just been waiting for this post, yeah thats it!
Patrick recently posted…WWWWWWater
Feh. I’m calling this my coldest summer ever. Not that I would mind, but in the last two weeks, I’ve been around a pool 2x, and it’s been too cold to swim. I do anyway, but it’s hard to enjoy it. I only get a chance once or twice per year to swim, I would like at least warm days. Listening to the news and problems much of the country is having with heat, I should be glad, it’s just I’d like to swim. I’ll go make myself some soup and stop whining now.
julie recently posted…Low-Carb Gurus and skinny people eating sweets
“Salad on a Stick”
Okay, this is the best branding of salad I’ve ever seen.
Anything’s better on a stick!
I don’t where I heard that term but I love it too! I should market it or something.
We don’t have heat up here in Vancouver yet, maybe soon. LOVE the idea of the salad on a stick. ANYTHING on a stick is great. Have a wonderful Monday Diane.
Roz@weightingfor50 recently posted…Happy Canada Day!!!
Yeah, all those California folk are laughing at us now with all this heat!
Makes me want to tell them what to do with your wonderful salad on a stick idea!
Sorry…
Dr. J recently posted…The BMI and the SMI
I feel so bad for all my friends down south. We had our hot weather awhile ago, but because of the jet stream it is actually cool up here almost always when it is hot down there, and vice versa. We are 58-60 degrees today, and overcast. No crazy storms or melting heat!
My favorite foods to beat the heat are frozen berries and cream or, if I’m being naughty, raw nuts and a direct Pepsi.
Wow!! What a great idea ‘salad on a stick” .Thanks for the tips
I look forward to trying them
Joy recently posted…Weigh in
Hey those sound great, and two out of three are vegan – can’t beat that!
Blessedmama recently posted…Splatter Chili
Great recipes. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the taco seasoning recipe! We make chicken tacos in the crock pot using chicken breasts. I want to try this now. We usually buy seasoning packets, but I love the idea of making my own.
Michelle recently posted…Wow, people actually read this
You are welcome Michelle! The great thing about this recipe is that it is sodium-free. Some packets of taco seasoning have crazy amounts of sodium.