One doesn't need an excuse not to feel like firing up the oven, stove or grill. Some days - maybe it's the sweltering weather, a particularly hectic day of juggling schedules, general exhaustion or simple laziness - the idea of cooking a meal is just too much. Even something simple like boxed spaghetti with jarred sauce and a bagged salad sounds daunting when you realize you'll have to fill a pot with water and wait for it to boil and fill your kitchen with steam in August.
There's no shame in having cold cereal or PB&J for supper. And we won't judge you for ordering pizza.
But if you haven't reached that level of desperation yet, or if your body (and your family) would like something just a little more nourishing, a little more flavorful and ready just as quickly, these recipes are for you.
In addition to coming together in just minutes, they also make excellent lunches, whether for noshing at home or brown bagging.
For supper, we like to prepare a combination of these, such as the soup, feta dip and one of the salads to enjoy small-plate style.
CHILLED CUCUMBER AND AVOCADO SOUP
Makes: about 4 ( cup) servings
4 mini seedless cucumbers OR 1 English cucumber, roughly chopped (see note)
avocado, peeled, pitted, chopped
Leaves from 2 (5-inch) sprigs mint
Juice of lime, or more to taste
Generous pinch smoked paprika
Salt
Olive oil
Red chile flakes or hot sauce, to taste
Note: Can substitute 2 peeled and seeded regular cucumbers.
In a blender or food processor, combine cucumber, avocado, mint and lime juice. Process until smooth. Add up to 1 cup cold water to thin to desired consistency. Season with smoked paprika, additional lime juice and salt to taste.
Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of red chile flakes or hot sauce.
CHICKPEAS AND ROASTED PEPPERS
Makes: 4 servings
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
teaspoon dried oregano
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 (13-ounce) jar roasted red peppers
small red onion, finely chopped
cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
cup fresh sugar snap peas, strings removed
1 carrot, cut into matchstick-size lengths
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
In a small bowl, mash minced garlic with a little salt and whisk in black pepper, oregano, vinegar and olive oil; set aside.
In a large bowl, combine chickpeas with red peppers, onion and parsley. Toss with all but 3 tablespoons of the dressing. Mound chickpea mixture on a shallow platter. Toss sugar snap peas and carrot with remaining dressing. Arrange pea-carrot mixture around chickpeas and top with crumbled feta cheese. Serve at room temperature.
Recipe adapted from ''Best Summer Weekends Cookbook'' by Jane Rodmell
WHIPPED FETA DIP
Makes: about 1 cups
8 ounces feta cheese
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
cup mayonnaise
1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoons lemon juice
teaspoon minced garlic or garlic paste
Ground black pepper, to taste
2-3 tablespoons fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, rosemary and/or thyme
Olive oil
Red pepper flakes such as Aleppo
Crudites, crackers, pita chips or other desired dippers
In a food processor, combine the cheeses, mayonnaise, cream, lemon juice, garlic, black pepper and herbs. Process for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, scraping sides as needed, or until completely smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with chile flakes. Serve with desired dippers.
MARINATED BEANS
Makes: 4 servings
2 tablespoons minced red onion or shallot
1 to 3 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
cup chopped fresh herbs such as any combination of basil, mint, parsley, thyme, chives
3 to 5 tablespoons olive oil
2 (15-ounce) cans beans such as black, kidney, cannellini, chickpeas and/or black-eyed peas, rinsed and well drained
1 teaspoon minced garlic or garlic paste
Salt and ground black pepper
Red chile flakes such as Aleppo
In a small bowl, combine the red onion and 1 tablespoon of the vinegar and let stand for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the herbs and 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the beans, garlic, salt, black pepper and red chile flakes. Stir to combine. Add the onion and mix well. Taste and add more vinegar, oil, salt or peppers as needed. Chill until ready to serve.
Serve over toast, if desired.
TOMATO, CUCUMBER AND TUNA SALAD
Makes: 2-4 servings
6 ounces seedless cucumber such as mini (Persian) or English
6 ounces grape or cherry tomatoes
1 or 2 jarred pepperoncini peppers, thinly sliced PLUS 1 tablespoon juice, divided use
1 teaspoon minced garlic or garlic paste
1 ounce pistachios, shelled
Juice of 1 lime
1 (5-ounce) can tuna, drained if packed in water
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Olive oil, to taste
Lettuce leaves, for serving, optional
Cut the cucumber(s) in half length-wise and then thinly slice on a steep diagonal.
Halve or quarter the tomatoes.
Combine the cucumbers, tomatoes and sliced pepperoncini in a large bowl. Add the garlic, nuts, lime juice and tuna. Stir to combine. Taste and season with salt, ground black pepper, pepperoncini juice and olive oil (if using oil-packed tuna, you may not need any oil).
Serve in lettuce cups, if desired.
SPINACH, GRAPE, CHEDDAR AND PECAN SALAD WITH TUNA OR CHICKEN
Makes: 2-4 servings
5 ounces baby spinach
1 cup seedless black grapes, halved
cup pecan halves or pieces
2 mini cucumbers OR English cucumber, quartered and sliced
2 to 4 ounces cheddar cheese, diced
1 (5-ounce) can tuna OR chicken packed in water, drained
Mayonnaise, to taste
Salt and ground black pepper
Italian vinaigrette, to taste
In a large bowl, gently toss together the spinach, grapes, pecans, cucumber and cheese.
In a separate bowl, combine the tuna or chicken with just enough mayonnaise to moisten. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide spinach mixture among serving plates. Top with a scoop of tuna or chicken. Drizzle with Italian vinaigrette.