…get out of the kitchen. Or so the saying goes, right? It’s possible that I’ve taken this a tad too much to heart lately, which is why I’m here tonight with a plea for a little culinary inspiration from my friends.
It’s hot, is it not? I looooove hot summer days, but it turns out that a third pregnancy in the summer heat feels a tad different to me than a second (I thought being pregnant with Eloise in the summertime was fantastic), and I am giving it my all to embrace these consistently 90º temps paired with 32 weeks of baby in utero.
I’m spending a bit more time in the air conditioning than I’d hoped, and a little less in the sunshine. I want to be outside…so badly. But I’m also keenly aware that more than an hour or two of keeping up with our kiddos in the heat with this humidity will push me into a bad place in more ways than one. As such, this summer has been a humbling exercise in acknowledging my limitations and more thoughtfully managing my expectations, which has carried over as much into my kitchen as anywhere else in my life.
-
- A few months ago, our plates looked like these…
-
- …but lately all I want to do is pour a bowl of cereal. :/
The peak heat of the day here usually falls shortly before dinner time. I don’t have any desire to turn the oven on, or to stand over a hot stove. My appetite is questionable at best by 5pm, and my people are hungry. None of us wants something heavy or hot to eat, but I know that if the meal I prep isn’t substantial enough, everyone will be asking for snacks long before bedtime.
I live with a trio of carnivores, but I could skip out on meat most days. Ground beef has been particularly off-putting for me this pregnancy, so even go to options like easy tacos or spaghetti are at the bottom of my list.
At this point in the summer, with the hot days unwavering and my culinary motivation waning to a terrible degree, I could use some fresh ideas. Jason and I will eat salads all day long (Jason if there’s significant protein in the mix), and Henry enjoys a decent repertoire of veggies, but our dairy free Eloise is not the biggest fan of anything green.
So. I need some help.
Do you have a favorite summer recipe that incorporates real, whole foods and requires less than an hour (or a 400º oven) to prepare? Do your kids absolutely love a summer meal that you’d be excited to pass on to me and my ever-hungry brood?
I’d love to add a handful of new recipes to our menu for the remaining weeks or months of summer, and I’m in need of a fresh dose of motivation. Ideas that incorporate helpers in the kitchen are very welcome–Eloise is often eager to play sous chef, and I love it when I have reasonable jobs for her to do at (almost) three years old.
And if you’re in the same boat as I am this summer, would you ask a friend and pass on any delightful tips they’re willing to share?
I want to love being in my kitchen again, and to arrive there before baby comes would be so great…for everyone who sits around our table in the evenings, really 😉
trying to avoid my own level of “hangry,” but missing the mark,
mm
Please post or link your recipes/favorite foodie websites in the comments. Then we can all enjoy them together, and I can refer back to them with ease in the coming days. xo!
So it doesn’t contain meat, but have you tried black bean burgers? They’re awesome on the grill, but you could cook them on a pan on the stovetop instead. As for prep time, we go the cheater route and purchase Morningstar brand’s “Spicy Black Bean Burgers” (they are not spicy but nicely seasoned – I’m a wuss with spicy), which are found in the freezer section at Meijer. They’re delicious. My pickiest eater can usually get one down, and the rest of us devour them. Load on whatever toppings you want (I personally love a slice of cheddar, avocado, and a fried egg when feeling decadent), and it goes really well with a fresh salad or slices of watermelon. This is making me hungry…
Yum! See…I’d forgotten all about black bean burgers. This is why I need people like you to remind me 😉 And I’m loving the creativity with toppings. I really need to get out of the box. Guess you know what we’ll be eating later this week!
Along the same line, my latest fabulous find was from Aldi’s freezer section- the veggie kale burgers! The ingredients are solid and nourishing , and paired with a brioche bun (another new find from Aldi), and lots of fixings (we did the dilly kraut from the farmers market, avocado and a little mayo and whatever else), this meal was a hit!
Loving this idea. And everyone loves a burger in our house–they’ll just have to be happy with me getting more creative 😉 I keep seeing the kraut and wanting to try it. Going on the menu!
ugh. being pregnant in the summer is the worst!! my second was due beginning of Oct. when we lived in Virginia, and holy moly. Being pregnant in the heat is just terrible!! I had my third in Feb. and being pregnant in the winter is so. much. better. Although the clothing situation was a little more difficult 🙂 Anyway. I’ve used my crockpot a lot this summer….this link has some great recipes for summer! http://eatathomecooks.com/100-days-of-summer-slow-cooker-recipes/
and rotisserie chicken. my kids always gobble it up and it’s zero effort on my part. and we use the leftovers for salads the next day (or just the chicken again for the kids since lettuce always makes them gag, haha)
also, the grill. we use the grill most nights of the week. depending on what you can handle, kabobs are always a favorite over here. zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, pineapple, and chicken. or just meat. since my husband is also a carnivore 🙂
Summer slow cooker recipes! Perfect! Can’t wait to browse them…thank you 🙂 And it’s true, grilling is the best in the summer time. Somehow not preparing the meat portion of the meal makes it way more plausible for me. Also, dressing for pregnancy in winter…now there’s a post for another day. 😉 I’ve only done it one time through, but it was a struggle to dress that bump. Definitely the upside to a summer baby–I could live in flowy tops and sandals forever.